Lacklustre week gets worse at United

LONDON, AP:

After another lacklustre week in the short reign of Louis van Gaal, Manchester United will revisit the scene of one of the team's greatest embarrassments.

In January 1984, Bournemouth then playing in the third tier eliminated defending champions United from the FA Cup in one of the competition's great upsets. Now, Bournemouth is in the Premier League for the first time and preparing to host United today.

The disparity between United and Bournemouth is vast. United have the league's biggest

stadium (76,000-capacity); Bournemouth's is the smallest (11,500). United have won a record 20 top-flight titles; Bournemouth have zero.

Although United are three points from first place and Bournemouth are barely out of the relegation zone on goal difference, the south-coast club has been buoyed by the greatest result in its history: Winning at Premier League champions Chelsea last weekend.

United, though, are making the long trip to the seaside town after failing to qualify for the round of 16 in the Champions League.

United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger starts a three-game ban after accepting a Football Association charge for violent conduct on Thursday. The German stuck out his left arm and caught West Ham defender Winston Reid in the throat as both players jostled for position from a free kick during the 0-0 draw at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Adding to United's problems is a lengthy injury list that includes captain Wayne Rooney and defenders Matteo Darmian and Chris Smalling.

"We have a lot of injuries," United midfielder Marouane Fellaini said.

"There's nothing we can do about that. We have a lot of players in the squad that the manager has given a chance to and now they can show themselves, but I hope the injured players come back soon."