Tuesday, 28 April 2015

Bournemouth 3-0 Bolton: Cherries win in style to all but seal Premier League promotion

Bournemouth are on the verge of sealing promotion to the Premier League after beating ten-man Bolton 3-0 to rise three points and 19 goals clear of top two rivals Middlesbrough.
The Cherries have led the second tier for most of the campaign and, bar a miracle from Boro in next weekend’s Championship finale, will play in the top flight next season for the first time in their 116-year history.
A thumping finish from midfielder Marc Pugh set them on course for the promised land before winger Matt Ritchie's snapshot gave them a comfortable cushion at the break.
Bolton defender Dorian Dervite saw red for a foul on Callum Wilson who then added the gloss to the most famous night in the club's history in the 79th minute to spark wild scenes on the south coast, as fans flooded the pitch at the full time whistle.
Eddie Howe’s men were cut adrift at the foot of the Football League in 2009 but only a virtually impossible swing in goal difference on the final day would deny the Dorset-born manager from clinching the third promotion of his managerial career with the Cherries.
With Premier League football in their sights, Bournemouth sparked to life from the off, with Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan saving twice to deny Wilson and in-form Ritchie in the opening stages.
Yann Kermorgant and Tommy Elphick both missed chances before Bournemouth's top flight dreams moved a step closer to reality with an opener six minutes before the break.
And it was a goal to remember for the disbelieving supporters who had to be held back by the stewards after Pugh dragged Ritchie's cross to his left-hand side at the back post before smashing it across goal and into the top corner for his ninth of the campaign.
And they wasted no time in doubling their lead, notching their second of the night in the 44th minute in fine style.
Wilson clipped a cross to the back post which Kermorgant effortlessly knocked down for Ritchie to drive, first time, into the bottom corner with an excellent finish.
With their ecstatic fans singing the Match of the Day theme tune when playe recommenced after the break, they were almost celebrating a goal fit for the show's goal of the season poll when Kermorgant noticed Bogdan off his line 35 yards from goal, though the back tracking keeper managed to tip the Frenchman's effort over his crossbar.
Any hopes of a Bolton comeback were then put to bed with 20 minutes to go when Dervite saw red for hauling down Wilson inside the box, as Bournemouth won their 16th spot kick of the season.
Fellow forward Kermorgant stepped up and smashed the resulting spot kick into the stands, but Wilson would get the goal his display deserved with 11 minutes to go.
Andrew Surman's driving run ended with a cut back which Wilson gleefully converted to complete their stunning climb from the bottom of League Two to the Premier League.

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