Match Report
Fulham (2) 3-1 (0) AFC Bournemouth
Premier League Match Day 24 23/24 at Craven Cottage
Saturday 10th February 2024 KO: 15:00
Referee:
Darren England (Barnsley)
|
Two goals from Brazil striker Rodrigo Muniz saw Fulham beat Bournemouth 3-1 in the battle of two midtable sides at Craven Cottage.
Fulham made a dream start when Bobby Decordova-Reid took advantage of a slip in the box from Lewis Cook to fire his side ahead after just five minutes, before Muniz got in on the action.
The forward's first goal was an opportunistic effort, stealing in ahead of a dawdling Neto to double the hosts' lead nine minutes before half-time.
Despite Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi cutting that advantage in half with a neatly taken strike five minutes into the second period, it was that man Muniz who restored the Cottagers' two-goal cushion just minutes later as he put away Willian's inviting cross to the far post.
Dominic Solanke had chances to bring his team back into the game, but for once the striker's radar was off and as a result, Marco Silva's team moved above their opponents into 12th in the Premier League standings after two recent draws, while the Cherries slip to 13th as their win-less top-flight run continues.
With both teams looking to get back to winning ways after recent draws, it was the hosts who made the better start to proceedings in west London, striking early, albeit with a helping hand from Bournemouth.
There appeared little danger to the visitors when Muniz centered, only for Cook to stumble, although Decordova-Reid still had a lot of work to do to find the far corner of the net with an accurate low drive.
It was another defensive slip that saw the Cottagers double their lead on 36 minutes when again, there appeared little threat as Willian's ball floated to the far post, with Reid heading the centre goalwards.
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
Bournemouth |
| Goals |
(2)3 |
1 (0) |
|
| Scorers |
De Cordova-Reid 5 |
Senesi 50 |
| Scorers |
Muniz 36 |
- |
| Scorers |
Muniz 52 |
- |
| , |
| Goal attempts |
7 |
25 |
| On target |
6 |
4 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
86% |
16% |
| Possession |
50% |
50% |
| Passes |
453 |
439 |
| Passes Success |
76% |
79% |
| Crosses |
14 |
30 |
| Crosses Success |
14% |
23% |
| Corners |
1 |
14 |
| Tackles |
19 |
17 |
| Tackles Success |
63% |
59% |
| Saves |
0 |
0 |
| Fouls |
11 |
11 |
| Offsides |
1 |
3 |
| Yellows |
1 |
2 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
Neto looked the favourite to gather, only for the ever-alert Muniz to steal in to poke home his second league goal in a week as Fulham were cruising at the break.
However, Bournemouth responded at the start of the second half as Senesi showed the skills of a forward to turn and swivel in a tight space in the six-yard box after a corner to the far post was headed back his way by Solanke.
But if Cherries boss Andoni Iraola thought that was the start of the comeback, he was mistaken as the hosts hit back immediately with a neat move after the visitors lost possession to Tom Cairney.
The Fulham skipper powered forward before finding the evergreen Willian and the Brazil forward's inviting, lofted centre was tucked away by Muniz at the far post as the home side moved above their opponents in the standings.
As a result, Marco Silva's team moved above their opponents into 12th in the Premier League standings after two recent draws, while the Cherries slip to 13th as their win-less top-flight run continues.
Fulham boss Marco Silva:
"I'm really pleased for him [Muniz] and he really deserves it.
"When you have the chance, you have to step in and pop up and show your quality and it was the moment for Rodrigo to do it.
"The way he linked our game and played behind the pressure of the midfielders was really good.
"Not just him [Armando Broja], but everyone [has to be patient].
"He's a player who is here to help us and I believe he will help us. It's competition between strikers and I will decide what is best for us in each game.
"We believe Armando will help us in the next few months because he is a player with a profile which I think will help."
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola:
"I think we conceded too much at the beginning of the game, and that's the main reason we didn't get anything from today.
"I will say, after 2-0 I think the team did a lot of very good things. We arrived a lot [in their box], we created a lot of chances.
"We put them under pressure, but we conceded too much at the beginning.
"The first goal it happens - a player that slips in a dangerous position.
"But the second one we had the numbers to deal with the cross much better.
"I think we were late to react to the second balls, especially second goal.
"You can see that there are a couple of situations where they just arrive a little bit earlier, especially in this pitch where there's not a lot of space in the middle.
"Both teams want to get on the ball, we have to be quicker to react to these things.
"The first goal is difficult to blame someone because it's a slip, it's so easy.
"But we have to start with more intensity."
Fulham : Leno, Castagne, Diop, Ream, Robinson, Palhinha, Cairney (Reed 63), De Cordova-Reid (Wilson 64), Pereira (Ballo-Toure 85), Willian (Traore 85), Muniz (Broja 75)
Unused substitutes: Rodak, Lukic, De Fougerolles, King
Goals:
De Cordova-Reid 5 (Well that did not take long as a simple ball over the top releases Muniz, who advances into the box and after Cook makes a mess of clearing the striker's cross, and there was Reid to pounce to drive a low shot into the bottom lefthand corner from the tightest of angles. FPL Assist: Muniz)
Muniz 36 (The hosts have doubled their lead after another defensive lapse from Bournemouth.
Willian floats what looked to be a harmless cross to the far post, which Reid headed down and somehow Muniz nipped in to bundle home a second as Neto hesitated.
FPL Assist: Reid)
Muniz 52 (Wow, straight from the restart Fulham restore their two-goal advantage as Cairney wins back possession, before charging forward and finding Willian, whose delicious lofted cross picks out the unmarked Muniz, who cannot miss from close range at the far post.)
Booked: Wilson (94,4)
Bournemouth : Neto, Smith (Faivre 85), Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kelly (Kerkez 45), Christie, Cook, Tavernier (Ouattara 69), Scott (Semenyo 63), Sinisterra (Unal 69), Solanke
Unused substitutes: Mepham, Kluivert, Travers, Sadi
Goals:
Senesi 50 (Game on as from a right-wing corner swung to the far post, which Fulham fail to clear and after it is headed back across goal, there was Sensei in the six-yard box to turn and fire home through a posse of players.
And after a brief VAR check for a foul, the goal is given...)
Booked: Solanke (62), Smith (81,f)
Referee:
Darren England (Barnsley)
Attendance: 24, 271
Fulham are back in Premier League action next Saturday when they host Aston Villa.