Rashford in awe of his new strike pal
MARCUS RASHFORD wants teenage sensation Mason Greenwood to be left to do what he does best – score goals.
United’s front three of Rashford, Greenwood and Anthony Martial all scored as Bournemouth were dismantled but it was the youngest of the three that stole the show.
Greenwood hammered two efforts past Aaron Ramsdale to take his tally for the season to 15.
And Rashford said: “Left foot or right foot, he can finish.
“I don’t want to put too much emphasis on him, just let him play his football and that is what he does.
“It is a big bonus to have him in the squad.
“The lads enjoyed it out there today.
“Definitely exciting times. It doesn’t matter who scores as long as we are scoring and picking up points in the table.”
For Eddie Howe, the table still makes dismal reading with his Bournemouth side
19th on 27 points. After another hefty defeat, the Cherries boss said: “We were much better from an attacking sense but defensively once we conceded the first goal, that was not our finest hour.
“Our motivation is high, it’s the confidence we need to protect and maintain at all costs.”
Howe’s opposite number Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was obviously in a much better mood after watching his in-form side notch up another impressive victory.
The United boss, whose side moved on to
55 points with victory, said: “I am very happy with the team today.
“The energy in the team, the goals we scored, the will and intent to go forward.
“It’s just too bad we couldn’t get the fans inside. I think that is a game for the fans.
“That is definitely one the Stretford End would have enjoyed.”
MASON GREENWOOD is such a natural talent that when he was interviewed for the first time he was asked which is his favoured foot.
The teenager confirmed it was his left – but at Old Trafford yesterday the Manchester United teenager showed that both his shooting boots are lethal.
Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Bruno Fernandes were also on target as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side cranked up their bid for the top four.
But it was young Greenwood who stole the show.
It is clear to see why Solskjaer has hailed the boy from Bradford, still only 18, as his club’s most gifted finisher.
Greenwood has scored 15 times in his breakthrough season – and with 12 months to go before the delayed Euros kick off, Harry Kane might have a contender to deal with.
United were trailing to Junior Stanislas’ cheekily crafted 15th-minute opener when Greenwood conjured up his first flash of magic.
There was still plenty of work to do when Fernandes’ poked pass enabled him to escape Adam Smith on the edge of the visitors’ box 12 minutes later.
Greenwood’s first touch loaded the bullet. His second sent a high-calibre left-footed missile scorching into the roof of the net beyond Aaron Ramsdale’s fingertips.
United needed him again when he used his right foot to equally stunning effect nine minutes into the second half.
The home side had gone in at the break 3-1 to the good.
But Josh King’s reply from the penalty spot four minutes after the restart had cast some doubt into Mancunian minds. However, when Greenwood found himself running towards an empty Stretford End, he didn’t hesitate.
Ramsdale was left flailing again as he unleashed the cleanest of strikes.
Solskjaer would have been delighted with the quality of his team’s finishing.
But Bournemouth’s opening goal illustrated there are still some concerns.
Stanislas made a real mug of Harry Maguire with a nutmeg that left the £85million defender looking like a man who had left his flies open.
There might be a word, too, for David De Gea after the Spaniard was then beaten at his near post.
Cherries boss Eddie Howe made three changes to the team battered by Newcastle in midweek.
He would have been encouraged by the way his men started both halves – but they were always going to come off second best in a shootout.
Rashford gave United the lead from the penalty spot, stroking home his 20th goal of the campaign in the 35th minute after Smith had handled. And Martial joined him on 20 for the season when he collected Fernandes’ pass and cut in to curl a glorious shot high past Ramsdale in first-half injury time.
But any belief that United were home and hosed was extinguished when King revived the visitors by firing home from the spot after substitute Eric Bailly was harshly adjudged to have handled.
Bournemouth substitute Arnaut Danjuma had already struck a post and United were once again rocking.
Danjuma then beat De Gea with a poked finish but had strayed offside. Talk about a let-off for the home side.
That was the cue for Greenwood to sooth any fraying nerves.
It was a pity the teenager didn’t get the ovation he deserved when Solskjaer brought him off 15 minutes from time.
By then, Fernandes had sealed the deal, whipping home a free-kick just before the hour from the edge of the box which sped past the poorly positioned Ramsdale in a blur.