Towards the end Old Trafford was at its loudest in recent memory, Manchester United’s joyous fans singing the “20 times” ditty about their record number of titles.

They recognised the manner of this 4-1 hammering of Bournemouth and the Ole Gunnar Solskjær honeymoon that continues with a third emphatic win of the caretaker manager’s three games in charge. There is now a defi-nite strut to United and not even Eric Bailly’s late straight red card dented the mood of happiness thanks to a display decorated by the magnificent Paul Pogba and an impressive supporting cast led by Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford.

Afterwards Pogba hinted at the damage done by José Mourinho before his sacking two weeks ago. “Maybe we have just realised that we are Manchester United and we need to be at the top of the league,” he said. “You’ve seen the reaction of the players. Everyone is enjoying themselves and that’s what we need. We need to enjoy playing football, work for each other.

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“We still won some games with the old manager. It’s just a different style of play. We are more offensive, we create more chances, play higher. So this is how we want to play. We want to attack. The manager wants to attack. And that’s what we are doing.” Pogba’s display left Solskjær purring, though he did indicate his starman can over-elaborate.

“Today is a top performance from a midfielder, it’s work rate, headers, wins tackles, no showboating and it’s touch, pass, move and he’s at his best when he plays that game,” he said. “There was maybe one flick he could have done better with but not a lot else.” Of Rashford Solskjær said: “I’m delighted. He’s coming on and will be a top player.”

In retaining Rashford and placing Romelu Lukaku on the bench Solskjær offered a clue to how he would prefer United to attack: with the greater nimbleness the No10 can offer over the No9. Within three minutes Rashford started to prove the theory. After drifting to the right he removed Nathan Aké with some Fred Astaire style footwork, fired the ball in and there was Pogba ghosting to the far post to finish.

This was the perfect start from a move straight out of the Busby-Ferguson playbook: fast, direct and ending with a killer touch. Moments later Solskjær’s men authored a near-repeat. United were showing a buccaneering spirit that has been missing since Ferguson retired in May 2013. Pogba roved everywhere and, when Martial chipped the ball in, there was the No6 again to test Asmir Begovic.

But on 33 minutes there was nothing Begovic could do to deny the Frenchman. Ashley Young pulled the ball back to Ander Herrera and he sent in a precise cross which Pogba, arriving late between two defenders, rose to head home, beating Begovic to the punch to register his fourth goal in two games.

By the break it was 3-1 and Solskjær, again, had injected the entertainment-factor back into United. Rashford’s second goal in three matches derived from Martial’s chipped pass from the right.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Marcus Rashford slides in to make it 3-0. Photograph: Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images

However, there was some succour for the Cherries in added time. Defensive sloppiness allowed David Brooks to cross and Aké beat David de Gea. This had a stern-faced Solskjær striding off at the interval and it gave Eddie Howe something to work with in his half-time talk.

The second 45 minutes began with Bailly needing to clear and Luke Shaw heading weakly as Bournemouth threatened. Now, though, came some one-touch football at the other end. Shaw won a tackle, Pogba foundMartial and he fed Herrera, who forced a corner.

Next there was impressive pressing as Jesse Lingard hassled Charlie Daniels and Rashford, following up, won a throw-in. This preceded a long passage of possession for the home side in which United moved the ball from back to front with ease. When they next decided to pounce, Pogba slipped Rashford in and his lob was repelled by the ever-busy Begovic.

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After Howe swapped Lys Mousset and Ryan Fraser for Brooks and Callum Wilson, off came the effervescent Rashford to be replaced by Lukaku. Solskjær’s substitution was inspired when the Belgian, despite appearing to be offside, beat Begovic with a neat right-footed strike.

Pogba then came close to the first hat-trick of his United career but his shot was turned on to the post by Begovic.

Bailly will miss three games and his manager had no argument with the decision. “No, I don’t think so. He knows he’s mistimed that one, excited, he’s playing again, thinks he’s going to win the ball and no complaints,” said Solskjær. The defeat, though, left Howe disappointed. “It was a tough game and a disappointing performance from us,” he said. “We were technically below the level we’re usually at and we got punished. We have to regroup, refocus and put things right in our next few games.”

United, as Solskjær maintains, are a work in progress. But there is a new-found energy and belief after their travails under Mourinho.