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MANCHESTER UNITED ran out 1-0 winners over Bournemouth but there was a sense of deflation around Old Trafford.
The horse has bolted, even if Romelu Lukaku got the Red Devils back on track.
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Any thoughts that they might be able to make up ground with victory at home last night were quickly dispelled with news from the Liberty Stadium of Manchester City's record-setting 4-0 demolition of Swansea.
If second top United cannot stop City then rock bottom Swansea were never likely to and were duly dismantled.
When Pep’s blue juggernaught is in town, look out. United only lost by one goal on Sunday as City emerged from the derby 2-1 winners.
In truth they were well back in the slipstream of their noisy neighbours on a chastening afternoon for all in the red half of town.
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The thought of a battle for second before the New Year is not going to lift this ground any time soon.
Champions League will, Carabao Cup semi-final might even do, if they get past Bristol City next week.
'TRYING TO MAKE POINT?' Romelu Lukaku fails to celebrate after scoring for United
In the League? They will need a bigger wobble than a woozy Weeble from City to change places with them at the top any time between now and next May.
Second will still be a step up from any other season since Sir Alex Ferguson handed over the reigns of power. The thing is these fans still expect to be top dog.
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Not this season and maybe not for some time if the Guardiola’s revolution down the road continues at this pace.
Still United have the buying power to improve the squad, the manager to improve the players and the support to maintain hope for the future.
Although there was more than a handful who decided to leave their seat empty last night.
Despite the dour mood United still recorded a win but the performance was poor.
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Mourinho had freshened his team up from debilitating derby defeat with Phil Jones, Juan Mata, Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay in the starting line up.
For Shaw it was nearly eight months since his last Premier League start, for McTominay, who turned 21 last week, it was only his second start in the top flight ever.
Bournemouth arrived still too close to the drop zone despite an upturn in fortunes since the start of the season when they lost their first four games.
While they had lost only one of their last six league games, three had been draws.
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One of those came at Crystal Palace on Saturday and Eddie Howe made four changes from that side with veteran striker Jermain Defoe dropped to the bench despite getting both their goals in the 2-2 at Selhurst Park.
It looked like United were still shaking off the hangover from Sunday in the first period.
Bournemouth could feel very unfortunate to have gone in 1-0 down having tested David De Gea four times while United scored from their only real opportunity.
That came on 25 minutes when Juan Mata crossed from the left to the far post and Romelu Lukaku got between two Bournemouth players to head into the top corner.
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He barely celebrated. His performance on Sunday when he helped to set up both City goals was still weighing heavily on his shoulders.
At the other end De Gea had plenty to do before the break to keep a lively Bournemouth at bay.
Charlie Daniels tested him first with a low shot through the rain which the Spaniard got down to well. Dan Gosling followed up with a shot from an angle that De Gea palmed away.
Then after United took the lead United’s number one maintained it when he reacted well to a Junior Stanislas shot while Adam Smith just couldn’t steer home the loose ball from a very tight angle.
Right on half time captain Simon Francis also had a go from an angle and was also denied as De Gea was once again perfectly positioned.
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United improved marginly after the break.
On the hour Anthony Martial missed an absolute sitter that would have given them a comfortable two goal cushion.
Lukaku’s cross shot was deflected into the centre of the six yard box by goalkeeper Asmir Begovic and from there Martial spooned the ball over the bar.
Mourinho, showed no emotion just turning away and looking at the ground.
Manchester United star Anthony Martial misses absolute sitter against Bournemouth
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Martial had not time to make up for it his error as moments later in the 66th minute he was substituted for Marcus Rashford and looked less than happy about it.
Yet six minutes after coming on Rashford came desperately close to scoring with a scorching shot from just inside the area that came crashing down off the underside of the bar.
Well before the final whistle fans started to wander away.
It was three points but there was very little to raise the spirits.
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