Romelu Lukaku grabs only goal as Manchester United see off Bournemouth

Romelu Lukaku began his rehabilitation with a fine headed winner as an abject Manchester United pipped Bournemouth 1-0.

The game started slowly but after 15 minutes Bournemouth took the ascendancy, forcing David de Gea to make two smart saves.

But then after 26 minutes, Anthony Martial and Juan Mata combined and the latter slung over a fine cross, met by Lukaku, who headed home with extreme prejudice; a goal he barely celebrated, Sunday's derby nightmare still fresh in his mind.

United improved slightly at the start of the second half, Martial missing a sitter on the hour. Shortly afterwards he was replaced by Marcus Rashford, who soon smashed a fantastic curler against the underside of the bar from 25 yards.

But as time elapsed, Bournemouth increased the pressure as United sat off, and De Gea was forced to make an expert's save at his near post after Jermain Defoe had stolen a march on Phil Jones.

United held on, though, and have only one more game to survive before the suspended Paul Pogba returns and they are able to play well once more.

United must buy in January. With the league gone, United must prioritise the Champions League - partly for their own ends, partly to avoid the horror of Manchester City winning it. Their current squad is not equipped to do this, but if they can add a midfielder of class, they might just be able to do something.

David de Gea (Manchester United) The difference between the sides and the best in the world.

Manchester United: De Gea 8, Valencia 6, Jones 7, Smalling 6, Shaw 7, Matic 5, McTominay 6, Lingard 5, Mata 6, Lukaku 6, Martial 6. Subs: Rashford 6, Herrera 6, Young 6.

Bournemouth: Begovic 6, Smith 7, Francis 7, Ake 7, Daniels 6, Wilson 6, Gosling 6, Arter 6, Fraser 6, Stanislas 6, King 6. Subs: Defoe 6, Afobe, L. Cook 6.

20’ - SAVE! Wilson gets a run at Jones down the left side of the box but Jones stands up well, eventually sticking in a block when the time comes. The resultant corner yields another, which United only half-clear, and eventually Daniels glides inside Mata, who naturally offers no resistance, then drives a low shot which De Gea dives to push away. Bournemouth are giving as good as they're getting here.

26’ - GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Bournemouth (Lukaku) Bournemouth have dominated the last ten minutes, but there you go. Martial makes good ground on the left, Smith bouncing off him, and slides inside to Mata, turning up on his flank. He moves the ball onto his left foot, swerves over a fine cross, and Lukaku has far too much in the air for Daniels, banging home a header as important for him as for United.

60’ - WHAT A MISS! United up the pressure and Lingard's poor touch loses him a shooting opportunity. But the ball is then cleared only to be headed back towards goal by Wilson and Lukaku, on the left of the box, slides a shot against Begovic. It breaks for Martial, and he finds a quite astounding angle of elevation to sidefoot high over the bar.

72’ - CROSSBAR... SO CLOSE! Man, Marcus Rashford is something! He takes the ball on the left after McTominay barges King out the road and there looks nothing on whatsoever, so flicks it his stride then explodes into a shot, curling an absolute bastard that dematerialises the bar close to the near post and bounces down just in front of the line. He has got it all.

81’ - LATE PRESSURE! Good from Bournemouth, Charlie Francis retrieving yet another corner, nipping round the back and clipping over a cross; naturally, Jones and Smalling collide, but Ake can only get underneath it to head over the top.

83’ - FANTASTIC DAVID DE GEA! Smith goes down the right and cuts back an excellent pass for Defoe, whose brilliant first touch takes the ball away from Jones and allows him to smash a low shot. But right by the near post, De Gea stands tall and more importantly, keeps his legs closed, making a save where others would've been nutmegged. That looked so much easier than it was.

Since the start of last season, Romelu Lukaku has scored 30 goals in 38 games against non-big-six sides.