By Dan Davis
AFC Bournemouth have moved nine points clear of the relegation zone, after a Benik Afobe effort and own goal saw them beat Swansea 2-0 at the Vitality stadium.
Eddie Howe’s side now sit in 11th place, level on points with local rivals Southampton. Swansea City, however, are still in real danger of relegation – with Paul Clement’s side precariously sitting one point above the drop zone.
The game started off at a rapid pace, with both teams fighting for a much needed three points. Josh King, off the back of a fantastic run of form, fired over the bar in a good position, before Fraser drilled a low effort narrowly wide.
Paul Clement’s side had players that towered over the Cherries, and Alfie Mawson made a nuisance of himself at a set piece before glancing a header off target.
The end to end start to the game led to more chances for both sides. The imposing Fernando Llorente knocked down a Leroy Fer throw in to the feet of Gylfi Sigurdsson – but the Icelandic international could only fire a wild effort over the crossbar.
The best opening in the early stages fell to the home side. Ryan Fraser posed a problem down the flanks all game; and his inviting cross was headed narrowly wide by a sprawling Afobe.
Despite his good work going forward for the Cherries, Josh King nearly proved to be the pantomime villain, when he glanced a Swansea delivery just wide of his own goal. The away side also had a penalty claim turned down by referee Mike Dean, after Carroll’s drilled ball in struck Surman on the hands.
But it was the Cherries who struck first, on the half hour mark. A neat interchange in the Bournemouth midfield found Josh King, who set up his strike partner Afobe. His low strike looked set to be heading wide, before it hit Mawson’s legs and deflected into the net.
Bournemouth looked revitalised by the goal, and looked to win the ball back quickly from the away side. Swansea were limited to long-range efforts, and Sigurdsson tried an audacious effort from 25 yards, which Boruc saved well at full stretch.
The home side started off the second period brightly, and forced Lukasz Fabianski into a good save. Dan Gosling drove forward through the midfield without pressure and let fly, but the Polish shot stopper plunged to his right and kept it out.
The Cherries started to force the issue as the second half progressed, with Josh King firing straight at the Swansea keeper after good pressure from his team mates.
The barrage from the home side seemed to shock Swansea into life on the hour mark. Sigurdsson curled an effort into the wall from 20 yards, and Llorente’s aerial presence saw him successfully win knockdowns inside the Cherries’ penalty area.
But after a desperate scramble in the home side’s penalty area, Bournemouth steadied themselves and went down the other end. Josh King threaded through an incisive pass to Afobe, who controlled beautifully and stroked the ball home past Fabianski.
With a two-goal cushion, Eddie Howe brought on Jack Wilshere to ensure his team kept their dominance over the midfield. Wilshere immediately was involved in the action, as his deep cross found Josh King at the back post.
The Norwegian towered above everyone and powered a header towards goal, and looked set to add another goal to his recent impressive tally. However, Fabianski was more than equal to it as he threw himself to his left and tipped it behind for a corner.
After this, Bournemouth comfortably saw off the game and ran out 2-0 victors, which saw them move up to 11th for the time being – with 33 points.
Eddie Howe expressed his delight with his team’s “positive step” and gave “full credit to his players.”
The Bournemouth manager said Afobe’s goal was “a really good finish in a big moment in the game.”
Swansea, however, hover dangerously above the relegation zone, and their head coach Paul Clement explained how disappointed he was with his team’s performance.
“Clearly we didn’t do well enough today…we were doing fine, then the deflection and goal knocked our confidence.”
The Cherries’ next match is against local rivals Southampton on April 1.
AFC Bournemouth: (4-2-3-1) Boruc, Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Surman, Gosling, Fraser (Wilshere, 75), King (Gradel, 90+2), Pugh (Ibe, 90+4), Afobe
Subs: Allsop, Wilshere, Ibe, Smith, Cook, Gradel, Cargill
Swansea: (3-4-2-1) Fabianski, Fernandez, Kingsley, Mawson, Fer, Cork, Ki (Routledge, 67), Carroll, Ayew (Narsingh, 56), Sigurdsson, Ayew, Llorente (Baston, 83)
Subs: Amat, Britton, Baston, Nordfeldt, Routledge, Narsingh, Roberts
Man of the Match: Benik Afobe