King sharpens Man United pain as City go top

AFP LONDON: Josh King returned to haunt Manchester United on Saturday ( 12 December) as his goal earned Bournemouth a memorable 2-1 victory that completed a miserable week for Louis van Gaal’s beleaguered team.

United were hoping to turn the page on their mid-week Champions League exit, but Junior Stanislas put Bournemouth in front straight from a corner after 100 seconds and although Marouane Fellaini equalised, former United trainee King punished slack defending at a corner to claim a 54th-minute winner.

United could have gone level with new Premier League leaders Manchester City, but their third defeat of the campaign left them three points off the pace in fourth and at risk of falling six points behind Leicester City, who host Chelsea on Monday, generating yet more bad press for the floundering Van Gaal.

It was a second stunning win in a week for Eddie Howe’s promoted Bournemouth following their 1-0 triumph at champions Chelsea last weekend and took them three points clear of the relegation zone.

Kelechi Iheanacho’s fortuitous stoppage-time goal had earlier given Manchester City a 2-1 win over managerless Swansea City that sent Manuel Pellegrini’s side above former leaders Leicester on goal difference.

Swansea, who have won only once in 12 league games, remain a point above the relegation places.

Elsewhere, Crystal Palace drew level on points with fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur, who host Newcastle United on Sunday, after Yohan Cabaye’s 38th-minute tap-in earned them a 1-0 home win over Southampton.

Everton remain in ninth place after squandering a chance to close on the leading sides in a 1-1 draw at Norwich City, with Romelu Lukaku’s headed opener cancelled out by Wes Hoolahan.

Watford moved up to seventh place, four points below the Champions League spots, after Odion Ighalo’s 10th goal of the campaign secured a 1-0 win at Sunderland, while West Ham United drew 0-0 at home to Stoke City.