CHERRIES were unable to make it a hat-trick of wins in a row, falling to another set-piece goal as Chelsea ran out 3-1 winners at Vitality Stadium.

Matias Vina’s curling effort had cancelled out Conor Gallagher’s ninth-minute opener for the away side, before a late Benoit Badiashile goal at a deep free-kick put Chelsea back in the lead.

Minutes later the result was confirmed, substitute Joao Felix stabbing home a third.

Cherries were unchanged from their 4-1 victory over Leeds United weekend, the only difference on Gary O’Neil’s team sheet the swapping of Kieffer Moore out for Chris Mepham, the striker unavailable due to a concussion.

Confidence levels varied massively between the two sides, Cherries on the high of 15 points earned from April, Chelsea licking their wounds after six straight defeats following the instalment of Frank Lampard as interim manager.

The hosts controlled the opening exchanges, playing with freedom found from all but securing Premier League survival with four games to go.

Vina and Phil Billing combined on the edge of the area, allowing the left-back to advance into the area. At a tight angle, the Uruguayan elected to cut the ball back, only for the ball to be smothered by Chelsea goalie Kepa.

Cherries’ bright start was quickly quelled by the visitor’s first proper chance. Vina did well to repel the initial attack via Noni Madueke, but Chelsea reset before attacking again via N’Golo Kante’s cross.

It was a perfectly weighted ball for Gallagher to head home and open scores.

Ukrainian international Mykhailo Mudryk was booked for simulation after diving inside the Cherries box, referee John Brooks not impressed by his antics.

His teammate Kante shortly followed him into the book, the Frenchman scything down Ryan Christie on the half-way line.

Moments later, scores were level.

One-touch passing between Dom Solanke, Christie and Vina quickly saw Cherries rip the Blues backline apart.

Left-back Vina skipped into the area, before wrapping his weak-foot around the ball, bending it into the top-right corner to restore parity on 21 minutes.

There were half-chances for both sides in the remainder of the first period. Madueke eased past Vina but miscued his finish, blasting into the side netting, whilst Christie flashed a header over.

Neither side made changes at the break, with Chelsea improved to the point they kept the hosts hemmed into their own half.

However, the continued pressure on the Cherries goal did not bear fruit, allowing the home side to go up the other end and enjoy a succession of corners themselves.

Dango Ouattara almost forced Benoit Badiashile into an own goal, the centre-back awkwardly turning the Burkinabe’s cross past the post.

Christie went close with an effort that dipped over the ball, before Solanke thought he had earned Cherries’ first penalty of the campaign.

Chelsea defender Thiago Silva seemed to catch him inside the area, only for a VAR check to pass without correction.

Cherries maintained their search for a winner. Ouattara came closest to finding it, the winger unmarked at a corner.

He rose up to head the ball, only to send it over the bar inside the six-yard box.

Before Cherries could have time to muster a response, it was game over.

Substitute Raheem Sterling ghosted into the area, before cutting the ball back to fellow sub Felix to slot home and seal Lampard’s first victory in his second spell as Chelsea boss.

Cherries: Neto; Smith, Senesi, Kelly, Vina; Rothwell (Cook, 58), Lerma, Billing (Anthony, 83); Ouattara, Solanke (Brooks, 90), Christie (Semenyo, 83).

Unused subs: Travers (g/k), Stephens, Zabarnyi, Mepham, Stacey.

Booked: Senesi.

Chelsea: Arrizabalaga; Badiashile, Silva, Chalobah; Madueke (Ziyech, 75), Gallagher, Fernandez, Kante (Loftus-Cheek, 63), Chilwell (Azpilicueta, 75); Havertz (Felix, 83), Mudryk (Sterling, 63).

Unused subs: Mendy (g/k), Kovacic, Pulisic, Hall.

Booked: Mudryk, Kante, Badiashile.