Fulham 1 - Bournemouth 5: Cherries thump sorry Cottagers

EDDIE HOWE’S free-scoring Bournemouth side confirmed their recent dip is now behind them after moving to the top of the Championship following a one-side win against woeful, ten-man Fulham.

Bournemouth put five past Fulham at Craven CottageGETTY

Bournemouth put five past Fulham at Craven Cottage

Brett Pitman and Matt Ritchie were both on target twice and Steve Cook capped the win as Howe’s men followed up Tuesday’s win over Wolves – their first in six games - to increase the pressure on their rivals ahead of today’s games. 

Matt Smith netted a consolation for Fulham but this was the latest blow in a nightmare season and was capped by the 69th minute dismissal of Fernando Amorebieta. 

The five-goal rout means Howe’s side are the top scorers in all four divisions and the manager said: “Thankfully we don’t have goal bonuses in their contracts. We took them out.” 

Thankfully we don’t have goal bonuses in their contracts. We took them out

Eddie Howe

And he added: “Winning midweek gave us a lift and restored our confidence. We looked good and scored at the right time.  

“I hope we are over that now. From my perspective, the expectation to win every game is too high.

“We were dominating games, just not being clinical enough in both boxes. Now we have found that clinical edge in front of goal. 

“The lead has changed so many times, it’s almost the tag that nobody wants.

“It may stay that way until the end of the season but it will come down to who can be the most consistent.” 

Fulham sit two places and eight places above the bottom  three and manager Kit Symons admits they are in a relegation scrap. 

The manager said: “We need to keep getting as many points as we can between now and the end of the season until we are mathematically safe. Until then we are obviously going to be conscious of what is behind us.”

Pitman swept home from 12 yards for the 29th minute opener and Matt Ritchie’s shot doubled the lead eight minutes before the break. 

Pitman then added his second after running from inside is own half in the 61st minute and while Smith ht a 66th minute consolation, Fulham fell further behind when Ritchie fired in from a free-kick after Amorebieta was sent off for blocking Callum Wilson’s  run at goal. 

Cherries defender then rounded off the win five minutes before time.

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