Bournemouth vs Fulham. Premier League.
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Match report and free highlights as Dominic Solanke scores again in another Bournemouth victory; Justin Kluivert and Luis Sinisterra also on target as Andoni Iraola's side extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League to seven matches and climb to 10th in the table; Fulham are 13th
Wednesday 27 December 2023 07:43, UK
In-form Dominic Solanke scored again as Bournemouth extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to seven matches with a comfortable 3-0 win over Fulham on Boxing Day.
Solanke's 62nd-minute penalty - his eighth goal in his last seven league games and 12th overall this season - doubled Bournemouth's lead after Justin Kluivert had opened the scoring just before half-time thanks to a driving run from the impressive Alex Scott (44).
Bournemouth came into the festive fixture having not lost since November 4 and a run of 22 points from the previous 27 available has seen Andoni Iraola's side rise from 19th to 10th in the table in just eight weeks.
Fulham, who headed to the south coast on the back of two straight defeats, never looked like upsetting the hosts and their afternoon got even worse when substitute Luis Sinisterra's stunning strike from the edge of the area deep into stoppage time made it 3-0.
If that was not enough punishment for the visitors, goalkeeper Bernd Leno was the day's pantomime villain after gently pushing a Bournemouth ball boy for taking too long to return the ball for a goal-kick late in the second half.
Leno quickly apologised to the youngster at the next break in play but was booed by the home fans for the rest of the match. The loss keeps Fulham 13th, six points above the relegation zone.
The Boxing Day fixture was Bournemouth's first home contest since Luton captain Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch on December 16, and a pre-match on-screen tribute honoured those who had come to the Wales international's aide, including Cherries midfielder Philip Billing who was widely praised for his alert response.
The Denmark international began his afternoon on the bench in favour of Kluivert, with Scott slotting in for the injured Lewis Cook.
Solanke saw an effort blocked by Tosin Adarabioyo during a back-and-forth beginning to the game and it was the hosts, with head coach Iraola watching from the stands as he served a one-game touchline ban, who maintained their slight edge in the opening exchanges.
A neat move from Semenyo to feed Kluivert nearly set up an opener but they were thwarted by an excellent intervention from Tosin, who was also in the right place to deny a second decent opportunity for Bournemouth after Leno spilled a cross.
Tosin's headed clearance avoided any embarrassment, but the Cherries were ahead at the stroke of half-time thanks to a brilliant run into the 18-yard box from 20-year-old Scott from near the centre circle and pass to Kluivert, whose strike somehow squirmed underneath Leno.
Fulham, who had enjoyed a near-equal amount of possession in the first half, returned with more purpose to start the second as Antonee Robinson quickly called Neto into action from a tight angle.
It was just past the hour mark when Joao Palhinha sent Semenyo tumbling inside the area and the response from referee Tim Robinson was immediate, Solanke sending Leno the wrong way to double his side's advantage.
Rodrigo Muniz had a chance to claw one back with a close-range volley, while Leno found himself in late trouble and was treated to a chorus of jeers when he appeared to push a ball boy.
Sinisterra's cross was inches away from the outstretched foot of David Brooks as the Cherries sought a third. Brooks had two more chances of his own, but it was Sinisterra who curled past Leno to seal a convincing home triumph.
Fulham boss Marco Silva insisted his goalkeeper Bernd Leno "touched" but "didn't push" a ball boy during defeat at Bournemouth.
The second-half incident occurred when Leno went to collect the ball from the youngster's outstretched hand before using his own hand to make deliberate contact with the shoulder of the ball boy, who appeared to take a step back for balance.
Silva said: "Have you seen him pushing? I didn't see this. Yes, he apologised. I spoke with Bernd about it.
"It's clear he went to speak with the boy after that moment as the top professional that he is, the really experienced player that he is as well.
"He wanted to play quick. The ball boys, I don't know who gave them instructions to hold always the ball to delay the beginning of the game again. OK, we are losing, he ran to the ball. I didn't see him pushing."
He added: "I was really so upset with our performance that I didn't even have the energy to start to complain."
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, who watched on from the stands as he served a touchline ban, said he had not seen a replay of the incident but, when asked if the ball boys had been instructed to slow down, replied: "No, no, for sure there is no instruction, for sure. This I can guarantee.
"I don't know what happened exactly, but I think everyone for sure has to be careful because they are boys that are trying to help everyone, not only Bournemouth."
On another positive performance, he added: "We want to keep it going. We're not as bad as we looked at the beginning of the season, we're not as good as we look now probably today. We're somewhere in the middle."
Bournemouth's next Premier League game is at Tottenham on New Year's Eve; kick-off 2pm. Andoni Iraola's team then travel to QPR in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, January 6; kick-off 3pm.
Fulham are next in Premier League action on Sunday when they host Arsenal, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 2pm. Marco Silva's side then host Rotherham in the FA Cup third round on Friday, January 5; kick-off 7.30pm.
