Fulham 3 Bournemouth 1: Cottagers leapfrog Cherries with eighth win of the season thanks to Rodrigo Muniz double
FULHAM may have the priciest tickets in the Premier League – but boss Marco Silva is getting his Muniz worth.
Brazilian Rodrigo Muniz has been promoted to lead striker because of injuries and has responded with three goals in two games.
Not only that, he turned provider with the assist in one of his team’s most exciting displays this season to end a run of six games without a win.
Muniz was rewarded with a standing ovation when he was subbed with 15 minutes left to be replaced by on-loan Armando Broja.
And on this form, the new arrival from Chelsea may find it harder than he thinks to get much needed game time from now until the end of the season.
Muniz scored in each half. The first a poacher’s header nine minutes before half-time. The second a slick far-post volley that put an end to Bournemouth’s brief revival when they pulled a goal back.
Victory means Fulham climb above the Cherries into 12th place, which may not warrant an open top bus parade through South West London, but it eases the pressure on Silva with only league positions to play for now.
Bobby De Cordova Reid scored the opener and after only five minutes it put the home side in the mood to put on a show for the fans paying top dollar for a seat at cosy Craven Cottage.
It might cost more than a ton to watch Fulham, but in this kind of form, there is at least a bang for your buck.
Muniz’s fellow countryman Willian was also in full swagger. His two deep, curling crosses with laser-guided accuracy led to goals and underlines his continuing importance to Fulham.
And with midfielder Joao Palhinha in full combative mood at the heart of midfield it was pretty much one way traffic aside from a fleeting 120-second spell, when Marcos Sensei brought the Cherries back into the game at 2-1 with a classy shot on the turn five minutes into the second half.
Silva will be delighted with the way his team ended their recent uninspiring run.
Muniz scored one of two goals on the road at Burnley last weekend only for Fulham to blow a two-goal lead in the final 20 minutes.
They kept hold of Bournemouth and this game by the scruff of the neck until the final whistle for a confidence boosting win.
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And who could wish for a better start than seeing a visiting defender slip on his backside and present your team with the opening goal?
A sweeping move out of defence ended with Muniz prodding a low cross into the crowded Bournemouth box.
Lewis Cook collected the ball only to take a tumble, leaving De Cordova-Reid the chance to pounce and make it 1-0 from close range.
Cherries’ keeper Neto then made a cracking one-handed save from Willian in a one-on-one to stop Fulham racing further ahead.
Fulham’s ageless South American then delivered a far post cross for De Cordova-Reid to head back across goal and allow Muniz to head in.
He produced a similar effort in the 52nd minute for Muniz to cap the victory with his far-post volley.
Fulham’s domination left Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke feeding off crumbs up front.
But he should have done better in the first half from a corner when he was unmarked just three yards out yet blazed the ball over the bar for what would have been the equaliser at 1-1 at a key stage of the match.
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