Go on admit it ........ how many groaned when they heard the name of Brett Pitman on the team sheet?? Oh how Pitman proved his doubters SO wrong.
It was a lively start to the game as both sides tested and probed to see if there was a way through to goal, to which the answer was no even though Fulham won the early corners.
In the 8th minute Pugh was allowed to cut in from the left towards the top of the penalty area. In doing so he produced a rasping shot from the edge of the area only to see the goal bound effort tipped over the cross bar.
We then managed to pin Fulham back in to their 6-yard area as the Cherries saw 4 attempts at goal blocked or cleared off the line to deny Pugh, Ritchie, Wilson and Pitman. The final exchange in this period saw the ball crossed too high and wide, much to the amusement of the home support.
Just before the half hour mark, Daniels and Pugh combined well down the left hand side, with Pugh releasing Daniels on the over lap. His centre found Pitman on the penalty spot who cooly and calmly slotted the ball home to put the Cherries 1-up and back on top of the Championship!!
WE ARE AFC BOURNEMOUTH - WE SCORE WHAT WHEN WANT!!!
Just 8 minutes later the Cherries contingent in the away end were celebrating once again when a move from midfield saw Arter release Ritchie down the right. Francis provided the dummy run to draw a couple of defenders allowing Ritchie to cut inside and shoot, from distance, to fire past a wrong footed keeper!!
WE ARE AFC BOURNEMOUTH - WE SCORE WHAT WHEN WANT!!!
HT: 0-2
Fulham tried to come at us at the start of the second period, to no avail, as the Cherries soon got in to their stride with three goals of pure quality.
The first came on the hour mark when Fulham were caught by Ritchie in possession. The ball went back to Arter who passed to Pitman who was still in his own half of the pitch as he started to run at goal. Somehow Pitman managed to get past both central defenders who were left in his wake as he curled the ball with his left foot past a stranded keeper. This was a stunning goal by any standards at any level of the game.
WE ARE AFC BOURNEMOUTH - WE SCORE WHAT WHEN WANT!!!
Fulham managed to get one back in the 66th minute as Smith managed to bag what proved to be a consolation as McCormack provided the assist.
Just 5 minutes later Arter sent a long ball over the top for Wilson to chase on to. He managed to get in front of Amorebieta who brought Wilson down, which resulted in a red card. From the resulting free kick on the edge of the penalty area a short free kick was passed to Ritchie who fired home the Cherries 4th of the night with their keeper rooted to the spot.
WE ARE AFC BOURNEMOUTH - WE SCORE WHAT WHEN WANT!!!
The icing on the cake came in the 83rd minute when the Cherries won a corner, which was taken by Arter. The ball was poorly punched by the keeper. Cook laid the loose ball back to Smith who passed it back to Cook who took a second but arrowed a shot to the top corner of the goal from the corner of the penalty area for a stunning 5th goal!!
WE ARE AFC BOURNEMOUTH - WE SCORE WHAT WHEN WANT!!!
What an evening this proved to be to end the Cherries back to the top of the table again!!!
As for selecting my man of the match ........ it has to go to Brett Pitman. He simply ran his socks off as well as bagging two goals, one of which was simply stunning.
AFCB: Boruc, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie, Arter, Surman, Pugh, Pitman, Wilson
Subs: Camp, Ward, MacDonald, Kermorgant, Rantie (for Wilson, 77 mins), Smith (for Pugh, 81 mins), Stanislas (for Ritchie, 86 mins)
Andy Burton, Streatham Hill