DOMINIC Solanke and Philip Billing netted their first Cherries goals, while Callum Wilson also ended his scoring drought as Eddie Howe’s men safely navigated past Luton Town 4-0 in the FA Cup.

Midfielder Billing gave Cherries a half-time lead, although the hosts did have to survive a scare when Alan Sheehan struck the crossbar from a penalty.

However, Cherries turned the screw in the final 25 minutes with substitute Wilson coming on to sweep in and net for the first time since September.

Bournemouth Echo:

Billing then made it 3-0 before Solanke, who had a goal ruled out by VAR in the first half, finally found the net in club football for the first time since May 2018 – a run of 30 games¬ – slotting past goalkeeper Simon Sluga.

Bournemouth Echo:

The victory is Cherries’ first at home since early November and also the first time they have progressed into round four since 2016.

Eddie Howe made six changes to the side which lost 4-0 at West Ham on Wednesday, but resisted the temptation to hand out any debuts from the start. Mark Travers and Andrew Surman came in for their first appearances since September while Jack Simpson, Billing, Ryan Fraser and Junior Stanislas also earned recalls.

Aaron Ramsdale, Dan Gosling, Steve Cook, Jefferson Lerma, Lewis Cook and Callum Wilson dropped out of the XI.

Luton, who sit bottom of the Championship, made nine changes from their midweek defeat at Millwall, including a recall for former Cherries winger Harry Cornick.

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The hosts got off to a bright start, with Diego Rico finding some joy down the left flank. The Spaniard found Solanke in the second minute and the striker tested goalkeeper Sluga, who did well to tip behind after a deflection off Matty Pearson.

Rico then found Harry Wilson, who fired over before Cherries did get their noses in front on nine minutes.

Rico again played his part, crossing to the edge of the box where Billing arrived to volley into the ground, with the effort looping up and over Sluga to mark the Dane’s first goal since netting for Huddersfield in December 2018.

The hosts thought they had doubled their tally shortly afterwards. Solanke, who came into the match on a 30-game run without a goal since joining the club in January last year, nodded in a Ryan Fraser corner. However, following a lengthy VAR check, the England international was denied due to Harry Wilson judged to have interfered from an offside position, just in front of Sluga.

Things almost went from bad to worse for Cherries, almost squandering their lead when Billing conceded possession in midfield, allowing Cornick to bear down on goal. However, Travers stood firm to parry the shot away.

Jacob Butterfield fired off target for Luton and just as the half appeared to be petering out, the Hatters earned a glorious chance to equalise.

Defender Pearson, up for a corner, went down under a challenge from Billing with referee Darren England pointing to the stop. Up stepped Sheehan, who slipped as he struck the ball and cannoned the effort against the crossbar as Cherries survived.

Stanislas, operating from a central position, was the first to threaten after the restart, racing clear from a Solanke pass, but he lofted a shot over the crossbar.

George Moncur curled over at the other end before Howe turned to his bench, introducing Callum Wilson in place of Stanislas.

And it proved to be an inspired switch as the forward netted his long goal drought with his first touch around a minute after coming on, sweeping in following good work down the wing by Harry Wilson.

Billing tried his luck but was denied by a block, however the midfielder soon got a second with a deflected 25-yard effort flying in.

Howe immediately turned to his bench, introducing Romanian winger Alex Dobre for his debut.

Bournemouth Echo:

And a fourth goal soon followed to round off a satisfying afternoon. After the ball bobbled around the box, it fell for Solanke to tuck in, despite a touch from goalkeeper Sluga.

The fourth-round draw takes place on Monday evening.

Cherries: Travers; Francis, Mepham, Simpson, Rico (S Cook, 78); Billing, Surman; H Wilson, Stanislas (C Wilson, 66), Fraser (Dobre, 80); Solanke.

Unused subs: Lerma, Kilkenny, Surridge, Ramsdale (g/k).

Booked: Billing.

Luton: Sluga; Daniels, Pearson, Jones, Sheehan (Bree, 78); Rea; Moncur (Bolton, 68), Butterfield (Berry, 68), Lee, Shinnie; Cornick.

Unused subs: Tunnicliffe, Collins, Mpanzu, Shea (g/k).

Booked: Jones.

Referee: Darren England

VAR: Anthony Taylor