Bournemouth ended a six-game winless league run with a 1-0 dwelling victory over Fulham as Antoine Semenyo’s purpose contained in the opening minute reignited their hopes of European qualification.
Semenyo capitalised on Antonee Robinson’s mistake to arrow a low end into the underside nook after simply 53 seconds on the Vitality Stadium.
It proved to be the distinction between the 2 European-chasing sides as Bournemouth leapfrogged Fulham into eighth on purpose distinction, with the highest eight more likely to be sufficient to qualify for Europe except Crystal Palace win the FA Cup.
Following the victory, match-winner Semenyo revealed Cherries boss Andoni Iraola had billed the sport as “make-or-break” for his or her season.
The 25-year-old informed Sky Sports activities: “The win was undoubtedly very important for us. The supervisor has been saying all week that it’s a make-or-break sport for us.
“We got here into the sport wanting to offer our all and you possibly can see on the finish within the celebrations that it meant loads. It has been a tricky couple of weeks, however it’s good to be again on the board.”
Bournemouth’s lightning-quick begin practically rewarded them with two objectives as Evanilson struck the bar from shut vary within the seventeenth minute. It was the twenty first time the south coast aspect have struck the woodwork within the Premier League this season, greater than another aspect.
However Fulham missed two superb probabilities to equalise earlier than half-time. First, Rodrigo Muniz dragged a shot vast within the thirty first minute after a defensive mix-up between Bournemouth centre-backs Dean Huijsen and Marcos Senesi, who had been beginning a league sport collectively for the primary time.
Simply six minutes later, the unmarked Ryan Sessegnon headed straight at Bournemouth goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Marco Silva’s aspect continued to push for an equaliser within the second half, and the Fulham head coach’s frustrations elevated following confusion round a triple substitution which noticed Sessegnon taken off by mistake.
Silva confirmed to Sky Sports activities after the sport that he needed to deliver off left-back Robinson, blaming a “lack of communication” between the fourth official and his employees for Sessegnon incorrectly coming off for Adama Traore.
The Cherries then weathered the Fulham strain to carry on for a primary win in 9 video games in all competitions, which catapults them again into European competition and ranges their highest Premier League factors tally with 48 factors.
Iraola: Win comes at ‘excellent second’
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola chatting with Sky Sports activities:
“Very happy with the efficiency. I feel we would have liked this efficiency, to defend our personal field nicely, the clearances, the blocks, the fundamentals, the set performs.
Semenyo offers Bournemouth the lead
“To complete with a clear sheet is so worthwhile as a result of usually offensively after we create probabilities we rating objectives, defensively the place we’ve lacked one thing in latest video games, and immediately we had been superb defensively.
“This win comes within the excellent second. Subsequent week we’ve one other of those video games towards Crystal Palace away, similar as Fulham they’re enjoying very nicely so let’s get well nicely, get well a few of the gamers that we’ve and arrive in a great spot.
“Each result’s going to be key. The standings have been actually shut in the previous few months.
“I do not suppose we’ve a simple schedule so we’ve to be superb.”
Silva: First 25 minutes price us
Fulham head coach Marco Silva chatting with Sky Sports activities:
“Within the first minute, we conceded a very sloppy purpose, however we had 95 minutes extra to play and alter issues.
“We knew within the first minutes it was vital to take easy and proper selections, easy selections. The primary 25 minutes confirmed we weren’t on the stage. It’s a must to attain the identical depth as the opposite aspect.
“The response after that was good and we had probabilities to equalise. The second half we managed the sport and we pushed them again. Kepa took a while to go down at the least 3 times, all that stuff, to interrupt our momentum.
“We threw the whole lot away with our first 25 minutes.”
