King’s late winner ensures highest-ever finish
JOSH KING’S late winner ensured Bournemouth will finish the season with their highest-ever tally in the top-flight after a dramatic win over Burnley.
Sam Vokes’ 83rdminute equaliser looked to have mathematically secured the Clarets’ Premier League status, but King fired home two minutes later, as the Cherries claimed victory in their final home game of the season. Junior Stanislas had given Bournemouth the lead with his first-half effort.
The result sees Bournemouth climb up into 10th, while Burnley stay 14th and await Hull’s result at Crystal Palace today to confirm their Premier League fate.
Both sides remain unchanged from last weekend’s round of Premier League fixtures, most notably the absence of the previously everpresent Michael Keane for the second consecutive game due to a knock, as rumours of a summer move to Liverpool heighten.
After a patient passage of play, Cherries captain Simon Francis was in acres of space outside the area, but the defender’s effort from 20 yards out skied way over the bar.
Burnley were aiming to win their second win on the road this season, following their 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace, but their defence was breached with the first shot on target after 25 minutes. Stanislas controlled Lewis Cook’s long ball on his chest, before the forward showed composure and pace to shrug off Stephen Ward and calmly slot past goalkeeper Tom Heaton.
Conceding seemed to wake Burnley up after a subdued start to the game and came close to finding an equaliser.
A slick interchange of passing saw the ball fall to Scott Arfield, who found space on the edge of the box, but could only fire his effort wide.
Another chance fell to Arfield before the break
as Ashley Barnes’ deflected shot somehow found the midfielder in behind Bournemouth’s defence. Artur Boruc, however, had other ideas as the Polish stopper sprinted off his line to gather the ball.
Eddie Howe’s men started the second-half brighter as Lys Mousset failed to get firm contact on the ball following Marc Pugh’s cross.
Burnley went up the other end and went agonisingly close to drawing level, with Arfield’s long-range strike beating Boruc, but going inches past the post. The tireless Josh King was next to try his luck and could only find the side netting from a tight angle.
Bournemouth were punished for their missed chances when former Cherries striker Vokes climbed highest to head home Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s cross with seven minutes to go.
With what Burnley fans thought was the goal that would rubber-stamp safety, but King had the final say moments later.
Substitute Ryan Fraser’s cross found the Norway international inside the box, before scoring his 16th goal of the season to claim all three points.
BOURNEMTH:
Boruc 6; Smith 6, Francis 6, Cook 6, Daniels 6; Pugh 7, Arter 7 (Gosling 81, 6), Cook 7, Stanislas 6 (Ibe 88,6); Mousset 6 (Fraser 66, 7), King 7. Unused subs – Allsop, Gradel, Smith, Mings.
BURNLEY
Heaton 6; Lowton 5, Tarkowski 5, Ward 5; Arfield 6 (Gudmundsson 75, 6), Westwood 5, Hendrick 5, Boyd 5 (Brady 55, 6); Barnes 5 (Gray 45, 6), Vokes 6. Unused subs – Pope, Flanagan, Brady, Defour, Darikwa.