CHERRY ON TOP Business as usual

BRILLIANT Bournemouth bounced back from their shock midweek defeat at home to Preston with a mauling of Russell Martin’s Swansea.

It helped them keep their place at the top of Championship.

Dominic Solanke helped himself to two goals, as did Jaidon Anthony, in a fiery match which saw Cherries boss Scott Parker running on to the pitch to pull players apart during a brawl in the first half.

Parker said: “I forgot where I was to be quite honest with you. I wanted to protect everyone in that moment. Silly of me but I wanted to go in and stop any of the players doing something stupid.

“I love that though – the passion we showed today.”

Swansea started the game well and should have been given a penalty when Manchester United loan wing-back Ethan Laird was clipped in the area by Leif Davis.

To add insult to injury, the Cherries soon went up the end and scored their opener when Phil Billing slid the ball across for Solanke to score from close range with the Swans bench and defenders furious that the linesman’s flag had not gone up.

The visitors were right in an exciting game at half time but once Solanke scored a brilliant, acrobatic second, they fell apart.

The third came when Swansea captain Matt Grimes carelessly gifted the ball to Ryan Christie on the edge of the area. The former

Celtic man drove at goal and saw his low shot saved by Ben Hamer before the outstanding Anthony was on hand to nod in the rebound.

Bournemouth got a fourth with the final kick of the game when ex-Swans forward Jamal Lowe slid the ball across the area for Anthony to finish low into the corner.

Swansea head coach Russell Martin said: “I think we started the game brilliantly. It’s really disappointing we don’t score when we’re on top.

“The difference is that they have Phil Billing and Solanke and they are ruthless.”