Bournemouth 2-1 Burnley: Cherries rise from relegation zone as Claret woes continue

With Burnley and Bournemouth occupying 18th and 19th respectively ahead of Saturday’s afternoon kickoff at the Vitality Stadium, three points for either side would see them leap out of the relegation zone – which could provide some much needed momentum over their fellow candidates for the drop.

BOU: Radu; Kelly, Zabarnyi, Mepham, Aarons; Billing, Scott; Tavernier, Christie, Semenyo; Solanke

BUR: Trafford; Taylor, Al Dakhil, O’Shea, Vitinho; Brownhill, Cullen, Gudmundsson; Zaroury, Amdouni, Koleosho

Vincent Kompany’s Burnley thrush themselves into the lead on the South Coast after just eleven minutes, with Charlie Taylor registering his first goal for the club with a ferocious effort from the edge of the area that left Andrei Radu stranded.

Marcus Tavernier could have extended the visitors’ lead – but his failure do so allowed Antoine Semenyo to find an equaliser with 22 minutes on the clock, dispossessing Burnley’s goalscorer at the back before firing across James Trafford to pick out the bottom corner.

But with fifteen minutes remaining, it was Philip Billing that stole the headlines – and more importantly, three points for the struggling Cherries. Noticing James Trafford off his line, the midfielder launched a speculative effort over his head, with the goalkeeper’s hand not firm enough to deny the sublime strike.

There would still be chance for the Clarets to equalise though, with Jay Rodriguez finding the back of the net, only to be disallowed for a marginal offside in the buildup. Restoring parity simply wasn’t to be for Vincent Kompany’s side, with Sander Berge denied a late leveller by a fine save from Andrei Radu.

Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth move out of the relegation zone as a result of Saturday’s win, but the trouble continues for Burnley – who have won just one of their ten Premier League fixtures thus far. They’ll return to Turf Moor next weekend as they host Crystal Palace.