On Boxing Day, Bournemouth extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to seven matches with a convincing 3-0 win over Fulham.
The game saw in-form Dominic Solanke score again, netting his eighth goal in his last seven league games, and his 12th overall this season.
Solanke’s 62nd-minute penalty – following a foul on Semenyo by Joao Palhinha – doubled Bournemouth’s lead after Justin Kluivert had opened the scoring just before half-time thanks to a driving run from the impressive Alex Scott.
Bournemouth, who hadn’t lost since November 4, have picked up 22 points from the previous 27 available, rising from 19th to 10th in just eight weeks.
Fulham, on the other hand, came into the game on the back of two straight defeats and never looked like upsetting the hosts.
Their afternoon got even worse when substitute Luis Sinisterra’s stunning strike from the edge of the area deep into stoppage time made it 3-0.
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The Boxing Day fixture was Bournemouth’s first home game since the cardiac arrest of Luton captain Tom Lockyer on December 16, CRUX NEWS reports.
Before the game, a pre-match on-screen tribute honoured those who had come to the Welshman’s aide, including Cherries midfielder Philip Billing who was widely praised for his alert response.
The Denmark international, Billing, began his afternoon on the bench in favour of Kluivert, with Scott slotting in for the injured Lewis Cook.
Solanke saw an effort blocked by Tosin Adarabioyo during a back-and-forth beginning to the game.
The hosts, with head coach Andoni Iraola watching from the stands as he served a one-game touchline ban, maintained their slight edge in the opening exchanges.
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A neat move from Semenyo to feed Kluivert nearly set up an opener, but they were thwarted by an excellent intervention from Tosin, who was also in the right place to deny a second decent opportunity for Bournemouth after Bernd Leno spilt a cross.
Tosin’s headed clearance avoided any embarrassment, but Bournemouth was ahead at the stroke of half-time thanks to a brilliant run into the 18-yard box from 20-year-old Scott from near the centre circle and pass to Kluivert, whose strike somehow squirmed underneath Leno.
Fulham returned with more purpose to start the second half, and Antonee Robinson quickly called Neto into action from a tight angle.
However, it was just past the hour mark when Joao Palhinha sent Semenyo tumbling inside the area, and Solanke sent Leno the wrong way to double his side’s advantage.
Rodrigo Muniz had a chance to score a consolation goal with a close-range volley, while Leno found himself in late trouble and was treated to a chorus of jeers when he appeared to push a ball boy.
Sinisterra’s cross was inches away from the outstretched foot of David Brooks as the Cherries sought a third.
Brooks had two more chances of his own, but it was Sinisterra who curled past Leno to seal a convincing home triumph.
Bournemouth’s win on Boxing Day was their first since 2014, which was also at home to Fulham in the Championship.
After earning only three points from their first nine games in the Premier League this season (W0 D3 L6), Bournemouth has picked up 22 points from their next nine games (W7 D1 L1).
Meanwhile, Fulham has lost four consecutive away league matches while conceding 3+ goals in each game for the first time since March 1969.
Finally, it’s worth noting that Dominic Solanke has scored in each of his last five league appearances against Fulham, only scoring more total league goals against Huddersfield Town (6).
