AFC Bournemouth: Cherries claim valuable away win at Crystal Palace

Centre-half Scott Dann thumped Crystal Palace in front from close range but Pugh levelled seven minutes later and just before the hour, Afobe nodded into the left corner after Wayne Hennessey had failed to hold on to Matt Ritchie’s shot.

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• Alan Pardew: Crystal Palace were unlucky to lose to AFC Bournemouth
• AS IT HAPPENED: Crystal Palace 1 AFC Bournemouth 2

It was a hard-earned victory in a fractious clash in which Cherries survived a relentless barrage of searching deliveries into the box.

And Eddie Howe’s side extended to seven points the gap between themselves and the drop zone as they condemned Palace to a fifth straight league defeat.

Howe made one change to the side that had drawn 1-1 at Sunderland 10 days previously, winger Ritchie recalled in place of the injured Junior Stanislas.

Rhoys Wiggins was not included in the squad due to not completing his transfer in time, with Howe also keen to assess the left-back’s fitness.

For Crystal Palace, new recruit Emmanuel Adebayor had to be content with a place on the bench as Fraizer Campbell, who had not netted a top-flight goal in nearly a calendar year, led the line.

Cherries survived a scare inside the opening minute when Harry Arter was required to head behind, with Chung-yong Lee crashing over from the edge of the box following the resultant corner.

At the other end, Dan Gosling’s driving run was unceremoniously ended by James McArthur and Ritchie’s resultant free-kick was charged down after Andrew Surman had teed up the Scotland international.

A cross from former Cherries loanee Joel Ward was seized by stopper Artur Boruc in amongst a sustained spell of Palace possession, with Cherries capably keeping their hosts at arm’s length.

Referee Mike Jones then waved away strong appeals for a penalty after Ritchie’s driven cross had appeared to hit the arm of left-back Pape Souare.

Arter quickly recovered from a whack to the knee before Howe’s side carved open their first clear opening.

Charlie Daniels was left to his own devices down the flank and the former Spurs man sent in a deep cross which Afobe could only knock across the face of goal.

That presentable chance vanished, Palace made Cherries pay with 27 minutes on the clock.

Steve Cook nodded away Jason Puncheon’s corner but Lee scampered to retrieve and his backheel found Wilfried Zaha in space, the England international’s cross hammered into the roof of the net by Dann.

But the advantage did not last long as Cherries levelled in superb style. Daniels picked out Pugh with a pinpoint inside ball and with effortless ease, the winger turned Dann inside out before slotting low into the right corner.

Pugh’s second goal in as many games briefly fired the visitors into life but soon Palace came roaring back and Arter was perhaps fortunate not to concede a penalty when he appeared to pull at the arm of Mile Jedinak.

Soon after, Zaha volleyed well over and then McArthur’s drive suffered the same fate.

Palace continued to turn the screw into added time and the unmarked Souare skied on the half-volley after Ward’s swirling cross had unexpectedly reached him.

Eagles manager Alan Pardew sent Jordon Mutch on in place of McArthur for the second half and Palace were soon pressing, with Puncheon’s drive hitting the legs of Adam Smith.

At the other end, a lengthy passing move was rewarded when Afobe rolled Dann on the edge of the box and was brought down. But after Ritchie had dummied the resultant free-kick, Arter scooped over the top.

Puncheon’s shot was blocked by the patient Surman and then, to the delight of the travelling supporters, Cherries forged in front.

Arter was instrumental as the ball found its way to Ritchie on the edge of the box and after the winger’s shot was parried loose by keeper Hennessey, Afobe quickly readjusted and nodded into the left corner.

Pardew’s response was to throw on Adebayor for his debut and Palace were handed an opportunity when Daniels brought down Zaha. But Puncheon’s angled free-kick was claimed by Boruc.

Lee went down rather theatrically after Francis had stepped across his line of running and following a contretemps between Ritchie and Adebayor, Francis was booked for a body check on Souare.

A swift Palace counter-attack started by Adebayor ended when Francis bravely threw himself in front of a Lee shot before Marouane Chamakh then entered the fray.

Jedinak slammed over after Cherries had only partially cleared a Ward free-kick from deep and following industrious work by Ritchie, Arter’s daisy-cutter was easily stopped by Hennessey.

The visitors suffered a further scare when Gosling pulled back Zaha and from Puncheon’s free-kick, a combination of Surman and Cook somehow smuggled the ball to safety.

Moments later, a Puncheon shot from the edge of the area nicked off Chamakh but Boruc fielded it well, before goalscorer Afobe was sacrificed for Joshua King.

Smith was only shown a yellow card after fouling Mutch in a dangerous position and it took a terrific stop from Boruc to deny Chamakh after he seemed set to stroke home Jedinak’s cross.

There was still time for stoppage-time drama when Zaha’s low cross went all the way through to Adebayor but the Togo international could only find the side-netting.

MATCH STATS

PALACE: Hennessey, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare, Jedinak, McArthur (Mutch, h-t), Puncheon, Lee (Chamakh, 68), Zaha, Campbell (Adebayor, 58) Subs: Hangeland, Kelly, Boateng, Speroni (g/k).

Booked: Zaha, Dann.

CHERRIES: Boruc, Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie (Grabban, 85), Surman, Gosling, Arter (Distin, 90), Pugh, Afobe (King, 75). Subs: Iturbe, O'Kane, Murray, Federici (g/k).

Booked: Francis, Cook, Smith, Grabban.

Attendance: 24,855.

Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire).