Good morning! Thank you very much for joining
Sports Mole for today's early Premier League kickoff as
Bournemouth host
Manchester United at the Vitality Stadium!
We are in the unusual position of seeing Bournemouth above Man Utd in the table going into this match, which says a lot about the respective seasons these two sides are enjoying - or enduring - so far.
We will take a more in-depth look at both in a little while, but let's start with the team news...
BOURNEMOUTH STARTING XI: Begovic; Francis, S Cook, Ake, Smith; Stanislas, L Cook, Lerma, Fraser; Wilson, Brooks
BOURNEMOUTH SUBS: Boruc, Daniels, Surman, Gosling, Ibe. Mousset, Defoe
MAN UTD STARTING XI: De Gea; Young, Lindelof, Smalling, Shaw; Matic, Fred, Pogba; Mata, Sanchez, Martial
MAN UTD SUBS: Romero, Darmian, Jones, Herrera, McTominay, Lingard, Rashford
What can we make of those two teams, then?
Well, we have to start with the United lineup as there is plenty to talk about there, including the absence of Romelu Lukaku entirely from the matchday squad - and unless the Belgian has picked up an injury in training over the last day or so, it is for tactical reasons.
Lukaku was dropped from the starting XI against Everton having now failed to score in his last nine games for the club, but he has scored six goals in his last three games against Bournemouth so it is something of a surprise to see him miss out completely today.
It appears that Alexis Sanchez - now fully fit after a spell out of the team - will play through the middle instead having replaced Rashford in the only change to the starting XI from the win over Everton last weekend.
Sanchez has fallen down the pecking order in recent weeks, but this is a huge chance for him to remind Mourinho exactly what he can do and playing down the middle is a rare treat for the numerous wide men that United have at their disposal.
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One of those wide men is
Anthony Martial, who has fought his own way back into Mourinho's plans to the point where he was probably one of the first names on the team sheet for this match.
Martial has scored in each of his last three Premier League games, netting four times in total, and should he continue that run today then it would be the first time that he has scored in four successive top-flight matches.
The rest of the team is as it was for the Everton match, with Smalling and Lindelof continuing at centre-back despite the return of Jones to the matchday squad.
Fred starts again in midfield following his own spell out of the team, alongside Matic and Pogba - the latter of whom has been directly involved in more United goals under Mourinho than any other player, scoring 20 and setting up a further 22.
As for Bournemouth, their big news is that captain Simon Francis is fit to play despite tweaking his groin against Norwich in the EFL Cup during the week.
Francis will be playing at right-back today, though, with Eddie Howe seemingly switching things up from the 3-4-3 formation which he has favoured in recent weeks.
Josh King is still sidelined for the hosts, which means that David Brooks joins
Callum Wilson in the front two, with the youngster having impressed since his summer move to the Vitality Stadium.
Brooks was on the scoresheet last weekend and will hope to continue his purple patch this afternoon with what may well prove to be the biggest goal of his fledgling Premier League career so far.
Callum Wilson has been the main dangerman for Bournemouth this season, with five goals and four assists from his 10 Premier League games so far.
Indeed, the striker has been involved in more Premier League goals than any other Englishman this season and is already just one short of the total number of goals he had a direct hand in from 28 games last season.
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Ryan Fraser is another player United will need to keep an eye out for, having himself already contributed to as many goals in 10 games this season as he did in 26 games last term.
The winger has scored three and set up five more in the Premier League so far in 2018-19, having scored five and set up three last season.
It speaks volumes for the seasons of both teams that there is even talk of Bournemouth coming into this match as possible favourites, and while that will result in scrutiny on Manchester United's fall, there should also be plenty of focus on Bournemouth's rise.
Just 10 years ago the Cherries were handed a 17-point penalty in League Two and the future of the club was in doubt, but now they come into this match sitting above England's most successful team in the Premier League table.
Indeed, victory for Bournemouth today would see them temporarily climb above Arsenal and Spurs into the Champions League places - and with Arsenal facing Liverpool and Spurs taking on Wolves later today, it is entirely possible that Bournemouth could end the day in the top four.
To even be in that position heading into November is a remarkable achievement for a club like Bournemouth, so even defeat today would be treated in context.
With just over a quarter of the season gone Bournemouth are already halfway to the 40-point mark which would have been their primary objective at the start of the season, and the improvement from last season so far has been remarkable.
After 10 games of the 2017-18 campaign the Cherries sat in the relegation zone with just seven points - now they are 13 places, 13 points and 13 goals better off than that.
Indeed, including the tail end of last season Bournemouth have now taken 26 points from the last 36 on offer in the Premier League, and only the unbeaten top three have lost fewer games than the Cherries this term, with Spurs and United among the 15 clubs to have lost more.
Bournemouth's last six games have seen them win five and draw one across all competitions, including a very good October which saw them win big at Watford and Fulham.
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Bournemouth have won nine of their 13 matches across all competitions this season, while only the top four have scored more goals than their tally of 19.
Their defence has been every bit as good as their attack in recent weeks too, with Bournemouth keeping clean sheets in each of their last three Premier League outings. Another today would see them keep four in a row in the top flight for the first time in their history.
There is an argument to be made that Bournemouth have had things quite easy so far, though, and things certainly begin to get tougher from hereon in with today marking the start of a six-match streak which includes games against United, Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool.
The Cherries have only faced two teams from last season's top seven so far, and they resulted in their only two defeats of the campaign.
Bournemouth are one of only four teams - along with the unbeaten trio of Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea - yet to lose a home game in the Premier League this season, with their unbeaten streak at the Vitality stretching back six games now since United's last visit.
In all competitions it is nine games unbeaten for Bournemouth, including five wins from the last six, and United are one of only two visiting teams - along with Spurs - to have won here in any competition since before last Christmas.
This will not be a walk in the park by any means for United, then, particularly as they continue to toil away under Mourinho this season.
The speculation regarding Mourinho's future as United boss has subsided a little in recent weeks - helped largely by a noticeable improvement on the field - but defeat today will raise plenty of questions once again.
It has been a tumultuous and inconsistent campaign for United so far, with Mourinho's side failing to ever build up any serious momentum in their opening 14 games across all competitions - winning six, drawing three and losing five.
Today the Red Devils could win back-to-back league games for only the second time all season, and for the first time since September 15.
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United come into this match sitting eighth in the Premier League table, already nine points adrift of Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the standings and five off the Champions League places.
Mourinho's side sat second in the table at the same stage of last season and ended up finishing there too, and if they do not improve quickly then they may find their position after 10 games of this season equally similar to their finishing position.
United have actually only lost one of their last seven Premier League games, winning four of those, but there have still been far too many dropped points in that time compared to the teams who are supposed to be their main rivals.
Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham have all enjoyed really good runs of form this season, but United have never got into one and now risk being cut adrift in the race for Champions League football.
The number one priority for Mourinho right now must be sorting out their defence. United have conceded 17 goals in their 10 Premier League games so far this season - a tally it took them under January 31, after 25 games of the campaign, to reach last term.
After 10 games last season United had conceded just four goals and kept eight clean sheets, whereas this time around they have only managed one clean sheet - Fulham are the only team with a worse record.
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United have conceded two or more goals in half of their 10 Premier League games this season, including three of their last four - although the exception in that run came against Everton last time out.
Even then, United were not entirely comfortable after Gylfi Sigurdsson's penalty 13 minutes from time, but they held out for just their second win in their last eight games across all competitions.
United have won just two of their last seven Premier League away games and are winless in their last two across all competitions; today could see them go three in a row in the same season for the first time since May 2017.
Mourinho's side have two very difficult away games next week too, with a trip to Turin to face Juventus next up and then a Manchester derby against champions City taking them into the international break.
PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at the Vitality Stadium, which means that it is time for a prediction!
United are really struggling to find their best form at the moment, whereas Bournemouth are enjoying arguably the best spell in the club's history. The hosts will be full of confidence and I can see them getting something out of this match.
SPORTS MOLE SAYS: Bournemouth 1-1 Man Utd
Bournemouth won the very first league game between these two sides back in December 2015 when they ran out 2-1 victors, but they are without a win in the five subsequent clashes, losing four of those.
That includes both games last season, with United running out 2-0 winners here in April courtesy of goals from Smalling and Lukaku and 1-0 winners at Old Trafford - with Lukaku again on the scoresheet.
United have now won their last two Premier League visits to the Vitality Stadium by an aggregate scoreline of 5-1, but Bournemouth's only previous success in this fixture has come on their home patch.
This is only the 15 meeting between the two sides in any competition, and Bournemouth have won just two of those - both of which came in front of their own fans.
A victory for United today would see them record three successive wins over Bournemouth for the first time since their very first three games against the Cherries - which were spread between 1949 and 1982.
This is perhaps the most even this fixture has ever been, though, and the fact that we can describe it as being anywhere close to "even" considering the cost it has taken to assemble to two squads is a huge credit to Bournemouth.
Right, the players are out and we're almost ready to get going now. Let's remind ourselves of the team news...
BOURNEMOUTH STARTING XI: Begovic; Francis, S Cook, Ake, Smith; Stanislas, L Cook, Lerma, Fraser; Wilson, Brooks
MAN UTD STARTING XI: De Gea; Young, Lindelof, Smalling, Shaw; Matic, Fred, Pogba; Mata, Sanchez, Martial
KICKOFF: Here we go, then! United get us underway at Dean Court!
United have seen the majority of the ball in the opening stages, but it is mostly coming in the middle third at the moment as they look to settle themselves into this match.
CHANCE! Huge chance for Bournemouth to break the deadlock early as they suddenly burst into life on the counter!
Smalling fails to cut out Wilson's pass to leave Fraser clean through on goal, but the winger can't get the ball out of his feet quickly enough and De Gea saves his eventual low effort with his feet.
United almost respond as Fred clips a clever pass over the defence for Mata, but the offside flag is raised against the Spaniard, who just strayed.
Concern for Ashley Young here as he goes down after the ball has gone out of play. All is clearly not right with the captain, but it looks as though he will try to carry on.
CHANCE! Another save for De Gea to make as the ball is clipped into the box for Wilson, who just cannot get enough power on his finish to poke it past De Gea.
Moments later another chance falls to the hosts, but Stanislas sees his shot from inside the box blocked behind by Smalling.
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 1-0 MAN UTD (CALLUM WILSON)
GOAL! Bournemouth are rewarded for their positive start as Wilson gives them the lead after just 11 minutes!
It is poor defending from the visitors as they race out too quickly from a corner, allowing Lewis Cook all sorts of space down the right flank. From there he puts a low pass into the middle, and Wilson is there to stroke it home.
Bournemouth can smell blood here. They are pushing for a quickfire second and the United defence are struggling to deal with Bournemouth's attack at the moment.
Half a chance for Bournemouth again as Smalling's block from Wilson's cutback falls to Brooks, whose reaction header goes off target.
Does an England call-up beckon for the in-form Wilson?
CLOSE! Very close to a second for Bournemouth as Smith cuts inside from the left flank and plays a low ball into the box which bobbles narrowly wide of the far post with De Gea rooted to the spot.
Here is that opening goal, with Wilson applying a routine finish by his current standards...
SAVE! Bournemouth come forward again and Wilson lays the ball back to Francis, who in turn plays a square pass for Stanislas. The winger hits it first time from the edge of the box, but his curling effort is easy for De Gea to gather.
United have really struggled to get into any sort of rhythm in this opening 25 minutes. Bournemouth are first to every loose ball, winning every 50/50 and just look a lot more up for this one than the visitors.
PENALTY APPEAL! Bournemouth want a penalty as Shaw clumsily barges into Brooks inside the area, but referee Paul Tierney waves the claims away. It was certainly worth asking the question!
Shaw did have his hands on Brooks's back, but the replays show that the referee got that penalty call right. There was nowhere near enough in it for a spot kick.
Better spell of possession for United here, but it is not going anywhere and it eventually ends with a pass too far in front of Young. This has been a really poor opening half-hour from the visitors.
United are just showing signs of growing into the game now, but they still do not look threatening. Bournemouth, by contrast, look capable of causing problems almost every time they come forward.
CHANCE! United finally create their first clear sight of goal as a low cross arrives from the left which is met by Fred, but his effort is heading off target even before it is blocked by Ake.
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 1-1 MAN UTD (ANTHONY MARTIAL)
GOAL! United have been poor so far, but they have the equaliser as Martial continues his fine recent scoring form!
Young slides a pass down the right channel for Sanchez who cuts a low pass into the box which Martial runs on to and tucks away with aplomb. That was a finish of a man in form!
Shaw is fortunate to get away without a yellow card here as he clearly stops an attack cynically inside the United half. Only a free kick for the referee, though.
Sanchez races clean through on goal, but the offside flag is raised. The Chilean just strayed a split-second too soon.
CHANCE! Young pings a long ball over the top for Sanchez, who does well to knock it down to the edge of the area. Mata latches on to it, but then drags his finish wide of the target.
SHOT! Bournemouth make a quick break forward as Stanislas feeds the ball into the path of Fraser, who takes a touch before going for a goal from a tight angle. De Gea is there to turn it behind for a corner, though.
Bournemouth win a free kick in a good position as Fred brings down Lewis Book around 25 yards from goal...
Stanislas lines the free kick up, but his effort goes straight into the wall.
There will be just one minute of added time at the end of this first half.
HALF TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 1-1 MANCHESTER UNITED
The first half comes to an end at the Vitality Stadium, then, and it is all square between Bournemouth and Manchester United.
Bournemouth were by far the better team in the opening half an hour and deserved their lead, but United did begin to grow into the game and are fortunate to go into the interval level.
The opening goal arrived after only 11 minutes as United were caught sleeping in the second phase after a corner, allowing Stanislas to break in down the right flank.
The winger played a low cross into the box, where Wilson was waiting to tuck his first-time finish past a helpless De Gea.
United were lucky not to fall further behind during the opening 30 minutes, but they did slowly begin to improve and got their equaliser with just over 10 minutes remaining in the first half.
It was Martial who continued his fine recent goalscoring form by finishing Sanchez's cut-back in similar fashion to Wilson's opener.
United have been really poor on the whole, though, and will need to put in a much better second-half display if they are to take all three points from this game.
For Bournemouth's part, they will feel like they should be leading at the break, but they have certainly shown enough to suggest that they can win this one.
KICKOFF: Bournemouth get us back underway for the second half!
United have been better in the second halves during recent games, and they need to do that again here. They have been so lacklustre so far, and Bournemouth just look like they want it more.
CHANCE! Brilliant stop from De Gea to deny what would have been a really good Bournemouth goal! Smith and Fraser combine down the left flank before the former plays a low cross into the box. Brooks improvises with a clever flick towards goal, but De Gea's reactions are sharp and he makes a really good save.
Bournemouth will kick themselves if they don't get anything out of this game - they have had the chances to be almost out of sight already.
YELLOW CARD! Shaw becomes the first player in the book today for a handball.
Crucial piece of goalkeeping from Begovic, but he gets a little lucky too. Mata's pass towards Martial is almost perfect, but Begovic eventually decides to commit and wins the ball just outside his own area.
CHANCE! Big chance for United to take the lead as Martial's flicks the ball into the path of Shaw, who advances into the box but then sees his drilled finish saved by Begovic.
MAN UTD SUBS: A double change for the visitors here as Mata and Fred are replaced by
Marcus Rashford and Ander Herrera.
YELLOW CARD! Lerma goes into the book for a late challenge on Herrera.
CHANCE! Half a chance for United as Sanchez fashions something out of very little. Smalling nods a free kick down into a dangerous area, and Sanchez darts in front of his man to flick a header towards the near post which Begovic tips behind.
SHOT! The resulting corner is not properly cleared by Bournemouth and the ball eventually ends up at the feet of Herrera, whose low drive from outside the area fizzes a couple of yards wide.
United have been much better in this second half and for the first time in the match it is the visitors who look most likely to score next at the moment. Bournemouth's control over the game has just slipped.
YELLOW CARD! Stanislas is shown yellow for a trip on Young which leaves United with a free kick just outside the area. It is a little wide, but well within shooting range.
OFF THE BAR! Oh my word, how has this one stayed out?! Young's free kick is brilliant and crashing against the crossbar before bouncing out into the area.
Begovic is out of the equation as the ball bounces out to Martial, but his follow-up effort is brilliantly blocked by Ake and then Rashford sees his second follow-up strike hacked off the line by Brooks. Incredible defending, but United simply had to score there!
YELLOW CARD! Wilson picked up a yellow card in the immediate aftermath of that mini-scramble.
CLOSE! Herrera is so close to giving United the lead as he fires a first-time effort towards goal from just outside the area, seeing his sweetly-stuck shot flash inches past the post.
BOURNEMOUTH SUB: Change for the hosts here as Dan Gosling replaces Lewis Cook.
Wilson picks the ball up inside the United have and drives forward before releasing his shot, but his effort is blocked. Bournemouth are trying to get themselves back into this match after a spell of control from United.
Just under 20 minutes remaining in this match and it is still on a knife edge. United have vastly improved as the game has gone on and it is they who look most likely to go on and get the win right now.
BOURNEMOUTH SUB: Another change for Bournemouth as Fraser is replaced by Jordon Ibe.
It will be interesting to see how United approach the closing stages of this match. A draw here doesn't really do much for them, so they will surely push for a winner and throw caution to the wind, despite Bournemouth's threat on the break.
MAN UTD SUB: Jesse Lingard will get some minutes under his belt after his recent injury here as he replaces Sanchez, who has been good today.
Pogba turns Francis and powers past the Bournemouth skipper down the left flank, but his low cross into the box is then turned behind for a corner.
Ake has been almost faultless today, but he gets away with one here as his miscued clearance bobbles harmlessly into the arms of Begovic.
CHANCE! Much better from Bournemouth as a slick move ends up with Brooks advancing into the box down the left channel, but De Gea has his angles right and keeps out his eventual shot.
YELLOW CARD! Young picks up a yellow card for a tackle on Smith while the two players were off the pitch.
YELLOW CARD! Smith also picked up a booking for that incident, having knocked the ball out of Young's hands when he was trying to take a throw-in.
Just five minutes remaining now and both teams look more concerned about not losing rather than going for the win right now.
Bournemouth quickly break from a good spell of United possession and for a moment look like they might slice through the defence, but Brooks's attempted pass goes to no-one and United are able to clear.
CHANCE! Chance for United to nick it as Lingard pops up in shooting space, but his low drive is saved by Begovic.
There will be four minutes of added time at the end of this match.
BOURNEMOUTH SUB: Andrew Surman replaces Stanislas late on for the hosts.
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 1-2 MAN UTD (MARCUS RASHFORD)
GOAL! Heartbreak for Bournemouth as United surely steal all three points late on!
Pogba's cross from the left is just too high for Ake and Rashford collects it inside the box. Smith misses a chance to clear the danger and Rashford then keeps his composure to tuck his finish home from close range.
FULL TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 1-2 MANCHESTER UNITED
A crucial victory for United, then, as they climb up to sixth in the table courtesy of a come-from-behind victory over Bournemouth.
It is harsh on Bournemouth, who were by far the better team in the first half, although United did fight their way back into the game and were in control for much of the second half. Wilson had opened the scoring early on before Martial levelled things up, and Rashford came off the bench to score the winner in stoppage time.
Right, that is all we have time for this afternoon!
Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's early kickoff as United come from behind to beat Bournemouth late on courtesy of Rashford's winner. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction.
From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
