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It falls to the squeezed middle to breathe life into the conclusion of the 2024-25 Premier League season. The battle for Europe is some way off being decided. And thanks to an early goal and a dogged defensive display, Bournemouth were able to relaunch their candidacy.
Having ransacked champions-elect Liverpool last week, Fulham should fear nobody but inconsistencies prevent being a full contender for the top five. Victory in Dorset could have placed them in the Justin Rose position of being within striking distance should the rest falter. Instead, Bournemouth leapfrogged the Londoners into eighth. After a first league win in seven, Andoni Iraola’s team have six games left to rescue what had seemed the lost dream of playing continental football for the first time in club history.
Bournemouth fans were singing of a European tour in February but may now wonder if their heroes will remain at the club next season. Those getting their kicks from transfer tittle tattle will know Dean Huijsen is linked to just about everyone, including Real Madrid. Morning gossip saw Justin Kluivert, still missing through injury, linked with Atletico Madrid.
Both Silva and Iraola have meanwhile been linked with the poisoned chalice at Tottenham. And while excitable Liverpool fans have already pencilled Milos Kerkez into Andy Robertson’s left-back position, another mooted contender for the Liverpool No. 3 shirt is Fulham’s Antonee Robinson.
The USA international blotted his scouting file with the mistake that set up Alex Scott’s run and Antoine Semenyo’s finish to score after just 52 seconds. The Ghanaian is another on the coveted list but Bournemouth’s early goal reminded of what made Iraola’s team such appointment viewing during their winter purple patch, and also why the football economy is so cruel in separating talented teammates from each other.
A second should have come in the 17th minute when Kerkez blazed down the left, Scott nodded back across and Evanilson cracked the crossbar as an open net beckoned. Silva had made no changes from the Liverpool win but his team took most of the first half to hit the same energy levels, with Alex Iwobi particularly quiet.
Breaking beyond Bournemouth’s aggressively high press, Rodrigo Muniz almost did to Huijsen what he repeatedly did to Virgil van Dijk, seizing on a loose ball but ending his sortie with a shot dragged wide. As half-time came, Silva’s team of skilled salvage jobs were belatedly making their presence felt.
Ryan Sessegnon, reborn as a right winger, headed the ball into Kepa Arrizabalaga’s hands but Bournemouth were still creating the cleaner chances. Evanilson should have done better when Lewis Cook’s cross presented him with a header. Another Scott run ended with a shot past Bernd Leno.
Chance creation is rarely problematic for Bournemouth, execution had been more problematic during a winless run stretching back to 15 February though it was a defensive change Iraola made at half-time, withdrawing the previously booked Marcos Senesi for Illia Zabarnyi. Evanilson soon required patching up, coming off worse in a tussle with the muscle of Calvin Bassey.
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If Fulham were now dominating territory, Bournemouth’s threat remained latent, Kerkez’s pace on the overlap to the fore. Another chance came and went when Tyler Adams poked a shot Leno saved superbly with his leg. Silva had seen enough, making three changes before the hour, sending on Tom Cairney, Raúl Jiménez and Adama Traoré, a limping Muniz among the departures.
For Bournemouth, Scott’s grace was sacrificed for the pace of Marcus Tavernier, Iraola looking to the counter as Fulham pushed up. Iwobi finally made an impression when pirouetting and testing Kepa from 25 yards, but the Chelsea loanee, barracked by Fulham fans, proved equal to that task.
On came Emile Smith Rowe, a discarded jewel Silva is yet to fully polish, playing off Jiménez as Fulham adopted a far more direct, hurried style. Huijsen, on his 20th birthday, used all his height and guile to lead the fight against the onslaught. At the other end, during brief respite, Evanilson claimed a penalty but Leno had won the ball before contact was made.
Shaun Cooper, Iraola’s set-piece specialist, could be heard calling plays as Fulham won a series of corners, and repeatedly Kepa showed his bravery in a rearguard effort that showed Bournemouth can do things the hard way, too.
