NEVER think it’s Sol over!
DOM’S 98TH-MINUTE PEN HAS SILVA SEEING RED...
DOMINIC SOLANKE rolled in a 98th-minute penalty to pull Fulham’s hands OFF the Championship trophy – just as the Cottagers fans were dreaming of waving it in Scott Parker’s face.
In a lively climax to an ordinary game, Bournemouth manager Parker watched his successor at Fulham, Marco Silva, get a red card after referee Graham Scott had spoken to both bosses.
A Silva tongue had wagged too loudly for Scott’s liking after the official awarded the spotkick for a foul on Adam Smith by Fulham’s Harry Wilson.
Solanke kept his cool to score his 28th goal of the season and maintain a nine-point gap between the Cherries and already promoted Fulham.
It was just about deserved as Bournemouth responded with growing pressure after Aleksandar Mitrovic
(right) – who else? – had given Fulham the lead.
The Cherries have a game in hand – four games left,
Fulham have three – but Parker conceded his old club will almost certainly go up as champions against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.
“They have that game to go and seal the title – they will deserve it,” said Parker.
The former Cottagers boss had been given fearful abuse from the fans of his old club, in some colourful language.
“Football is pantomime at times, I realise that,” said Parker. “You have to have a hero and a villain and I understand that. All I can say is that I took over Fulham when the club was in despair.
“I sweated every single ounce of me to put it back together and be successful.
“It hurts me and I’m disappointed with that.”
Mitrovic’s powerful header from Wilson’s cross in the 56th minute was the Serbian striker’s 45th goal this season.
But as the clock ticked down Wilson took a swipe at Smith in the penalty area. By the time Solanke scored the resulting spot-kick, Silva was already off down the tunnel.
He insisted: “I said something to the linesman and the fourth official but I was not offensive.
“For me, it was clear it was not a penalty and unfortunately it cost us.”
BOURNEMOUTH: Travers 6; Laird 6, Phillips 6, Kelly 7, Smith 6; Lerma 6 (Cantwell 79), Cook 6, Billing 5 (Lowe 46, 5), Christie 7, Solanke 8, Anthony 6 (Dembele 67, 6).
Subs not used: Woodman, Mepham, Brady, Pearson. FULHAM: Rodak 7; Tete 6, Tosin 7, Ream 7, Bryan 6 (Robinson 46, 7); Reed 6 (Chalobah 72, 6), Cairney 7 (Seri 81); Wilson 7, Carvalho 7, Kebano 6; Mitrovic 8. Subs not used: Gazzaniga, Hector, Decordova-Reid, Muniz.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Aleksandar Mitrovic. Sometimes disinterested, but always dangerous and occasionally deadly.
REFEREE: Graham Scott 5.