Manchester United have moved level on points with third-placed Newcastle United in the Premier League table after thumping Bournemouth 3-0 at Old Trafford.
Casemiro opened the scoring in some style for the Red Devils before Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford got in on the act in the second half, as Erik ten Hag's men marched to their fourth top-flight victory on the bounce.
Ten Hag opted to hand a rare start to Donny van de Beek in the number 10 role, but despite a few flashes of aggression from the out-of-favour Dutchman, creativity was lacking.
Bruno Fernandes was forced out to the right to accommodate Van de Beek, but two of United's midfield men still combined expertly for the opening goal in the 23rd minute.
An inswinging free kick from Christian Eriksen on the left-hand side was on the money for Casemiro, who made a charging run to the edge of the six yard box and side-footed home a sublime volley into the top corner.
There was little in the way of clear-cut chances for Gary O'Neil's men following Casemiro's strike, as the Red Devils got to the break a goal to the good, albeit with an enforced change.
Just before the break, Van de Beek felt the full force of a challenge from Marcos Senesi and hobbled off in some distress, and the ever-popular Alejandro Garnacho came on in place of the Dutchman.
© Reuters
It did not take long for Garnacho to make his presence felt, as Man United added a second within four minutes of the second half. Back in his regular left-back role, Shaw steamed forward before laying off Fernandes, who in turn found Garnacho on the right.
Shaw had carried on his run into the box, and Garnacho picked the Englishman out to fire home into the far corner. The second goal was no less than the hosts deserved, and Anthony Martial almost made it three in the 56th minute, but he could not direct his header on target from Casemiro's peach of a cross.
David de Gea had barely been called into action in the opening hour, but he was needed to keep both Philip Billing and Dominic Solanke at bay in quick succession as the Cherries briefly showed a flicker of life.
The Red Devils never looked in real danger of squandering their lead, though, and provider Garnacho nearly turned goalscorer in the 79th minute, but his curling effort from the left struck the woodwork.
Nevertheless, there was time for the cherry on the icing on the cake, as with 84 minutes on the clock, Shaw pinged a wonderful cross-field ball over to Fernandes, who laid the ball on a plate for Rashford to tap home at the back post.
Following Newcastle's goalless draw with Arsenal, the Red Devils and the Magpies - who have a far superior goal difference - are locked together on 35 points, but Ten Hag's side do have a game in hand.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth remain in 15th spot after succumbing to their third Premier League defeat in succession - two points clear of the relegation zone approaching the midway point.
Ben Knapton
