CALLUM Wilson put the finishing touches to a pre-Christmas cracker as Cherries returned to the top of the Championship following an eight-goal thriller at Dean Court.

Wilson’s 12th goal of the season added to efforts from Matt Ritchie, Harry Arter, Marc Pugh and Yann Kermorgant as Eddie Howe’s men prevailed in what was an absorbing contest.

Ritchie’s third goal in Cherries’ past four games paved the way for victory, the winger opening the scoring after just 39 seconds.

View all of our pictures from the game here.

Arter doubled their lead with a crisp left-foot strike in the 42nd minute before a dramatic end to the first half saw both teams score.

Firstly, Kenwyne Jones netted from close range to make it 2-1 before Pugh’s stunning 25-yarder saw Cherries reach the break two goals to the good.

Although Sean Morrison’s firm header three minutes into the second half saw the visitors again reduce the arrears, Kermorgant’s majestic free-kick restored Cherries’ two-goal advantage.

But Morrison’s second, another header from a Whittingham corner, set up a grandstand finish with Wilson completing the scoring late on.

Cherries made a flying start when Ritchie opened the scoring from their first attack after just 39 seconds.

The winger timed his run to perfection and drilled a low shot past Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall after fastening on to Wilson’s cross.

Pugh and Charlie Daniels both played their part in a slick build-up down the left flank before Ritchie pulled the trigger on his fourth goal of the season.

Ritchie’s aim deserted him just minutes later when Wilson again teed him up, his effort sailing over the crossbar.

Pugh neatly controlled an awkward high cross, only to fire tamely at Marshall, before Craig Noone skipped past a couple of challenges and dragged his shot wide.

As Cherries went in search of a second, a shot from Brett Pitman was blocked, while Wilson’s snapshot was deflected wide for a corner.

Cherries defender Steve Cook threw himself in front of a Jones effort to prevent Artur Boruc from having to make a save.

Another flowing move ended with Cherries extending their lead two minutes before half-time with Andrew Surman’s superb pass setting up the attack.

His defence-splitting ball foxed South Korean Kim and left the Cardiff defence hopelessly exposed as Daniels went haring down the left flank.

And although the move appeared to have broken down, Pugh was rewarded for keeping possession and found Arter with a pass, the midfielder stepping inside and planting a left-foot shot just inside the upright.

However, Cardiff halved the deficit when Adam Le Fondre capitalised on Cook’s slip before setting Jones on his way, the striker holding off Simon Francis to score.

Cardiff were caught cold just seconds after they had scored when Pugh’s fine strike from just outside the 18-yard box gave Marshall no chance to make it 3-1 in first-half stoppage-time.

But the visitors again reduced the arrears when defender Morrison powered home a header from a Peter Whittingham cross three minutes into the second half.

East Stand linesman Andy Turner failed to spot a clear handball by Marshall outside his box, the Cardiff goalkeeper spared a certain red card after referee James Adcock had consulted his assistant and fourth official David Cook.

Ritchie’s blistering effort flashed past the post before referee Adcock turned down Cherries’ claims for a penalty after Wilson had gone to ground under a Morrison challenge.

Substitute Kermorgant restored Cherries’ two-goal lead when he clipped a delightful free-kick from 25 yards over the wall and into the top corner midway through the second half.

But Cardiff again came back at Cherries when Morrison climbed at the far post to meet a Whittingham corner, the defender’s header squeezing inside the post to make it 4-3.

Boruc raced off his line to beat Noone to a through ball and, in the closing stages, Wilson rounded Marshall to score the goal his efforts had deserved to complete the scoring.

Cherries: Boruc, Francis, Cook, Elphick, Daniels, Ritchie (Smith, 90), Arter, Surman, Pugh, Pitman (Kermorgant, 59), Wilson (Gosling, 90).

Unused subs: Fraser, O’Kane, Stanislas, Camp (g/k).

Bluebirds: Marshall, Connolly, Morrison, Turner, Brayford, Kim Bo-Kyung (Harris, h-t), Gunnarsson (Adeyemi, 84), Whittingham, Noone, Jones (Macheda, 71), Le Fondre.

Unused subs: Da Silva, Ralls, Manga, Moore (g/k).

Referee: James Adcock (Nottinghamshire).

Attendance: 10,440 (inc 1,357 away supporters).