MARCUS Rashford’s stoppage-time winner proved a cruel blow for Cherries as they were beaten 2-1 by Manchester United.

Callum Wilson had reached 50 goals for Eddie Howe’s men on 11 minutes at Vitality Stadium before Anthony Martial’s strike cancelled out Cherries’ pulsating start.

And frontman Rashford came off the bench to net the pivotal blow at the death, condemning the Dorset club to their third defeat of the campaign.

Cherries made one change from the starting XI which won 3-0 at Fulham in their last league clash.

Having scored in Tuesday’s 2-1 Carabao Cup fourth round victory over Norwich, Junior Stanislas returned to the starting XI in place of Charlie Daniels.

David Brooks, who had spent most of his time on the wing for Eddie Howe’s men this season, was utilised in a central attacking role.

Joshua King remained out with an ankle problem, while Simon Francis was judged fit to start after overcoming a groin complaint.

With no Romelu Lukaku through injury, United recalled Alexis Sanchez to play through the middle. England international Rashford dropped to the bench.

Cherries started the game at rapid pace and fashioned the first chance of the contest after just four minutes.

Neat link-up between Brooks and Wilson allowed the latter to play in Ryan Fraser.

The Scotland international’s touch forced him wide of goal but he still worked David De Gea with a stinging left-foot drive.

The Dorset club continued on the offensive.

Wilson’s flick was palmed away by De Gea before Stanislas’s strike deflected wide for a corner after Brooks and Adam Smith had carved open the United defence.

On 11 minutes, Cherries got their reward for an electric start.

After a corner was headed clear by the visitors, a delightful pass from Lewis Cook allowed Stanislas time to tee up Wilson, who simply could not miss from inside the six-yard box.

Three minutes later, Cherries almost had a second. Wilson broke the offside trap once again and cut the ball across goal. The deflected centre found Brooks, who narrowly failed to keep down his header from close range.

Full-back Smith was causing mayhem down the right flank for the hosts and he almost doubled the advantage with 20 minutes gone.

The former Tottenham man picked up a sweeping cross-field ball from Steve Cook, cut inside and fired just wide of the far post.

It was then Stanislas’s turn to trouble United’s Spanish stopper midway through the opening period.

Francis released Wilson down the right. He picked out Stanislas on the edge of the box - the winger’s curling effort was straight into the United stopper’s clutches.

Cherries’ appeals for a penalty were then waved away by referee Paul Tierney. After Fraser’s devilish cross was heading towards Brooks, the Welsh international went to ground under the challenge of Luke Shaw.

United’s only effort of note throughout the first 34 minutes came when Antony Martial skipped down the left to find Fred lurking in the box.

The Brazilian midfielder’s shot, which looked to be heading off target, was charged down by Nathan Ake.

But with their first shot on goal, United were level on 35 minutes. Sanchez burst into Cherries’ box and squared for Martial – who fired home his fifth goal in as many games.

Three minutes later, the Red Devils were almost ahead. Sanchez’s knockdown from a ball from deep fell kindly to Juan Mata. The United playmaker failed to hit the target when he should have done better.

Cherries then showed their prowess on the counter. Stanislas picked out Fraser, who charged into the box and worked De Gea at his near post.

Following the break, Brooks almost provided a moment of magic for Cherries’ second.

After Smith and Fraser made inroads down the right once more, the latter’s dangerous centre was backheeled towards goal by Brooks, forcing a sharp reaction save from De Gea.

Asmir Begovic then came to Cherries’ rescue to deny the marauding Shaw. The Bosnian stopper was swiftly off his line to block the full-back’s strike after Martial’s neat flick.

United started to turn the screw, Sanchez’s header was tipped over the bar before substitute Ander Herrera drilled wide from the resulting corner.

Ashley Young’s free-kick then cannoned off the woodwork into the path of Rashford, whose effort from four yards out was blocked by Ake before Brooks hacked the ball off the line.

Despite soaking up pressure during the second half, Cherries almost won it through childhood Manchester United fan Brooks.

He broke clear inside the area but smashed the ball straight at De Gea.

And it was Mourinho’s men who were to have the last laugh.

Paul Pogba’s cross from the left narrowly evaded Ake, and as Smith tried to clear, Rashford was there to stab home.

Cherries (4-4-1-1): Begovic; Francis, S Cook, Ake, Smith; Fraser (Ibe, 74), L Cook (Gosling, 69), Lerma, Stanislas (90+1); Brooks; Wilson.

Unused subs: Mousset, Daniels, Defoe, Boruc (g/k).

Booked: Lerma, Stanislas, Wilson, Smith.

United (4-3-3): De Gea, Young, Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw; Fred (Herrera, 56), Matic, Pogba; Mata (Rashford, 56), Martial, Sanchez (Lingard, 78).

Unused subs: Jones, Darmian, McTominay, Romero.

Booked: Shaw, Young, Rashford.

Referee: Paul Tierney.