CHERRIES ensured a fourth straight season in the Premier League after Ryan Fraser’s first-half strike gave them a 1-0 victory over struggling Swansea at Vitality Stadium.

The wide man slotted past Lukasz Fabianski eight minutes before the break having been teed up by Andrew Surman from a free-kick.

In an entertaining encounter, both teams had plenty of chances but Fraser’s first goal since January ultimately proved the difference.

Without injured trio Adam Smith, Harry Arter and Junior Stanislas, Cherries boss Eddie Howe made two changes with Marc Pugh handed his first start in a month after replacing Lys Mousset.

Surman supplanted Dan Gosling in the heart of midfield, the former Norwich City star making his second start of the year in the Premier League.

There were three changes for Swansea. Nathan Dyer, Tom Carroll and Federico Fernandez came in at the expense of Kyle Naughton, Andy King and Sam Clucas.

With the sun beating down, Swansea survived half-hearted appeals for a penalty in the opening moments when Callum Wilson went to ground following a challenge by Swans skipper Fernandez.

Joshua King then released Pugh, who slotted into the net, only to be correctly denied by the offside flag.

It had been a frenetic opening and soon Swansea made inroads of their own. From Ki Sung-yueng’s free-kick, Alfie Mawson nodded across goal and Fernandez’s flick arrived at the feet of Mike van der Hoorn, who was smartly denied by keeper Asmir Begovic.

Cherries could not alleviate the danger and moments later, Begovic again sprung into action to stop Dyer from close range.

Mawson directed a header clear of the bar before Cherries came hurtling back. Lewis Cook won the ball from Carroll and Fraser sent in a delicious delivery which the unmarked Wilson fired off target.

King had made an energetic start and his powerful, pacy run left Swansea on the back foot. The former Manchester United ace found Surman, who helped on to Wilson but the ball flew over the top, with the latter’s appeals for a corner not heeded.

A crucial challenge from Steve Cook stopped Jordan Ayew’s shot from the edge of the box in its tracks.

Andre Ayew then got away from the Cherries centre-half and floated a cross to the back stick for Martin Olsson, who nodded over.

Jordon Ayew’s hopeful curler from distance did not worry Begovic and 10 minutes before half-time, Mawson was on dodgy ground.

The defender’s clumsy challenge on Wilson yielded a free-kick but it was inches away from being a penalty.

From the resultant set-piece, Surman squared for Fraser – with Charlie Daniels the decoy – and the Scottish international’s side-footed effort beat Fabianski via a nick off the head of Mawson.

Still the chances came. Cherries were fortunate to escape when a well-executed one-two between the Ayews saw Jordan Ayew prod over the top when he should at least have tested Begovic.

The forward did just that after the restart but Begovic was swiftly down to his left to palm to safety.

As the match continued apace, King roared down the left wing and his low cross was scooped up by Fabianski as Wilson hared in.

Fraser came close to a second when he miscalculated a cross from Daniels’s backheel, the ball nearly dipping under the bar, only for Fabianski to intervene.

Fernandez’s header was hacked away from close to the goal-line and just short of the hour, King dug out a cross which proved a fraction too high for Steve Cook, who headed into the Steve Fletcher Stand.

A free-kick earned by King afforded the hosts another opportunity. Pugh teed up Simon Francis but the captain’s fizzing drive was always rising.

Swansea’s Tammy Abraham had entered the fray and good work by the England international played a part in creating an opening for Carroll 20 yards out, the ball zipping past the angle of post and bar.

But momentum was with Cherries and Wilson and Ake went up for header which resulted in a near-post save by Fabianski.

Gosling was ordered on by Howe and the ex-Newcastle and Everton star was soon causing problems. After his pass hit Carroll, the midfielder collected the loose ball and went for the near post. But Fabianski easily stopped the weak effort.

King’s centre set up Wilson six yards from goal but the striker was thwarted by the brilliance of Fabianski, who kept the shot out with his legs.

In the closing seconds, Tyrone Mings made his first appearance since September having returned from a back injury.

And there was still time for Mousset to narrowly lash off target.

MATCH FACTS

Cherries (3-4-3): Begovic; Francis, S Cook, Ake; Fraser, L Cook, Surman, Daniels; King (Mousset, 90+1), Wilson (Mings, 90+4), Pugh (Gosling, 78).

Unused subs: B Smith, Ibe, Defoe, Boruc (g/k).

Booked: King.

Swansea (3-4-3): Fabianski; van der Hoorn (King, 72), Fernandez, Mawson; Roberts, Carroll, Ki (Narsingh, 78), Olsson; Dyer (Abraham, 59), A Ayew, J Ayew.

Unused subs: Rangel, Clucas, Sanchez, Nordfelt (g/k).

Booked: Olsson, van der Hoorn, Mawson, King.

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).