Natural Bourne winners

BILLING BRACE SINKS TOOTHLESS ROVERS

GREAT Dane Philip Billing scored at the double and set up Dominic Solanke for his 30th of the season to power boost Bournemouth towards promotion.

But their 3-0 win snuffed out Blackburn’s remaining play-off chances and flagged up the end of line for boss Tony Mowbray.

Billing headed a long ball into the path of Solanke who opened the scoring with a 21st-minute right-foot blockbuster before Billing added two second-half strikes in a nine-minute spell.

Boss Scott Parker praised his side for being clinical and deadly in front of goal, and said of the automatic promotion against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday: “We have the opportunity, and a positive result gets us promoted. We look forward to that challenge and we will be going out to win.”

Parker agreed Billing has been “a massive part of this team’s success,” admitting: “We missed him when he’s been injured. I’m so pleased that he scored his two goals.”

Meanwhile Mowbray

(above) made a passionate leaving speech.

“It’s confirmed in my mind that I’m leaving the club,” he said.

“I don’t know where my next job will be, but I do know that I’m leaving this club with considerable assets and in a better state.

“We’re frustrated we have missed out on the play-offs, but the aim is for this club to continue its growth.

“I’ll be seeing it through in our last match at Birmingham, and then my contract ends.”

Bournemouth had more chances to increase their lead, while only a post and two saves by Mark Travers kept out Rovers’ Ben Brereton Diaz.

For the Cherries, Jaidon Anthony’s rising drive struck the bar and Jefferson Lerma blasted a low shot that was saved by Thomas Kaminski.

Solanke also had a one-onshowdown one with Kaminski, but the keeper pushed it wide.

Then came Billing’s blasts. Sub Siriki Dembele and Solanke set up Billing in the 70th minute, and his cracking effort zipped into the top corner.

Nine minutes later Dembele again played his part for Billing to smash home inside the near post for his 11th of the season. BLACKBURN: Kaminski 7; Lenihan 7, Van Hecke 7, Wharton 6, Pickering 6; Travis 6, Rothwell 7 (Dolan 60, 6), Buckley 6; Hedges 6 (Poveda 60, 6), Gallagher 7 (Dack 68, 6), Brereton Diaz 7.

Subs not used: Pears, Ayala, Edun, Zeefuik. BOURNEMOUTH: Travers 7; Smith 6, Phillips 7, Kelly 6, Zemura 7; Cook 6, Lerma 7, Billing 8; Christie 6 (Mepham 75, 6), Solanke 8 (Lowe 83), Anthony 7

(Dembele 63, 6).

Subs not used: Woodman, Brady, Moore, Pearson. MAN OF THE MATCH: Philip Billing.

Scored two priceless goals and set up Solanke for his season’s 30th.