Bournemouth 5-0 Swansea: Cherries book their spot in FA Cup fifth round after scoring FIVE first half goals in thrashing of Championship strugglers

This was as ruthless an opening to the FA Cup’s fourth round as will ever be seen – a performance so cruel to Swans that there were fans at half-time wondering if this constituted treason.

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola could only giggle in his seat upon seeing his side take a 5-0 lead before the break, Dominic Solanke scoring that fifth at the end of those merciless 45 minutes.

It had been a fabulous display of the football Iraola wants to implement as Championship Swansea learned the hard way how little time you are afforded on the ball by Premier League opponents.

Iraola took two different Spanish teams to the Copa del Rey semi-finals on shoestring budgets. Bournemouth are now in the FA Cup’s fifth round for only the sixth time in their history, and how they would love a trip to Wembley Stadium to go alongside Premier League survival.

The odd blip aside, Bournemouth sense they are going places. They are 12th in the Premier League, the construction of their new multi-million pound training complex is taking shape at Canford Magna, and the players are getting to grips with Iraola’s high-pressing philosophy.

Dominic Solanke paid tribute to Jaidon Anthony’s mother after scoring his side’s fifth

It was that high press which led to the opener inside seven minutes. Luis Sinisterra won the ball off Nathan Wood, only to be yanked back. Yellow card for Wood, free-kick for Bournemouth. David Brooks whipped it in and Lloyd Kelly scored after being deserted by his marker Kyle Naughton.

‘To the England, 1-0,’ sang the home supporters. Not for long, as it was 2-0 after 10 minutes when Brooks drove inside from the right wing, leaving Bashir Humphreys in his dust. He squared the ball to Alex Scott, who made no mistake from 10 yards. 

VAR Paul Tierney checked for offside, but Brooks was onside and the Wales international had two assists against the Welsh visitors.

It was 3-0 after 14 minutes and, again, it came courtesy of Bournemouth’s high press. 

Swansea goalkeeper Andrew Fisher tried to pass out from the back but Scott intercepted the ball before teeing up Sinisterra, who found the far corner through the legs of Wood.

West Ham manager David Moyes was at the Vitality Stadium. Any Bournemouth fans worried he was here scouting a January target can take comfort in the fact that they face the Hammers next in the Premier League on February 1 – transfer deadline day.

Swansea had a chance to give their supporters who had made the seven-hour round trip something to cheer, but the woodwork denied Naughton and Mark Travers saved Wood’s attempt.

Instead, Bournemouth made it 4-0 when Brooks won the ball high up the pitch, exchanged a one-two with Solanke, and beat Fisher when one-on-one.

Then the inevitable happened. As we approached half-time, Solanke helped himself to a goal by tapping in Sinisterra’s assist. 

Solanke removed his shirt. ‘RIP Donna,’ read his vest in a tribute to Jaidon Anthony’s mother. Just as inevitably, it earned him a yellow card from referee Darren England, who presumably cited ‘rules are rules’.

Williams will need time to implement his ideas at Swansea but some supporters had seen enough, leaving at half-time. Bournemouth’s biggest-ever win was 11-0 over Margate in the FA Cup in 1971, when Ted MacDougall scored nine. In the end, Iraola’s men settled for their five from the first half.