'Belief is growing' - Erik Ten Hag hails Man United progress

Erik ten Hag said "belief is growing" at Manchester United after Tuesday's 3-0 win over Bournemouth but insisted it is still too early to think about a Premier League title challenge.

Marcus Rashford scored for a fourth consecutive game to add to earlier strikes from Casemiro and Luke Shaw as United made it four wins in a row in the league, and 13 in the last 16 in all competitions.

The victory left United fourth, one point behind rivals Manchester City, who head to Chelsea on Thursday before their next league appointment comes in the derby at Old Trafford on 14 January.

United's recent form is a match for almost anyone, but Ten Hag tried to brush off a question about the title race.

"That's a big step," he said. "We have to go game to game, get the progress.

"Belief is growing and that's a good sign, it's good to have that feeling but we have to understand and be able to give 100% in every game - 100% energy, 100% focus, 100% playing as a team.

"If you keep that philosophy it's possible but we have to go game to game and don't think too far ahead. It's now January so it's not even half a season we are talking about."

United secured what was a comfortable win despite only occasionally hitting top gear, with Casemiro's goal the only shot on target in the first half.

Shaw created and finished the second, bursting from his own half, shifting the ball right and applying the finish when Alejandro Garnacho rolled in a low cross.

David De Gea then made saves to deny Philip Billing and Jaidon Anthony before Rashford finished things off in the 86th minute.

Ten Hag - who will wait until Wednesday for more information on a potentially serious injury to Donny van de Beek - said it had been far from a perfect performance and warned his team