As it happenedended

Manchester United vs Bournemouth: Paul Pogba inspires side to third consecutive victory

re-live the action from Old Trafford

Sunday 30 December 2018 18:13 GMT

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants permanent Manchester United job

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Paul Pogba's man-of-the-match display helped bring Manchester United's turbulent year to a positive end, with Bournemouth comprehensively defeated as caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer oversaw another morale-boosting performance.

The exciting post-Jose Mourinho era continues apace at Old Trafford, where players are now displaying freedom, fluidity and cohesion sorely lacking towards the end of the Portuguese's reign.

Pogba has enjoyed the starkest change in fortunes. A fortnight on from being an unused substitute in Mourinho's final match, the midfielder scored twice and set up another as United beat Eddie Howe's Cherries 4-1 in the final Premier League match of 2018.

United appear liberated by Solskjaer, whose side have scored 12 goals and picked up nine points since his appointment as caretaker manager. Sir Matt Busby and Mourinho are the only others to have won their first three league games as manager of the club. Re-live the action below:

Full time: That's it. Three wins from three for Solskjaer. 12 goals in three games. There's been a palpable change in the atmosphere at the club, simply because the style of play is so much more positive. Pogba and Rashford were excellent today, and United are now just three points behind fifth placed Arsenal.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 18:22

Pogba was the standout performer today. His improvement under Solskjaer has been remarkable. He now needs to maintain this level of performance on a consistent basis.

Callum Rice-Coates30 December 2018 18:25

It's seven defeats in a row away from home for Bournemouth, who were comprehensively beaten today. After a great start to the season, they've fallen away recently, and might be looking over their shoulder with some concern if they continue to lose games so frequently. Eddie Howe's side remain in 12th.