Wayne gives Van Gaal a fillip for final
WAYNE Rooney, Marcus Rashford and Ashley Young helped to put gloss on an underwhelming season at Old Trafford with a goal apiece as United secured fifth place.
Victory over Eddie Howe’s men two days after this fixture was abandoned due to a bomb scare also gave Louis van Gaal’s side a boost to take to Wembley on Saturday.
In a subdued atmosphere and in front of half-empty stands, United grew as the match went on.
Rooney put them ahead with a 43rd-minute effort after a good move. Rashford’s strike, slamming in a knock-back from Antonio Valencia after 75 minutes, proved too much for Bournemouth and Young’s late third put further shimmer on United’s performance.
But Bournemouth had the last word through a Chris Smalling own-goal in the third minute of added time.
United could have had more with two penalty decent appeals waved away by Jon Moss when Juan Mata was knocked over with a clumsy challenge from Steve Cook and when Jesse Lingaard was scythed down by Tommy Elphick.
This added fixture has caused headaches at Old Trafford since Sunday, not least because the abandonment is estimated to cost the club in the region of £3million.
Potentially more damaging was the prospect of having their pre-season – a lucrative tour to China in late July and Rooney’s testimonial match in early August – disrupted by the unwanted qualifying stages in the Europa League.
But United avoided that, leapfrogging Southampton into fifth place.
It was clear from United’s teamsheet that Van Gaal was eager to try to secure fifth last ° LOUIS VAN GAAL is set to give Marouane Fellaini a shock recall for the FA Cup final on Saturday. Fellaini was suspended for Manchester United’s last three Premier League games of the season after being found guilty of a misconduct charge by the FA.
He was punished after TV cameras caught him swinging his elbow twice in retaliation at Robert Huth after the Leicester defender had tugged his hair in an incident missed by the referee.
Van Gaal warned the Belgium midfielder he needs to show more control, but it is understood he is seriously considering putting him straight back into the team for the showdown with Crystal Palace. night and worry about Crystal Palace later.
The United manager reached for the biggest guns at his disposal – Marouane Fellaini was still suspended – in an attempt to ambush Bournemouth early.
But like much of what has transpired for United this season though, it did not quite go according to plan. Howe’s side held firm and slowly felt their way into the match. Bournemouth had plenty to play for with three points enough to lift them from 16th to 14th place and with it an extra £2.5m in prize money.
United came close to a breakthrough after half an hour, Rooney firing in a free kick from 35 yards which a diving Michael Carrick just failed to latch on to six yards out.
But it took until two minutes from the break for United to take the lead with a well- crafted affair finished by Rooney.
Anthony Martial and Mata combined on the left with a onetwo. The former squared the ball, Rashford dummied the centre and Rooney side-footed home.
United had a good penalty claim waved away on 51 minutes when Mata went down under a clumsy challenge from Cook only for referee Moss to wave away their appeals.
They went even closer when Carrick struck a fierce, swerving shot from 22 yards after 54 minutes which beat Adam Federici in the Bournemouth goal but hit the crossbar.
It appeared to be the spark United needed with their play suddenly gathering urgency and momentum, with Rooney pressed further forward.
Antonio Valencia brought a fine save from Federici after an hour, lashing a 25-yard screamer towards the top corner which the keeper brilliantly tipped around the post at full stretch.
Then Rashford and substitute Young ensured victory, before Bournemouth’s late, late consolation.
MANCHESTER Booked: Goals: BOURNEMOUTH Referee: UTD (4-1-4-1): (4-4-2): Goal: