CHERRIES registered a hat-trick of clean sheets for the first time in the Premier League following a 0-0 draw with Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.

Eddie Howe's men defended resolutely and also had a couple of narrow escapes.

Swansea thought they had taken the lead on the stroke of half-time when Wilfried Bony netted from close range.

However, much to the chagrin of home players and supporters, referee Stuart Attwell immediately ruled out the effort for a foul in the build-up.

Attwell also turned down the hosts' claims for a penalty late on after Tammy Abraham had gone to ground under an Adam Smith challenge.

Smith returned to the Cherries starting line-up, the defender replacing skipper Simon Francis who served a one-match ban following his sending off against Huddersfield.

Andrew Surman was handed the captain’s armband, while Marc Pugh made his 263rd league appearance for the club, passing Howe’s tally in the hall of fame.

Swansea made five changes with skipper Federico Fernandez unavailable having returned to Argentina following the death of his father.

Mike van der Hoorn, Ki Sung-Yueng, Tom Carroll, Roque Mesa and Wilfried Bony all came in, while leading scorer Tammy Abraham dropped to the bench.

Pugh scuffed a presentable opening after just 80 seconds, his shot into the ground trickling to Lukasz Fabianski following a strong run and cross from Joshua King.

Another quick break started by Smith ended with Surman firing straight into Fabianski’s hands after the ball had fallen for him 20 yards from goal.

Callum Wilson challenged Fabianski for a high ball from Nathan Ake’s scissors kick and, although the Polish goalkeeper spilled, he collected at the second attempt.

Renato Sanches was picked out by Tom Carroll but the Bayern Munich loan man could only find the side netting with a right-foot shot after 36 minutes.

Martin Olsson’s centre led to another chance for the hosts but Roque Mesa’s shot sailed over the crossbar.

Excellent interplay between Pugh and King ended with the Norwegian’s fierce low drive being saved, again at the second attempt, by Fabianski.

The first half ended in controversial circumstances with the hosts convinced Bony had given them the lead, only for his effort to be chalked off.

It came about after Smith had initially blocked a shot from Sanches before the Portuguese youngster reacted quickly to head the ball back into the danger zone.

And although Bony converted from close range, referee Stuart Attwell deemed Ayew had fouled Nathan Ake seconds before the net had rippled.

A host of Swans players surrounded Attwell after he had sounded the half-time whistle, their protestations unsurprisingly falling on deaf ears.

Smith tried his luck from distance early in the second half, his strike from 25 yards flashing well wide of the target.

Charlie Daniels was in the right place to nick the ball off the end of Bony’s toes after the Ivorian had prepared to take aim from seven yards before Ake blocked a shot from Ayew.

Jordon Ibe worked an opening for himself midway through the second period but Fabianski got down at his near post to smother his shot.

A clash involving Olsson and Ibe threatened to turn nasty with the Cherries winger and Ki booked after the South Korean had waded in.

Swans substitute Leroy Fer wasted a glorious chance to draw first blood eight minutes from time.

Having seen his first shot saved by Asmir Begovic, Fer contrived to fire the loose ball over the crossbar with the goal gaping.

Cherries had their hearts in their mouths after Abraham had gone to ground under Smith's challenge but referee Attwell was unmoved.

Charlie Daniels almost stole it for Cherries at the death but his shot rolled past the post.

Cherries: Begovic, A Smith, Ake, S Cook, Daniels, Pugh, Surman, Arter (L Cook, 90), Ibe (Gosling, 88), King, Wilson (Afobe, 79).  

Unused subs: Fraser, Mousset, Simpson, Boruc (g/k).

Booked: Ibe, King.

Swans: Fabianski, Naughton, Mawson, van der Hoorn, Olsson, Carroll, Ki Sung-Yueng, Sanches (Fer, 71), Mesa, Bony, Ayew (Abraham, 84).

Unused subs: Dyer, Routledge, Clucas, Rangel, Nordfeldt (g/k).

Booked: Mesa, Ki, Bony.

Referee: Stuart Attwell (Nuneaton).
Attendance: 20,228.