Solskjaer Does Not Want Lukaku Playing 'Target Man' Role

Manchester United interim Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hinted Romelu Lukaku will not play in a "target man" role as long as he is in charge.

Lukaku endured a difficult first half of the season, struggling for form and fitness after claiming he had been negatively impacted by building up too much muscle during the World Cup.

The 25-year-old striker was granted compassionate leave over Christmas and, as such, is further behind than the majority of his team-mates with respect to match sharpness.

But, in Sunday's 4-1 hammering of Bournemouth, Lukaku came on as a second-half substitute for the impressive Marcus Rashford and scored United's final goal, beating Asmir Begovic after latching on to Paul Pogba's pass.

It was the first time Lukaku had featured since former boss Jose Mourinho with whom the Belgian was said to have a close bond was replaced by Solskjaer, and the new man at the helm is excited by the prospect of the former Everton man being fully fit.

"At times he's a good target man, but if you tell him to be a target man he'll never face the goal," Solskjaer told reporters. "Today [Sunday] he was side-on and he's got the attributes of a top, top striker.

"We need to work on his fitness, but I'm delighted. Even though he was half a yard offside [for his goal], it was a good finish."

Bournemouth lost their goalscorer and defender Nathan Ake to injury late in the game, but manager Eddie Howe was unsure about the severity of the suspected hamstring issue.

"I don't know the latest on Nathan Ake," Howe said. "I'll need to speak to him and the medical team, but it looked like a hamstring complaint."

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Drama at The Death in Six-goal Thriller

Bournemouth and West Ham shares the spoil in a fascinating six-goal thriller at the Vitality Stadium on Boxing Day.

Match summary

Bournemouth were delighted to record a point against West Ham as Callum Wilson scored in the 93rd minute after a trilling encounter with six-goals, penalty appeals and end-to-end action throughout.

Full report

Bournemouth were quickest out of the blocks with a couple of early set-pieces, but weren't able to capatalise before James Collins headed home after just seven minutes. Simon Francis had missed his header at the other end moments earlier, and he wasn't able to stop West Ham from taking the lead as Collins connected to an Aaron Cresswell corner.

Adrian did well to deny a poked effort from Wilson following Pablo Zabaleta's poor clearance from a Ryan Fraser delivery with 15 minutes played.

While, Josh King really should have equalised two minutes later but slipped when connecting with a good Wilson delivery from the right to slice his effort wide.

Arthur Masuaku then sliced his shot wide at the other end, before King was again off target while Adrian made a great save to keep out Adam Smith as Bournemouth eyed an equaliser.

And with 30 minutes gone, the hosts were level as a Fraser free-kick into the box fell to Dan Gosling who found a shot through a raft of bodies.

Francis was lucky not to see red for a boot in the face of Cheikhou Kouyate just after the 30 minute mark, ahead of a slightly more subdued end to the first half that saw Manuel Lanzini fire a late shot just wide.

Asmir Begovic collected well from an Arnautovic delivery at the start of the second period before Wilson fired off target after being fed by King following a deflected clearance from Pedro Obiang.

Lanzini was again close with another effort that was just inches off target from a good Arnautovic delivery from the left before Bournemouth took the lead with 57 minutes on the clock. Nathan Ake was well placed to sweep home after West Ham failed to clear a Lewis Cook cross after a neat short corner.

Adrian then denied Gosling a second as he was played in by Cook, while Ake found the side-netting with a 64th minute header.

Bournemouth's shout for a 66th minute penalty for a handball on Collins was waved away by referee Bobby Madley before Adrian was called into action again, a minute later, to stop Jordan Ibe from smashing in a third.

Both sides continued to attack, as Arnautovic poked wide on 70 minute before Fraser then also flashed an effort just wide.

It was end to end stuff as both sides battled ferociously for all three points, and Adrian did well to stop Benik Afobe at his near post, while also saving the rebound.

But no one really could have predicted how the final 10 or so minutes would play out, as first Arnautovic drew West Ham level on 82 minutes after a horrible mistake from Begovic as he slip in the rain and gifted the ball to the striker - before the striker scored again. Another poor clearance from Begovic allowed Arnautovic to slot home.

But West Ham somehow let the three points slip as an Ake header across the face of goal made it' way into the goal off Wilson's head and possibly arm, with the player having also initially been flagged for offside.

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Eden Hazard's Strike Secured a 1-0 Win For The Blues at Bournemouth

The visitors went close several times in the first half before Hazard flashed a near-post finish past Cherries goalkeeper Asmir Begovic on 51 minutes.

Bournemouth created little but their best opening came when substitute Jordon Ibe saw his left-footed effort deflect narrowly over Thibaut Courtois' crossbar.

The result means Chelsea sit fourth, nine points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City, while Bournemouth remain 19th having taken just seven points from their opening 10 games.

Match Report

9: CHANCE! Chelsea are picking up the pace now! Pedro bursts away from Ake in the midfield area and drives towards the box, unleashing a shot from 22 yards - but it's well over the bar.

15: TACKLE! Rudiger's great pass is right in stride for Zappacosta but Ake times his challenge perfectly, playing the ball back off the Chelsea right-back for a Bournemouth goal kick. If that was a fraction off it was a Chelsea penalty.

17: CHANCE! Huge opportunity! Stanislas slips in Afobe, who has Daniels available on the left side of the area. Afobe just needs to roll it to his team-mate but completely over-hits the pass, forcing Daniels wide. The Cherries man still manages to dig out a cross, forcing a Chelsea corner.

But that was a big wasted chance for the home side.

24: HUGE MISS! A disastrous clearance by Begovic lands straight at the feet of Hazard, who finds Morata in the box. The Spain international looks set to tuck away the opener but puts his effort the wrong side of the post.

A big, big let off for Bournemouth...

26: SAVE! Bakayoko rises well over Surman to plant a header on goal but it's straight at Begovic. You sense Chelsea are getting closer to opening up this Bournemouth defence...

28: NO GOAL! Chelsea have the ball in the net but it won't count! They work a short corner, Hazard finds Luiz and the defender's shot takes a deflection before falling to Azpilicueta, who appears to be offside. Begovic smothers his effort and it breaks to Morata, who tucks it home from close range.

But the assistant's flag goes up for Azpilicueta - a look at the replay suggests he may have been level. A very tight call...

34: SAVE! A super stop by Begovic denies Morata! It's a great move from Chelsea as the ball is fizzed into Hazard and his first touch is immaculate, laying the ball off to Morata. The striker turns brilliantly in the box away from Francis and seems set to score but Begovic rushes out to make the save.

44: BLOCK! Cook gets his body in front of Fabregas with the Chelsea midfielder poised to pull the trigger following good work in the box by Hazard and Pedro. Conte can't believe it on the touch-line, he looks very frustrated.

51: GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 0-1 CHELSEA (Hazard)

Bournemouth were defending doggedly...but that was poor all round.

Morata picks the pass to Hazard but Francis completely miskicks his attempted clearance, allowing the Belgian on goal.

It's still a narrow angle and you fancy Begovic to stand tall but the goalkeeper leaves his near post open and Hazard fires it home.

57: CLOSE! There's your answer - they can hurt Chelsea! Stanislas gets a little lucky to bundle his way past Luiz and he tees up Ibe. The substitute comes inside onto his left foot and fires narrowly over the bar.

It actually took a deflection for a Bournemouth corner but Chelsea clear their lines.

64: CHANCE! More good football by Chelsea. Hazard finds the run of Pedro in the box and the Spaniard returns the favour, cutting back and teeing up Hazard, who leans back and spoons over the bar.

75: BLOCK! Ibe squares up Rudiger and gets to the byline, firing a low cross towards Wilson but Azpilicueta is there to deny the substitute. Strong defending.

83: CLOSE! Hazard delays his pass in the Bournemouth box, waiting for the overlapping Fabregas, who blazes over from a tight angle. He should have done better.

90+3: SAVE! Bournemouth finally create a proper opening! Surman drives into the box and the ball breaks to Cook, who whips an effort on the turn. It's straight at Courtois, though.

In the end it's Bournemouth 0 Chelsea 1

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