Bournemouth’s impressive run continued as substitute Justin Kluivert’s goal against Crystal Palace earned his team a fourth win in five games.
Kluivert fired beyond Dean Henderson after fellow substitute Antoine Semenyo out-muscled David Ozoh to tee-up his team-mate for the goal.
The game, played in wet and windy conditions, looked to be heading for a goalless conclusion at Vitality Stadium.
Philip Billing had a header tipped on to the bar by Henderson while at the other end Eberechi Eze’s goal celebrations were cut short by an offside flag after the Palace player had finished from six yards.
But Kluivert’s 79th-minute winner proved the difference and lifted his side up to 11th in the table.
Cherries moving in right direction
Bournemouth find themselves in an unfamiliar but very welcome position of being all but safe eight games from the end of Andoni Iraola’s impressive first season in charge.
Billionaire club owner Bill Foley said in December he is confident the club can qualify for Europe within five years and that they should take inspiration from Brighton.
The Cherries, who have already surpassed last season’s tally of 39 points, are certainly moving in the right direction.
They are seven points behind sixth-placed Manchester United and are eyeing a top-half Premier League finish for only the second time.
On a dreadful night weather-wise on the south coast, Bournemouth had to wait until late in the game to get the winner.
Henderson, deputising for injured first-choice keeper Sam Johnstone, had already produced a fine save to keep out Billing’s header while Lloyd Kelly headed another great chance wide.
The closest Dominic Solanke came to adding to his 16 Premier League goals was when he fired into the side netting in the second half.
But Netherlands forward Kluivert sent fans home happy after great work by Semenyo.
Five of Bournemouth’s remaining eight games are away from home, including tough-looking matches at title-chasing Arsenal and Champions League hopefuls Aston Villa.
They are unlikely to hold much fear for Iraola’s side, who are building confidence and momentum with an unbeaten Premier League run that stretches back to 24 February.
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
AFC Bournemouth
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Squad number1Player nameNeto
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Squad number15Player nameA Smith
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Squad number4Player nameL Cook
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Squad number27Player nameZabarnyi
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Squad number5Player nameKelly
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Squad number10Player nameChristie
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Squad number14Player nameScott
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Squad number29Player nameBilling
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Squad number16Player nameTavernier
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Squad number9Player nameSolanke
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Squad number11Player nameOuattara
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Squad number3Player nameKerkez
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Squad number19Player nameKluivert
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Squad number24Player nameSemenyo
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Squad number26Player nameÃnal
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Squad number37Player nameAarons
Crystal Palace
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Squad number30Player nameHenderson
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Squad number2Player nameWard
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Squad number16Player nameAndersen
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Squad number8Player nameLerma
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Squad number12Player nameMuñoz
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Squad number20Player nameA Wharton
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Squad number19Player nameHughes
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Squad number3Player nameMitchell
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Squad number10Player nameEze
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Squad number14Player nameMateta
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Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew
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Squad number15Player nameSchlupp
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Squad number22Player nameÃdouard
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Squad number52Player nameOzoh
Line-ups
Bournemouth
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Neto
- 15A SmithSubstituted forAaronsat 90′minutes
- 4L Cook
- 27Zabarnyi
- 5KellyBooked at 90mins
- 10Christie
- 14ScottSubstituted forSemenyoat 45′minutesBooked at 68mins
- 29BillingSubstituted forKluivertat 64′minutes
- 16TavernierBooked at 63mins
- 9SolankeSubstituted forÃnalat 90′minutes
- 11OuattaraSubstituted forKerkezat 63′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Kerkez
- 8Faivre
- 18Adams
- 19Kluivert
- 23Hill
- 24Semenyo
- 26Ãnal
- 37Aarons
- 42Travers
Crystal Palace
Formation 3-4-3
- 30Henderson
- 2Ward
- 16AndersenBooked at 35mins
- 8Lerma
- 12Muñoz
- 20A WhartonSubstituted forÃdouardat 86′minutes
- 19HughesBooked at 59minsSubstituted forOzohat 70′minutes
- 3Mitchell
- 10Eze
- 14Mateta
- 9J AyewSubstituted forSchluppat 70′minutes
Substitutes
- 5Tomkins
- 15Schlupp
- 17Clyne
- 22Ãdouard
- 29Ahamada
- 31Matthews
- 52Ozoh
- 55Umeh-Chibueze
- 61Mathurin
Live Text
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Match ends, Bournemouth 1, Crystal Palace 0.
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Second Half ends, Bournemouth 1, Crystal Palace 0.
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Attempt missed. Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace) header from the centre of the box misses to the left following a corner.
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Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Milos Kerkez.
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Lloyd Kelly (Bournemouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Lloyd Kelly (Bournemouth).
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Odsonne Ãdouard (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt saved. Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Enes Ãnal.
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Foul by Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace).
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Enes Ãnal (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Bournemouth. Max Aarons replaces Adam Smith.
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Substitution, Bournemouth. Enes Ãnal replaces Dominic Solanke.
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Foul by Ryan Christie (Bournemouth).
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Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Substitution, Crystal Palace. Odsonne Ãdouard replaces Adam Wharton.
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Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Tyrick Mitchell.
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Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Daniel Muñoz.
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Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Dean Henderson.
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Attempt saved. Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Milos Kerkez.
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Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Tyrick Mitchell.
Source Agencies
