Crystal Palace 0 Bournemouth 2
Roy Hodgson’s side welcomed a rejuvenated Bournemouth to Selhurst Park for this midweek fixture. At the start of the season Iraola’s side had seemed a sure thing for a relegation battle but their recent form can only be bettered by Arsenal and Liverpool.
Joel Ward made his 292nd appearance for The Eagles, a new club record. The hosts started well with Ayew cutting in from the left and firing a shot off but Neto was equal to it as he tipped the effort over the crossbar.
Ryan Christie has looked a completely different player for The Cherries since being switched to central midfield role. The Scottish international played a brilliant pass over the Palace backline to Kluivert but as he twisted and turned, Guehi got a toe in to dispossess him.
Semenyo struck the loose ball well but Johnstone got down well to tip the ball around the post at the expense of a corner. This is another player who is really flourishing under the new manager this season and is starting to look like the real deal.
Credit: @afcbournemouth
It was his ball into the box that was horribly sliced behind for a corner by Guehi. The corner was flicked on at the near post and Senesi could not miss as he headed the ball into an empty goal. It was no more than the visitors deserved.
Edouard and Olise combined well down the right and Ayew struck a shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner but Neto did well to save. The rebound came out to the Palace striker but it was a great challenge from Zabarnyi to deflect his shot behind for a corner.
In the second half, Olise did well to pick out the run of ex-Bournemouth player Lerma, who struck the ball on the half volley sweetly. His effort had Neto beaten but it came thundering back off the post much to the dismay of Roy Hodgson.
Olise was starting to have more of an influence on the game and it was his clipped free kick that eventually dropped out to the edge of the box. Lerma took it on the volley but could not keep it down as it whistled over the crossbar.
Despite being under the microscope for most of the half, a long clearance found the big target of Kieffer Moore. He managed to battle for the ball and slot Tavernier in. The midfielder went around Johnstone but it had taken him well wide of the goal.
He laid it off to Billing, who without looking up, clipped a curling ball into the back post. He must have known Moore was lurking, as he headed the ball into the net to seal all the points for The Cherries. The away end erupted as their impressive form was set to continue.
Credit: @afcbournemouth
Bournemouth’s players seem to be playing for the manager now and are starting to click under Andoni Iraola. They are now seven points clear of the bottom three. Palace have now lost five of their last seven games and seem well and truly stuck in a rut.
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