Bournemouth 2-1 Manchester United: Cherries increase pressure on Louis van Gaal

Josh King's second-half strike saw Bournemouth beat Manchester United 2-1 at the Vitality Stadium to increase the pressure on visiting manager Louis van Gaal.

The home side enjoyed a dream start when Junior Stanislas scored direct from a corner, only for Marouane Fellaini to net a scruffy equaliser midway through the first half.

However, former United striker King made it a miserable week for his old team by grabbing the winner nine minutes after half-time as the visitors missed the chance to move level with Manchester City at the top of the table, while Bournemouth move up to 14th.

United arrived on the South Coast without nine first-team regulars, meaning van Gaal handed Premier League debuts to both Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Guillermo Varela in what was a makeshift back four.

And United made the worst possible start after falling behind after just two minutes, with Bournemouth's opener came direct from a Stanislas corner kick.

The in-form forward swung the ball in from the left and somehow United goalkeeper David de Gea lost its flight in the swirling conditions, before it dropped into the back of the net over the backpedalling Spaniard and Anthony Martial standing on the goal-line.

United responded impressively to the shock of going behind so early and really should have drawn level just two minutes later following a Juan Mata free-kick out on the left-hand touchline.

The ball broke kindly to Fellaini in the box, only for Artur Boruc to deny the Belgium international with a brilliant point-blank stop, before the 'keeper then also kept out Michael Carrick's follow-up header with another excellent fingertip stop.

Slowly, but surely, United started to gain a foothold in the contest, with Martial spurning a wonderful chance to equalise after 18 minutes following a stray pass from Stanislas that went straight to the feet of the Frenchman some 25 yards from goal.

But with just Boruc to beat, the frontman dragged his effort horribly wide of the Pole's right-hand post, and that miss could have been even more costly had Stanislas not passed up a great chance to extend Bournemouth's lead minutes later.

Stanislas raced clean through on goal, but with just De Gea to beat the Spaniard stole the ball of his shoelaces as the pacy forward tried to round United's No 1, and that miss proved crucial after the visitors equalised two minutes later.

Michael Carrick played an inch-perfect ball over the top for Memphis Depay to run on to and despite the Dutchman being denied by the onrushing Boruc, Fellaini found himself in the right place at the right time to toe-poke home from close range at the second attempt.

Bournemouth, though, refused to take a backward step and continued to attack United at every opportunity, demonstrating just why no other top-flight team has run further than them so far this season.

And Eddie Howe's men got their just rewards when King, who played for United for four years until 2013, side-footed home after Matt Ritchie's low driven corner from the right had somehow found its way through to the striker 10 yards yards out from goal.

In truth, the Cherries would have won by more had substitute Glenn Murray - on for the injured King - not wasted two glorious chances in the final 20 minutes, the first when it seemed easier to score.

However, Bournemouth held on with some ease to record memorable back-to-back league wins over champions Chelsea, and now United.

Meanwhile, this latest setback completes a miserable week for Van Gaal and his players after their Champions League exit on Tuesday, while the Dutchman also suffered more injury problems after Jesse Lingard limped off just past the half-hour mark and Depay also appeared to suffer a hamstring problem in the second half.

Player ratings

Bournemouth: Boruc (8), Smith (7), Francis (8), Cook (7), Daniels (7), Surman (7), Ritchie (7), Arter (8), Gosling (7), Stanislas (9), King (8)

Used subs: Murray (7), O'Kane (6)

Manchester United: De Gea (6), Varela (6), McNair (6), Blind (6), Jackson (5), Fellaini (7), Carrick (7), Mata (6), Depay (7), Lingard (6), Martial (7)

Used subs: Jones (6), Powell (6), Pereira (7)

Man of the match: Junior Stanislas