PHILIP Billing scored his third goal of the Championship season to give Cherries a narrow 1-0 victory over Cardiff City in a bitterly contested meeting in the Welsh capital.

The win lifts Cherries to the top of table, two points clear of previous leaders Fulham, who were beaten at home by Reading.

It was a clash of styles as the robust Bluebirds welcomed Scott Parker’s Cherries outfit aiming to play with the ball on the ground, and a clash that did see tempers flare on occasion at the Cardiff City Stadium.  

Parker named a side that featured just one change with David Brooks making way for Ben Pearson – leaving Ryan Christie to be pushed slightly forward on the right-hand side of a three-pronged attack.

Frontman Dominic Solanke started on his 100th game for the club, having scored in each of his last two in a Cherries shirt.

Cardiff’s side was rich in height and physical prowess, with nine of their first XI all standing at six-foot or taller and with known aerial threats such as Aden Flint and Kieffer Moore– and it looked to unsettle Cherries right from the off.

Gary Cahill was instrumental with three very early blocks and interventions as Leandro Bacuna ran riot down the opposition’s right-hand side, but none of his deliveries could beat the ex-Chelsea man.

Cherries had a big opportunity of their own 11 minutes in, after Jaidon Anthony latched onto a lifted ball over the top and was able to take it around ‘keeper Dillion Phillips, only for his square back across goal from a narrowing angle to be cut out at the goalmouth by a sliding Flint.

As the physical battle began to grow, Christie found his way into the referee’s book for breaking up a Cardiff counter, while Cahill was warned for his reaction after he appeared to be tripped while play was stopped, causing a bit of a melee.

Mark Travers escaped punishment for a shanked kick out that was intercepted by Moore, by the time the Bluebirds got a shot off he was back in net and could gather easily.

Jefferson Lerma could have gotten himself into trouble with involvement in a spat in the Cardiff box ahead of a corner, before landing another mistimed tackle up the other end that saw a free-kick awarded.

The second-half started positively with Jordan Zemura crossing from the left, but Solanke’s headed effort was cleared while travelling goalward and Billing sent over on the rebound, before Lerma did get that yellow for a foul on Brown.

Then ten into the period, Billing, who picked the ball up on the edge of the area courtesy of Adam Smith, swept it home into the far corner to lift Cherries to top of the Championship – as the away support began to sing.

He almost added a second too, snatching the ball from Will Vaulks before unleashing one from range, the curling strike just settling behind the Cardiff goal.

But it was Cardiff who grew into the later stages, Moore was turned down a penalty shout after he went down inside the area following some clever turns beating a handful of Cherries players, before Sean Morrison clattered the crossbar with a well-won header.

They continued to push, with more skirmishes breaking out on the pitch that saw Smith and Bacuna booked – but Cherries were able to hold on for a huge three points that puts them top.

Bookings: Christie, Harris, Nelson, Lerma

Cherries XI: Travers; Smith, Cahill, Kelly ©, Zemura; Lerma, Pearson, Billing; Christie (79’), Anthony (90’), Solanke (86’)

Subs: Stacey, Mepham (90’), Marcondes, Brooks, Rogers (79’), Lowe (86’), Nyland (g/k)

Cardiff XI: Phillips, Morrison ©, Flint, Vaulks, Bacuna, Moore, Nelson, Pack, Sang (60’), Harris (60’), Brown (73’).

Subs: McMguiness, Bagan (73’), Collins (60’), Colwill (60’), Bowen, NG, Smithies (g/k)