by Matt Slater
Date: 16/03/2021
Venue: Vitality Stadium
Competition: The Sky Bet Championship
Bournemouth have pushed themselves back into playoff contention after dismantling a defensively poor Swansea City by three goals to nil.
The Cherries opened the lead after just nine minutes after an unmarked Phillip Billing was given the time and space to fire at goal.
Bournemouth were two-nil up by the half-way mark after Joel Latibeaudiere found his own net.
The Swans looked for a late goal to spark a comeback, but Arnaut Danjuma put the game to bed after a stellar performance.
Bournemouth had the better start of the two. Arnaut Danjuma received the ball on the left and was able to find Phillip Billing, completely unmarked, on the 6-yard box. The ‘number 10’ volleyed the ball into the back of the net to open the scoring.
Swansea started in a very un-Swansea like fashion, with their usual solid defensive system being nowhere to be seen.
The Cherries were keen to extend their lead shortly after. Junior Stanislas and Jack Wilshere exchanged some short passes after a short corner, but Stanislas’ shot was fired over the bar.
There was the feeling that Bournemouth were in the mood for goals. Arnaut Danjuma then fired an almost identical shot to Stanislas shortly after.
Stanislas, the Cherries’ top goal scorer, was forced to leave the field early with an injury, but Dominic Solanke stepped up to extend the lead. Danjuma’s corner found a leaping Solanke, who nodded the ball onto the back of Joel Latibeaudiere, and into the back of the net.
The second half kicked off with the Cherries dominating possession and slowing the tempo down.
Danjuma continued piling the pressure onto the back line. The winger lofted a freekick in towards a free Cameron Carter-Vickers, whose header was tipped over by Freddie Woodman.
And it was Swansea’s captain, Matt Grimes, who responded. A short freekick found it is way to the midfielder who fired at goal, but it sailed just wide.
Morgan Whittaker was next to try for goal through a long-range shot, but it was stopped by a diving Asmir Begovic.
Connor Hourihane also had the chance to pull the Swans back into the game, but it went straight into the wall.
But with Swansea pushing for a goal, they were left open at the back. Jack Stacey picked the ball on the halfway line and was allowed to fire a shot away on the edge of the box, but it flew wide of the post.
The game was signed, sealed, and delivered when Arnaut Danjuma put the game to bed. Phillip Billing found Danjuma with a chip and the Dutchman fired it into the roof of the net.
Bournemouth are now just two points off a playoff spot, but Barnsley have a game in hand, and Swansea find themselves cemented just outside the automatic promotion position.
Star player: Arnaut Danjuma
Bournemouth: Begovic; Stacey, Carter-Vickers, Cook, Rico; Stanislas (Riquelme 39’), Lerma, Wilshere (Pearson 71’), Danjuma (Mepham 90+1’); Billing; Solanke.
Swansea: Woodman; Naughton, Bennett, Latibeaudiere (Whittaker 46’); Roberts, Smith (Dhanda 67’), Grimes, Manning; Ayew, Hourihane (Routledge 79’), Lowe.
Incident Log: Goals: Phillip Billing 9’, Joel Latibeaudiere own goal 45+1’, Arnaut Danjuma 87’. Yellow cards: Diego Rico 58’.
