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Why Bournemouth are good enough to escape Premier League relegation

Marcus Tavernier (C) - Why Bournemouth are good enough to escape Premier League relegation - Getty Images/Steve Bardens
Marcus Tavernier (C) - Why Bournemouth are good enough to escape Premier League relegation - Getty Images/Steve Bardens

Bournemouth’s second victory in three games has lifted them out of the relegation zone and up to the lofty heights of 15th in the Premier League table, providing a glimmer of hope for fans that they will not make an immediate return to the Championship.

Here is why they can have cause for optimism that survival is a realistic proposition next month.

Escaping the relegation fight pressure

Minutes after walking off the pitch against Fulham, Dominic Solanke and Marcus Tavernier stopped in the tunnel to watch a replay of the latter’s wonderful goal, which brought Bournemouth back from the abyss in their battle to beat the drop.

“I didn’t know you had that in your locker,” joked Solanke as the two peered down at mobile phone footage of the 25-yard strike which had given the excellent Bernd Leno no chance at all.

Solanke went on to score the winning goal and so relaxed were the pair of them that there would be no telling from body language alone that Bournemouth are involved in the closest relegation battle the Premier League has seen in years.

The term ‘mid-table’ doesn’t apply this season. With only 10 games to go for most teams, the picture is hardly becoming any clearer but Bournemouth, who have beaten Liverpool and now Fulham in their last two home games, may well be one of the nine teams involved to preserve their top-flight status.

Returning threats in front of goal

No team has shipped more goals but that statistic is distorted by twice conceding four against Manchester City and losing 9-0 at Anfield, Scott Parker’s last game in charge of the club.

Gary O’Neil can look to the other end of the pitch with much more confidence. Solanke’s goal 11 minutes from time may only have been his fourth of the season but there are plenty of other attacking options at his disposal that can contribute.

Though he missed a great chance in the first half, Dango Ouattara has added threat to Bournemouth since his January arrival from Lorient. Tavernier, blighted by injury all season is now returning to fitness and boasts undoubted quality.

A Bournemouth revolution

There is, of course, no good time to be relegated but this would be a very exciting moment to stay in the Premier League for Bournemouth who have big ambition off the field since American businessman Bill Foley completed his takeover of the club in December.

A new stadium, training ground and further squad investment has been mooted but the outcome of the final ten games will surely be pivotal to the scale of that ambition.

“Things are looking good,” said a buoyant, relaxed Solanke. “I think there's a lot of people who probably don't believe we can do it.  But we've got all the belief we need in the changing room.

“We know how strong our squad is, a lot of players have come back from injury so that can help us as well.”

In fact, a full bill of health has left O’Neil, who described his squad as “huge,” with plenty of selection headaches and he will be keen to avoid any player unrest during such a pivotal spell for the club.

“You have a choice as a footballer whether you stay with the group or whether you decide that your own agenda is more important.,” he said.

“We have a squad full of senior players at this moment, everyone’s fit basically so we are going to have to disappoint some.”


Dominic Solanke the hero as late winner gives Bournemouth vital win

Dominic Solanke - Dominic Solanke the hero as late winner gives Bournemouth vital win - Reuters/Paul Childs
Dominic Solanke - Dominic Solanke the hero as late winner gives Bournemouth vital win - Reuters/Paul Childs

By Tom Prentki, at the Vitality Stadium 

Sometimes it takes a memorable moment to turn a season, sometimes a slice of luck. Against Fulham, Bournemouth had both.

It looked as though the Cherries had fluffed their lines for a hugely important fixture in their battle to avoid relegation. Fulham were dominant in the first half, scoring an excellent team goal and controlling the match in all departments.

But once Marcus Tavernier came off the bench at half time and scored an extraordinary 25-yard equaliser into the top left corner, the momentum of the game shifted entirely and Dominic Solanke bundled in a scrappy but deserved winner 11 minutes from time as he bundled the ball in off Antonee Robinson.

Injury has restricted Tavernier to just 18 appearances this season after joining from Middlesbrough for £12 million last summer.

When he has been fit, he’s been Bournemouth’s most influential player and his goal five minutes into the second half lit up The Vitality Stadium just when it was needed most.

“It was an incredible goal,” said O’Neil. 45 minutes was a long as we could have used him for without getting into dangerous territory,” he added, speaking of the player’s return from a hamstring injury.

“I don’t want to big him up too much because I don’t want anyone to come and take him but he’s a good footballer.

“At top clubs you have players who are gifted technically and players that are gifted physically. Marcus Tavernier has both.”

O’Neil will be heartened by the fight shown by his players after a poor first half and remains optimistic that it will be enough to preserve their place in the Premier League.

He said: “I feel that energy in the dressing room that even if we went 1-0 down today there would be a refusal to lose that football match. We’re so determined to get to where we want to get to and it was impressive from them.”

Fulham deservedly led when Andreas Pereira finished off an excellent team move and might have taken a greater lead into the interval such was their dominance.

But Marco Silva said his players did not heed his warnings of the Bournemouth fightback he sensed was coming and his team have now lost three league games in a row.

“We have to analyse why this happens because we can’t show two faces like we did today. We have so many good things to play for – 10 games to fight for,” said Silva, who will find out next week the extent of the ban both he and Aleksandar Mitrovic will face after being sent off in their bad tempered FA Cup quarter final defeat at Manchester United.