Bournemouth extend winning run as Luis Sinisterra caps victory over Fulham

Despite taking in this game from the stands owing to a one-match touchline ban, for Andoni Iraola this latest Bournemouth victory surely made deeply satisfying viewing. He must have felt rather comfortable in the front row of the directors’ box as supporters sang his name on repeat en route to a somewhat routine sixth victory in seven matches, a near-flawless run that has swiftly eradicated early season concerns – externally even if not within – about Bournemouth’s direction of travel.

Fulham were the latest side to be dispatched, with goals from the in-form Dominic Solanke, Justin Kluivert and Luis Sinisterra hoisting them into the top half of the table. Iraola could not his delight as Sinisterra, a substitute, sealed victory in second-half stoppage time.

For Bournemouth, it all feels a little too good to be true. Solanke, for one, can do no wrong. Three days on from registering a fine hat-trick to earn victory at Nottingham Forest, Solanke provided a layer of protection here, sending Bernd Leno the wrong way from the spot to notch his 12th goal of the season; only Erling Haaland has scored more league goals this term.

Such is confidence, Solanke attempted an audacious backheel shot with 15 minutes of normal time to play, by which point any true sense of a contest had long since evaporated. Bournemouth, who travel to Tottenham on Sunday, have lost once in the league since the end of October.

Dominic Solanke doubles Bournemouth’s lead from the penalty spot. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images/Reuters

Fewer than three weeks ago, Fulham routed both Forest and West Ham 5-0 inside the space of four days but they are now winless in four matches and, worryingly, they never threatened Neto’s goal here. Fulham’s frustrations were summed up when Leno shoved a Bournemouth ballboy after collecting the ball at a goal-kick.

The Fulham goalkeeper, to his credit, did not allow the episode to fester. Recognising his newfound status as the pantomime villain, at the next break in play Leno embraced the ballboy, high-fiving and hugging him before holding the palms of his hands up in the direction of the home supporters behind his goal by way of apology. Leno, already booked, could count himself fortunate to escape further punishment.

Bournemouth’s first goal – scored with a minute of normal time in the first half to play – stemmed from a fine run by Alex Scott. He picked the ball up just inside the Fulham half before hurdling challenges from João Palhinha and Andreas Pereira, slithering between the pair of them and laying the ball on for Kluivert to finish low, skittling his strike through the legs of Leno.

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The Fulham goalkeeper should have done much better but had no chance with Bournemouth’s second. Palhinha made a clumsy challenge on a rampant Antoine Semenyo – another former Bristol City youngster – and Solanke stepped to the spot, where he coolly sent Leno the wrong way. Sinisterra saved the best till last, curling in from the edge of the box.