Bournemouth 1-0 Fulham: Cherries reignite push for Europe as Antoine Semenyo strikes inside the first minute to down fellow contenders

There are those nights in football where nothing goes your way and in this showdown for the European scraps, that realisation must have dawned on Fulham manager Marco Silva in the 57th minute when he tried to make a triple substitution.

It is usually straightforward enough – three on, three off, away we go – but confusion commenced this time. Fourth official Tim Robinson even looked like he might need to start counting to make sure the visitors had no more than 11 men on the pitch.

While we waited, Silva was venting his fury in Robinson’s face, with this whole episode summing up what was a frustrating evening for those associated with Fulham.

Had Silva’s side won here, they would have climbed to 51 points, and could then have drawn level with Chelsea by beating them at Craven Cottage next weekend.

Instead, Antoine Semenyo’s strike after 52 seconds meant Bournemouth took their eighth-placed position in the Premier League from them on goal difference.

Andoni Iraola needed this, boy did he. 

Semenyo capitalised on a defensive error to slot across Bernd Leno and into the corner

The three points sent the Cherries up into eighth and a potential Conference League place

Back when Bournemouth beat Nottingham Forest 5-0 here in January, their supporters were singing about a ‘European tour’. 

There was even some talk of targeting the Champions League, but then they lost their next four league fixtures at home.

That unfortunate and unexpected slump had dropped them down to 10th before this clash and yet, Bournemouth led after they pounced on Timothy Castagne’s careless pass.

That triggered a blistering counter-attack and, credit where it is due, referee Michael Oliver played an important part with a fine advantage after a foul on Alex Scott. 

Antonee Robinson – heavily linked with Liverpool – did not cover himself in glory as he allowed Semenyo to take the ball thereafter as he wrong-footed Joachim Anderson and beat Bernd Leno from 18 yards.

After 16 minutes, Scott’s header teed up Evanilson, who crashed the ball into the crossbar from close range while Tyler Adams and Lewis Cook likewise went close.

Fulham’s first true chance came via a defensive cock-up by Bournemouth but Rodrigo Muniz dragged wide when faced with Kepa Arrizabalaga. The goalkeeper on loan from Chelsea was then glad when Muniz and Ryan Sessegnon both directed their headers straight into his arms.

Fulham felt they should have had a man advantage for the second half when Marcos Senesi slid in on Andersen. VAR Jarred Gillett took a good look at it and decided it was not reckless enough to upgrade Oliver’s original caution. 

Evanilson squandered a golden chance to put the hosts two goals up when he struck the bar

Fulham pressured the Bournemouth goal but Kepa Arrizabalaga saved from Ryan Sessegnon

Rodrigo Muniz also guided a weak header at the far post into the arms of the goalkeeper

Fulham’s evening was summed up by a botched substitution, leaving Marco Silva furious

Iraola immediately replaced Senesi with Illia Zabarnyi, not wanting to risk a second yellow when he needed this win. 

When Leno stopped Adams from tapping in for Bournemouth after 55 minutes, Silva decided it was time for a triple change, though that took a good few minutes. 

Players were walking off, coming on, being pulled back, sent away to the seats – and it was all while Silva was venting his fury at the fourth official. 

At full-time, Silva stood there on the touchline, staring straight ahead. It was one of those nights for him and Fulham.