Callum Wilson struck twice as Bournemouth moved a point behind the Premier League’s top four with a thumping 3-0 win at struggling 10-man Fulham on Saturday.
Wilson’s first-half penalty set up Bournemouth’s sixth league win of the season as Slavisa Jokanovic’s men suffered a fourth consecutive Premier League defeat to increase the pressure on their head coach.
David Brooks scored before Ryan Fraser set up Wilson for a late third after Fulham captain Kevin McDonald was shown a second yellow card, and Bournemouth supporters can dream of Europe with Eddie Howe’s team flying high in sixth.
The Cottagers, still in the bottom three, offered little attacking threat and remain the only team in the Premier League to have failed to keep a clean sheet this season having shipped 15 goals in their last four outings
Cook and Lerma dominate midfield to let Wilson, Fraser and Brooks fire
Howe’s tactics worked a treat, with Lewis Cook and Jefferson Lerma winning the midfield battle easily. Both players recorded passing accuracy rates of around 90 per cent to keep Bournemouth on the front foot and, when they did come under pressure, their defensive work was excellent.
Bournemouth are a treat to watch and Howe could actually land a top job sooner than expected
The Cherries are now in esteemed company at the top of the table, just behind the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham who play on Sunday and Monday.
On showings like this, it feels patronising to say Howe’s side are greater than the sum of their parts, but even without the injured Joshua King, this was a professional job well done – and evidence that their league position is merited.
In attack, their front men are potent, with Wilson stating afterwards his belief that Bournemouth are “flourishing” this season.
The sweeping nature of their two goals from counter-attacks in the second half served as a case in point, while in defence they have now kept three consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League for just the second time.
If Howe’s side can play in the same way against Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United a week from now, aspirations of a tilt at qualifying for European football in 2019-20 will start to feel far from fanciful.
Kamara in attack and McDonald in defence performances sum up Fulham’s afternoon
Fulham are in plenty of trouble, but they could have done without Kamara attempting to win a penalty. Begovic may have left a leg out but the Frenchman threw himself to the ground with no contact whatsoever and was correctly booked by Marriner.
McDonald, meanwhile, ended any hopes of a Fulham fightback by getting himself sent off and Kamara could have followed having shown his frustration by kicking the ball away when on a booking.
Each week Fulham are granted a grave reminder that the Premier League pantheon is not one in which you can continually present your bare backside to the opposition and expect not to be caned.
Woeful Fulham need to quickly turn around things, for the sake of Jovanovic at least
Fulham’s porous defence stands to prohibit their chances of remaining in the top flight next season.
Having conceded four in defeat to fellow strugglers Cardiff last time out, Jokanovic appeared to go back to basics with a 4-4-1-1 formation. But from the outset, the visitors stifled any attempt at game management from the home side.
It can’t help confidence that Fulham are the only side to have conceded in every league game this season.
It has only been five months, but the optimism of that May day when Fulham beat Aston Villa in the play-off final to win promotion to the Premier League is long gone. This 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth was their seventh of the league season, their 28th goal conceded and another day when Slavisa Jokanovic looked increasingly like a manager guessing his way through the season.
Jokanovic said before this game that “seasons are full of good and less good afternoons” – and it’s becoming easy to forget that this is a club who enjoyed the ultimate high of winning a Championship play-off final just a few months ago.
If the Londoners can’t stop the rot at Huddersfield on Monday week, though, the questions about how many more afternoons Jokanovic will see as Fulham boss will intensify.
Fulham boss Slavisa Jovanovic post-match : “We have enough quality to score but we can’t find a way to find a clean sheet. The Premier League is tough not just for us but for many clubs. We are making expensive mistakes.
“I am not thinking about my future. I will be ready for the next challenge. I am living my present and that is today a very hard defeat. I must be brave and keep going and encourage my team.”
Ryan Fraser looks like a player reborn and Callum Wilson will be in Southgate’s selection notes
The Scottish midfielder seemed to have a hand in everything positive Bournemouth did in the game as few could deal with his speed and intelligent passing, which created two of the goals.
Callum Wilson has now scored 5 for the Cherries this season. He looked clinical in front of goal as he scored twice, one coming from the spot and the other after he got the better of the defence. His movement and willing was rightly rewarded with two goals. There were impressive performances from back to front in this Bournemouth victory, but Wilson deserves massive credit for playing a part in all three goals – including the decisive second.
Bournemouth stability is now a guideline for all Premier league new entrants
At least, amid Putney’s posh smog, some breath remains for Fulham. Today’s conquering Cherries endured a similarly open-legged start to the season on the back of promotion in 2015. Now Eddie Howe’s ethereal men are enjoying their best run of form in Premier League history
Opta stats
Fulham have lost four consecutive league games for the first time since August 2014, when they were in the Championship.
Bournemouth have won four of their last six away games in the Premier League (L2), as many as they had in their previous 27 away trips in the competition.
Fulham have conceded 28 goals in the Premier League this term, the joint-most after 10 games in competition history (also Barnsley in 1997-98 and Southampton in 2012-13).
Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson has been directly involved in 10 goals in his last 11 appearances in the Premier League (six goals and four assists).
Bournemouth midfielder David Brooks has scored three goals in his last four league appearances, as many as he had in his previous 35.
Fulham are the only side to have conceded in 100 per cent of their games in the Premier League this season (10/10).
What’s next?
Fulham travel to face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup fourth round on Thursday night.
Bournemouth host Norwich City on Tuesday night in the same competition
