Manchester United bounce back with 2-0 win at Bournemouth

Soccer Football - Premier League - AFC Bournemouth vs Manchester United - Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Britain - April 18, 2018 Manchester United's Chris Smalling applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Ian Walton

(Reuters) - Manchester United tightened their grip on second place in the Premier League after goals in each half by defender Chris Smalling and substitute Romelu Lukaku gave them a clinical 2-0 win at Bournemouth on Wednesday.

The result left United, who suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat by bottom team West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, second on 74 points from 34 games, 13 behind champions Manchester City and four ahead of third-placed Liverpool.

It also left manager Jose Mourinho pondering who to select for Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley after he made seven changes to the side beaten by West Brom.

Soccer Football - Premier League - AFC Bournemouth vs Manchester United - Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Britain - April 18, 2018 Manchester United's Chris Smalling scores their first goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

"Every player on the pitch was positive and put himself available for Saturday," Mourinho told BT Sport.

"It was a good professional performance with good effort and responsibility. There was desire to score and a desire to cope with the defensive responsibilities against a fast team.

"I'm not very good on man of the match, I'm not a big fan of it, but Paul Pogba played very well. Against Man City (in a 3-2 United win) he was phenomenal but today he was very, very good."

Soccer Football - Premier League - AFC Bournemouth vs Manchester United - Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Britain - April 18, 2018 Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring their second goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

With one eye on the clash with Tottenham, Mourinho benched most of his regular starters including Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez and midfield anchorman Nemanja Matic.

The reshuffled side looked solid and Smalling fired them ahead with a close-range finish in the 28th minute, sliding in to score from close range after a neat move involving Ander Herrera and Jesse Lingard.

Visiting keeper David De Gea kept out a stinging shot by Jordon Ibe and Callum Wilson failed to connect with a low cross by Joshua King before Lukaku sealed United's win with a goal of the highest quality.

Soccer Football - Premier League - AFC Bournemouth vs Manchester United - Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Britain - April 18, 2018 Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku scores their second goal REUTERS/Ian Walton

Released by Pogba near the halfway line, the Belgium striker raced away from his marker and buried an unstoppable shot over advancing keeper Asmir Begovic in the 70th minute.

"At halftime the manager told Paul to keep making those runs, he did and played a perfect pass which I was able to finish off," Lukaku said.

"It was really important that we won today and now we’re well prepared for this weekend. As a player you always want to play and you always have to be ready."

Soccer Football - Premier League - AFC Bournemouth vs Manchester United - Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Britain - April 18, 2018 Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho before the match REUTERS/Ian Walton

(Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic; Editng by Ed Osmond)

Soccer Football - Premier League - AFC Bournemouth vs Manchester United - Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Britain - April 18, 2018 Manchester United's David De Gea arrives at the stadium before the match REUTERS/Ian Walton

Soccer Football - Premier League - AFC Bournemouth vs Manchester United - Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Britain - April 18, 2018 Manchester United's Marcos Rojo arrives at the stadium before the match REUTERS/Ian Walton

Soccer Football - Premier League - AFC Bournemouth vs Manchester United - Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Britain - April 18, 2018 Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho speaks with Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe before the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

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