CHERRIES Sub justin time to pip Eagles

JUSTIN KLUIVERT came off the bench to fire Bournemouth to a third straight victory as the Cherries crashed through the 40-point barrier.

Dutchman Kluivert (above) blasted home the only goal 11 minutes from time to extend Palace’s miserable run of away games without a win into double figures.

On a sodden night on the south coast, Bournemouth were the better team throughout, but it looked as if keeper Dean Henderson’s heroics would earn Palace a share of the spoils after making a series of excellent saves.

Henderson had been largely a spectator before flinging himself low to his left to keep out Philip Billing’s testing longrange free-kick nine minutes before half-time.

The England international made an even better stop a minute later to acrobatically tip Billing’s powerful header from a pinpoint Adam Smith cross over the bar.

Lloyd Kelly should have done better from the resulting corner after finding himself virtually unmarked at the far post, but could only head wide.

Palace thought they had taken the lead in first-half stoppage time when a deflected shot from the lively Eberechi Eze beat Bournemouth keeper Neto, but VAR came to the Cherries’ rescue after deeming Jean-philippe Mateta was just offside in the build-up.

Henderson was needed again early in the second half when substitute Milos Kerkez let fly from outside the penalty area and the former Manchester United man again made himself big to push the ball wide.

Dominic Solanke (above) was quickest to latch on to the rebound, but blazed his effort into the side-netting from an acute angle, summing up a night of frustration for Bournemouth’s top-scorer.

They finally got the goal they deserved in the 79th minute when Antoine Semenyo outmuscled Palace substitute David Ozoh before cutting the cross back for Kluivert to convert from 12 yards.

The win would have been more comfortable but for another smart save from Henderson with the legs to deny Semenyo.