BOURNEMOUTH

ROMELU LUKAKU punished Bournemouth once again – but Manchester United hardly had reason to celebrate like the noisy neighbours.

Lukaku has scored six goals for Everton against the Cherries – including four in a 6-3 win at Goodison Park last season – and was on the mark again as United got back on the winning trail after Sunday’s derby setback.

But it was not a champagne performance that would have sparked a party like City enjoyed and which so irked Jose Mourinho.

Lukaku barely celebrated the goal that earned United an important win but the news that Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering leaders had won easily again at Swansea meant all it did was ensure the title gap did not get even wider.

Lukaku had two unintentional ‘assists’ for both City’s goals but at least he did the right thing in the right penalty box last night.

He climbed above Nathan Ake after 25 minutes to power home Juan Mata’s cross. It was his 14th goal of the season – but only his third in his last 15 appearances.

And how United needed it against a Cherries team who gave as good as they got.

David De Gea – watched by United goalkeeping legend Edwin van der Sar – was the busier of the two goalkeepers and at the end of the game United were just happy to have got over the line with three points. They could have