The fight for promotion is still alive for Bournemouth as they defeated an in form Swansea City 3-0 at the Vitality Stadium in Tuesday’s midweek Championship fixture.
This vital play-off clash was dominated by the Cherries with a terrific performance from Arnaut Danjuma and a wondergoal from Philip Billing.
Stunning goal by Philip Billing for Bournemouth
The opening goal came in the ninth minute as two combined to put the Cherries ahead. Danjuma floated a cross in from the left-hand side of the Swans’ penalty area and it was met by a magnificent overhead kick from Billing.
Speaking post-match, Bournemouth boss Jonathan Woodgate was delighted with the 24-year-old’s goal and has urged him to push on to force his way into Denmark’s Euro 2020 squad this summer.
‘Billing’s goal was very good, he owed us one because when he came on against Barnsley he wasn’t great but he did really well today and hopefully he can push on for a Euros spot,’ he said.
‘I’ve been telling them I want them to get the ball down and express themselves and play football. We played well today against a really good team.’
Swansea settled into the game after conceding and displayed moments of redemption, but they failed to test Bournemouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
Towards the end of the first half, the home side suffered a significant setback when Junior Stanislas was forced off with a hamstring injury and replaced by Atletico Madrid loanee Rodrigo Riquelme.
A moment to forget for Swansea’s Joel Latibeaudiere
Despite this, Bournemouth doubled their lead in first-half injury time. A corner was flicked on at the near post by Dominic Solanke which then ricocheted off Swansea defender Joel Latibeaudiere into his own net.
Swansea was unfortunate to be two-nil down and now faced an uphill battle going into the second half.
The away side switched their system after the break from a back five to a more positive back four in hope to offer more of an attacking threat. The change of formation saw Latibeaudiere swapped for forward Morgan Whittaker.
Arnaut Danjuma completes the scoreline for the Cherries
The second half was an even affair up until the 87th minute where Bournemouth capitalised on an all-out attacking Swansea side as Danjuma made it 3-0. It was his tenth goal of the season and secured a massive win and three points for the Cherries in a man-of-the-match display.
Bournemouth now sit seventh and two points off the play-off spots in the Championship table.
Despite the defeat, Steve Cooper’s Swansea remain third in the standings after Derby County’s late comeback earned a 2-2 draw with fourth-placed Brentford.
By Kyle Pogue-Elms
