CANARIES BOSS HUNT: ARE SWANS READY FOR A BATTLE?
ers returned to form following their surprise midweek home defeat by Preston.
It was a sour end to the week for Swansea.
Olivier Ntcham tested Cherries goalkeeper Mark Travers with a shot from distance as Swansea began full of confidence.
Bournemouth slowly grew into the game, although after Gavin Kilkenny fired well wide from outside the box, Joel Piroe was brilliantly denied by Travers after the Dutchman unleashed a shot towards goal.
But the home side took the lead a minute later as Jaidon Anthony fed Philip Billing who squared for the unmarked Dominic Solanke to drill beyond Ben Hamer.
Martin and his fellow coaching staff were livid after feeling the goal should have been ruled out for offside, but Swansea once again failed to get the rub of the green from the officials.
The intensity levels were immediately ramped up after that opening goal, with Flynn Downes, Ryan Bennett, Solanke and Billing all being cautioned as tempers flared.
Having started well, Swansea looked vulnerable whenever Bournemouth attacked in numbers and they failed to give Travers anything further to worry about.
Swansea will have been satisfied to get to the interval at 1-0 down, particularly after Jefferson Lerma headed over from a corner late on in the first half.
Swansea were the architects of their own downfall shortly after the interval as Bennett lost possession just inside his own half.
Leif Davis ran into the open space before crossing for Solanke who, again was completely unmarked, to volley home.
That setback will no doubt have proven hugely frustrating for head coach Martin, while it served as yet another reminder of just how impressive Bournemouth’s attacking talents are.
Ryan Christie was calling for a spot-kick after a tussle with Ryan Manning in the Swansea box before Piroe’s tame shot was easily dealt with by Travers from the resulting counter-attack.
But Swansea were once again emphatically punished for a mistake as Matt Grimes’ pass to Kyle Naughton was cut out by Christie.
The Scot was well denied by
Hamer, although Anthony was on hand to head home the rebound to give the Cherries a commanding 3-0 lead.
With the game as good as over, Martin sent on Korey Smith and Morgan Whittaker for Downes and Jake Bidwell.
Christie then fired inches wide shortly before being replaced by former Swan Jamal Lowe, while Liam Walsh was sent on for Ntcham.
Hamer brilliantly denied Anthony a second goal as Bournemouth brimmed with confidence.
And Anthony fired home his second at the death to cap off what proved to be an immensely tough afternoon for Swansea who return to action against Blackpool on Saturday, November 20.