Manchester United 3-1 Bournemouth: Marcus Rashford nets again

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Bournemouth. Picture: Martin Rickett/PA Wire

The match took place two days after a bomb scare forced its hasty rearrangement and United coasted to a 3-1 victory.

Error rather than terror proved to be at the heart of the issue that saw the original match abandoned, with a private security firm having left a fake bomb inside Old Trafford following a training exercise.

United refunded all fans with tickets for Sunday’s match and offered them free entry to the rearranged game, but a number stayed away as Rashford followed his maiden England call-up with a lovely goal in a win that belatedly brought the Premier League to a close.

The 18-year-old’s impressive finish made it eight goals in 17 matches since his first-team debut less than three months ago and came between a Wayne Rooney goal and another which the United captain created superbly.

The England skipper opened the scoring by ending a fine team move – his 100th Premier League goal at Old Trafford – before beautifully clipping the ball over for substitute Ashley Young to score late on.

The three points see United usurp Southampton in fifth and secure a place in the Europa League group stage, but whether Louis van Gaal is still presiding over the team by then remains to be seen amid fresh reports about Jose Mourinho replacing him.

There was never any chance of the club-record 19 goals required to wrest fourth place and Champions League football from Manchester City, but not even Chris Smalling’s late own goal will prevent United entering the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace in good heart.