Solskjaer is at a loss as Cherries return United to square one

SHARPEN those analytical knives, Mr Keane, and get those one-liners ready, Mr Neville. After a mini-run of results, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United are back to losing limply.

Back to square one. United came to the Vitality Stadium looking for a fourth successive win but left beaten by a team that failed to score in all of October.

Bournemouth’s winner was special. Joshua King had Aaron Wan-Bissaka on his back, then duly put the defender in his pocket, flicked the ball over his head, swivelled and volleyed.

Bang. The winner – from a former United pupil, no less – and a Goal of the Month contender. Solskjaer showed his appreciation too, labelling it a ‘moment of magic’.

Yet his brow furrowed when discussing the defending. WanBissaka was not only to blame. Also in close proximity to King was Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof – £111 million worth of talent.

All stood statuesque while King turned and struck against the club where he learned his trade.

United’s haul of 13 points from 11 games is their lowest at this stage of a topflight campaign since 198687 – the season Alex Ferguson took over from Ron Atkinson in November.

Solskjaer knows this is not good enough. ‘Games like this you need to win if you want to challenge for the top four,’ he said. ‘We’re disappointed. We need a response.

‘We’ve had a good period going into this game. Now we’ve got to react. I’m sure we will.’

United had chances but as Solskjaer said afterwards: ‘Could’ve, should’ve. That’s football.’

Bournemouth (4-4-2): Ramsdale 7.5; Smith 7, S Cook 7.5, Ake 7.5, Rico 7; Fraser 7, Lerma 7, Billing 7, H Wilson 7.5 (L Cook 86); C Wilson 7.5, King 8

Scorer: King (45)

Booked: Lerma, Cook, Fraser, Wilson mancheSter united (4-2-3-1): De Gea 6; Wan-Bissaka 5 (Williams 81), Lindelof 5, Maguire 5, Young 5; McTominay 5, Fred 5.5; James 6 (Greenwood 80), Pereira 5 (Lingard 68, 6), Rashford 6; Martial 5

Booked: Fred, Young, Lindelof referee: Chris Kavanagh 6