Bournemouth 3 Fulham 0: Cherries resurgence continues as red-hot Solanke scores again in rout
BOURNEMOUTH super sub Luis Sinisterra showed Fulham why every team should now be worried by the Premier League’s hottest outfit.
Sinisterra lashed home a stoppage time beauty from 20 yards after goals by Justin Kluivert and Dominic Solanke stunned the subdued visitors.
Even the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool can’t boast a run of six wins and a draw in their last seven fixtures.
And to think the Cherries drew that one game against Aston Villa thanks to Ollie Watkins’ last-minute leveller.
Kluivert would have earned a knowing smile from his famous dad Patrick, who scored his final Premier League goal for Newcastle against Fulham 18 years ago.
He was on hand to convert the excellent work by Alex Scott who ran past five Fulham players before allowing the winger to slam home a minute before the break.
And Solanke doubled the score when he rolled home Bournemouth’s first spot-kick in 608 days.
When Joao Palhinha bundled Semenyo over in the box only one man was going to step up and claim his 12th goal just after the hour.
And the best was left to last when Sinisterra ran in from the wing and thundered home into the far corner.
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But Bournemouth’s Spanish gaffer Andoni Iraola wasn’t on the bench to celebrate his team’s latest success.
He had to watch his first ever Boxing Day game in owner Bill Foley’s private seats after picking up three cautions this season.
Bobby De Cordova-Reid was left unmarked at a corner on seven minutes but luckily for the home side his venomous volley was blocked before it got anywhere.
At the other end Kluivert set up master marksman Solanke, who is loving his club’s new-found freedom of movement.
And it looked as though he was about to score in his fifth consecutive game against the Londoners but his first-time shot was deflected just wide of the far post.
Kluivert then had a golden chance himself on 31 minutes from a pass by Antoine Semenyo. But Fulham defender Kenny Tete came from nowhere to deflect his effort over the bar.
Then full-back Dango Ouattara went even closer when his near-post cross was fumbled away for a corner by Bernd Leno.
Leno also had a moment he will want to forget when he lost possession on the edge of his box and his defence had to clear from Marcos Senesi.
But Arsenal’s former shot-stopper was left shaking his head in anger right on half-time when he allowed Kluivert’s low shot to squirm under his body.
Leno was a spectator when Solanke nonchalantly stepped up and rolled home his penalty.
And the goalkeeper’s afternoon could have got even worse when he foolishly pushed a ball boy in the chest.
The youngster was only doing his job holding the ball out for Leno but the German thought he was taking too much time and reacted.
Referee Tim Robinson didn’t see the incident and took no action and few minute later Leno wisely went over to give the lad an apology and big hug.
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