Bournemouth 3-0 Swansea City: Billing and Danjuma strikes help Cherries topple Swans

Philip Billing volleys in his fourth goal of the season

Bournemouth revived their play-off push with a 3-0 victory over Swansea City which dealt a blow to the Welsh club's automatic promotion hopes.

Philip Billing's spectacular volley and a Joel Latibeaudiere own goal put Bournemouth in control at the break.

Jonathan Woodgate's team sealed victory late on as Arnaut Danjuma drove home.

Bournemouth remain seventh but cut the gap on the top six to only two points, while Swansea stay third but lose ground on second-placed Watford.

Woodgate was seeking a response after Barnsley's weekend win at the Vitality Stadium left his side five points adrift of the Tykes, who occupy the last the play-off spot ahead of their trip to bottom-club Wycombe on Wednesday.

Bournemouth delivered for their head coach as they deservedly claimed all three points against a weary-looking Swansea.

Steve Cooper's side have proved in recent weeks that they can grind out results even when short of their best, but made life hard for themselves here by conceding after only nine minutes.

A side with a fine defensive record were opened up all too easily, with the excellent Danjuma finding time on the flank to pick out the unmarked Billing eight yards from goal.

The Dane made a difficult task look easy, hooking home an acrobatic volley which Freddie Woodman could only push high into the net.

Swansea enjoyed a spell of decent possession as they sought a response, though Bournemouth threatened on the counter through Dominic Solanke only for Kyle Naughton's challenge to clear the danger.

A half of few clear chances ended with the hosts' second goal, as Solanke glanced on Danjuma's corner and the ball ricocheted off the unfortunate Latibeaudiere's back before bouncing inside the far post.

Former Swansea defender Cameron Carter-Vickers' header was clawed out by Woodman early in the second period before the visitors mustered a first effort of note as Matt Grimes dragged wide.

Substitute Morgan Whittaker then drew two decent saves from Asmir Begovic, first with a 25-yard drive then with a first-time effort from Ryan Manning's drilled cross.

Bournemouth's Jack Wilshere stretches to block Swansea's Conor Hourihane

In truth a Swansea revival rarely looked likely, and Bournemouth rounded off their fine night when Danjuma lashed in his fourth goal in five games after being found by Billing.

The Cherries head into their FA Cup quarter-final with Southampton in high spirits, while it will be Swansea's turn to chase a response when they host Cardiff City in Saturday's south Wales derby.

Bournemouth head coach Jonathan Woodgate:

"It sends out a message to the others that we're not giving up. We were five points outside the play-offs, now we are two.

"We are in with a shout and if they perform like that every week, which they should with the calibre of players we have, we shouldn't be getting outside the play-offs.

"The consistency has to be there. You can see how good the players are.

"I thought Jack Wilshere was absolutely fantastic. You could tell after a minute where he took the ball out of the sky and swivelled and should have got a foul for it. It set the tone from there."

Swansea head coach Steve Cooper:

"The first two goals were everything that I don't want the team to be and the players will know that. The first goal it's a free cross and no-one's marking in the box and a soft finish.

"The second goal is a first contact off a corner which we do a lot of work on as well. If you don't do the basics of defending well enough, you run the risk of conceding soft goals.

"We got into enough good positions with the ball but didn't back ourselves enough to really be the threat we should be, and in the end we have turned over another ball and given away a soft third goal.

"Morgan came on and tested the keeper a couple of times but in the end we have defended poorly on the goals ands not done enough in their box to threaten, so you get what you deserve."