CHERRIES were unable to end their home campaign with a win, falling to a 1-0 defeat at Vitality Stadium to Manchester United.

The away side all-but confirmed a place in next season’s Champions League with the three points earned through Casemiro’s first-half strike.

Gary O’Neil made a total of five changes to the side defeated 2-0 at Crystal Palace last weekend.

David Brooks was drafted into make his first start in 599 days.

The Welsh international last started a senior match back on Wednesday, 29 September 2021 , when he played 69 minutes in a 0-0 draw at Peterborough United.

Shortly after, Brooks was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, missing most of the last campaign before being given the all-clear in May.

Jefferson Lerma suffered a broken nose in the defeat at Selhurst Park, but was deemed to be fit to play, whilst Matias Vina, Chris Mepham, Phil Billing, Dango Ouattara, and Joe Rothwell all came out of the starting XI.

In their place came Marcos Senesi, Lewis Cook, Jaidon Anthony, Adam Smith, and the aforementioned Brooks.

Senesi must have thought he had done enough to thwart a United attack when he got a touch on a through ball to Casemiro, but the Brazilian showed acrobatic ability to stretch and volley past a powerless Neto in the Cherries goal.

The goal marked a spell of dominance from the away side, with Cherries struggling to get the ball down and create chances.

However, despite being hemmed into their own half for huge swathes of the opening 45 minutes, they looked defensively comfortable as Manchester United struggled to enter the Cherries penalty area.

The closing stages of the first period saw Cherries produce moments.

A well-worked move from the hosts saw Smith supply a cross into the box for Solanke.

Weaving past a few defenders, his low shot forced David De Gea into action, the goalkeeper getting down low quickly to deny Cherries an equaliser.

Solanke again came close from a Smith cross, looping a header just over De Gea’s bar on the stroke of half-time.

Cherries started the second half with intent. Brooks ghosted into the area, before forcing De Gea to push a powerful effort over the bar.

Using the outside of his boot, Christie played in Solanke, who flashed an effort past De Gea – and the face of goal.

For the guests, substitute Wout Weghorst sent an emphatic effort down the throat of Neto, who did well to get his body behind the shot.

Illia Zabarnyi managed to get a decisive foot in the way of Bruno Fernandes’ shot, sending it over the bar for a corner which came to nothing.

Fernandes went closer again, his volley on the edge of the area tipped over by the two hands of Neto.

With less than 10 minutes remaining, Cherries had a golden chance to level.

Another good move was strung together, this time down the right-hand flank, with Cook combining with substitutes Vina and Ouattara.

That allowed another sub, Kieffer Moore, a one-on-one chance with De Gea, but the Spaniard came out on top, blocking with his feet.

Senesi's speculative effort in added time represented the final chance for Cherries, the defender's long range shot dipping over the bar.

The result leaves Cherries 14th, with a final trip to relegation threatened Everton on the horizon next weekend.

Cherries: Neto, Smith (Vina, 66), Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kelly; Cook, Lerma; Christie (Ouattara, 66), Brooks (Moore, 55), Anthony, Solanke.

Unused subs: Travers (g/k), Mepham, Stacey, Stephens, Adu-Adjei, Sadi.

Booked: Cook.

Manchester United: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Lindelof, Shaw; Casemiro, Fernandes, Eriksen (McTominay, 86), Antony (Fred, 86), Martial (Weghorst, 57), Sancho (Garnacho, 72).

Unused subs: Butland (g/k), Maguire, Malacia, Dalot, Pellistri.

Referee: Chris Kavanagh

VAR: Craig Pawson