AS SOLID a start as Cherries had made, the season was missing a real statement victory.

The manager and players alike have regularly made a point of expressing how they believe the current Cherries squad is the best in terms of quality and depth since they were promoted to the Premier League in 2015.

But the results did not quite reflect that, conceding more and scoring fewer as well as picking up seven points less than after 10 games last season.

The three victories Cherries had managed before the 11th game this weekend were impressive, producing good rearguard displays to defeat Aston Villa and Southampton on the road as well as sweeping aside Everton at Vitality Stadium.

But, as the table shows, all three of those sides are languishing in the bottom half.

So the visit of Manchester United on Saturday represented a real chance to put down a marker against a side above them in the standings and on a good run of form with three away victories on the trot before heading to the south coast.

And Cherries were more than equal to the task, defending resolutely led by immense displays from Steve Cook and Nathan Ake, again, while a moment of magic at the other end from Joshua King on the stroke of half-time secured a memorable 1-0 victory.

The win sees Eddie Howe’s charges leapfrog Man Utd in the table and extend their run without conceding a goal to almost six hours, including three successive clean sheets.

Howe made one change to the side which drew at Vicarage Road last time out with Harry Wilson replacing Arnaut Danjuma on the wing. Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Marcus Rashford all shook off knocks to start for the visitors.

And it was United who made the brighter start with Dan James getting in behind Diego Rico to cause problems.

In reply, a low Ryan Fraser cross was stopped by the leg of David de Gea and Harry Wilson saw an effort deflected wide.

The closest either side came during the early exchanges was courtesy of Welshman James, who arrowed goalwards from 20 yards but his effort flashed past the post.

Anthony Martial had been kept quiet for the majority of the contest, before going down in the box just past the half hour mark under a challenge from Jefferson Lerma. No foul was given, but the pair squared up with 19 other players getting involved before the Colombian was eventually booked, meaning he will now be suspended for next weekend’s trip to Newcastle.

Fred was also carded in the incident.

Having not scored for the entirety of October, a run of almost six hours of football, Cherries finally found the net again just before the break, and in some style. Smith’s cross from the right was chested down by King, who flicked the ball over the head of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and volleyed into the ground, through the legs of de Gea from deep inside the penalty area to mark his third goal of the season.

Buoyed by their goal, Cherries made the stronger start of the two sides after the restart with Fraser’s volley held by de Gea.

Ramsdale was called into rare action at the other end when Andreas Pereira let fly from 25 yards, but the goalkeeper was equal to the low effort, parrying away.

Back came Cherries with King ghosting into space to meet a cross, but de Gea smothered the effort.

The rebound from Harry Wilson was also saved by the Spaniard, with shouts of a foul by Scott McTominay waved away. Harry Wilson again looked to double the tally with 15 minutes to play, picking up the ball on the edge of the box, but his shot was tipped behind.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer turned to his bench introducing Jesse Lingard, Brandon Williams and Mason Greenwood as the pressure ramped up from the visitors.

Greenwood almost made his mark instantly, volleying against the post from close range while Ramsdale got down low to deny McTominay.

United carved out one final opportunity in the three minutes of stoppage time, but Fred’s effort was saved by Ramsdale as Cherries closed out a big win.

Cherries: Ramsdale; Smith, S Cook, Ake, Rico; H Wilson (L Cook, 86), Lerma, Billing, Fraser; King, C Wilson.

Unused subs: Francis, Mepham, Kelly, Danjuma, Solanke, Boruc (g/k).

Booked: Lerma, S Cook, Fraser, C Wilson.

Man Utd: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka (Williams, 80), Lindelof, Maguire, Young; McTominay, Fred, Pereira (Lingard, 68); James (Greenwood, 80), Rashford, Martial.

Unused subs: Rojo, Garner, Mata, Romero (g/k).

Booked: Fred, Lindelof.

Referee: Chris Kavanagh

Attendance: 10,669