Bournemouth 3 – 2 Swansea

Review by Phil Sawyer (Twitter: @sawyer_phil)

AFC Bournemouth took all three points from a classic encounter with Swansea City on Saturday, claiming their third consecutive win in the Premier League. Whilst manager Eddie Howe won’t allow the team to relax on the back of reaching the 38 point mark, the stellar form which The Cherries are showing should assure Premier League survival at the end of this remarkable season.

The quality on display on Saturday was of credit to both teams. Similarly to Bournemouth, Swansea City have risen from the depths of the Football League playing in a principled, aesthetic style and the two sides served up an exhibition of passing football. The difference proved to be the Home sides’ never say die attitude – they were pegged back twice by the visitors but continued to press for a winner when a draw would still have been a good result.

The opening goal came after a period of sustained pressure. Lukasz Fabianski in the Swansea goal was forced into palming away a dangerous looking cross, and when the ball fell to Maxi Gradel, the Ivorian kept his composure and slotted into the bottom corner. The gifted winger was the victim of a nasty cruciate ligament injury in September and has spent the vast majority of the season side-lined on the Cherries’ extensive injury list. His importance to the side has been underlined since his return, and it was a touching moment when Gradel headed straight for Eddie Howe to celebrate the opener. The winger made it clear in his post-match comments just how much he respects and admires the manager who inspired his remarkable recovery.

Swansea struck back immediately with a fine effort from full back Mo Barrow, who was the Swans’ outstanding player of the afternoon. When the Gambian finished a nice run with a tidy finish, he made history as the first of his countrymen to score in England’s top division.

Half time came and the impression remained that the home side, despite the setback, could take all three points from the game if they could turn up the heat in central areas.

The Cherries set about this task from the start of the second period. Despite missing key man Harry Arter through injury, the reds were relentless and it didn’t take long for their efforts to bear fruit. Leroy Fer lost the ball, Gradel picked it up and slipped it to King in the penalty area. The Bournemouth front man has risen to the occasion in recent weeks and his undoubtable natural ability has been given a cutting edge with a second goal in as many games. He rifled his finish under Fabianski, and the Cherries were back ahead in the match.

Swansea refused to roll over, to their credit, and hauled themselves – somewhat improbably – back into the game when Sigurdsson was the grateful recipient of yet more excellent work from Barrow, taking his chance when the ball fell to him 8 yards out.

Despite this, as the game headed for its conclusion, only one team could keep up the intensity. When Steve Cook rose highest and planted his header expertly into the corner, the Cherries had their just deserts. The celebrations at the final whistle were telling- it was clear that even the calm and collected Howe was breathing a sigh of relief at a job nearly done, and done in some style. The result continued the Cherries 100% March record, and a top half finish now seems a realistic ambition at Dean Court.