Bournemouth moved up to 38 points for the season by edging out Swansea City 3-2 in an entertaining contest on the South Coast.
Max Gradel and Joshua King had twice given the Cherries the lead, but the visitors hit back on both occasions through Modou Barrow and Gylfi Sigurdsson.
There was to be a key fifth goal in the match, though, as Steve Cook headed home 12 minutes from time to surely secure another season of top-flight football for Bournemouth.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded at the Vitality Stadium with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Bournemouth and Swansea City at the Vitality Stadium. Back-to-back victories for the Swans have lifted the club seemingly away from immediate threat of relegation and now within two points of today's opponents heading into this one.
The hosts can now surely turn attention towards a second season of top-flight football next term, meanwhile, with another win on the South Coast this afternoon lifting them up to 38 points - enough to beat the drop in each of the last two seasons. So can Swansea make it three wins on the bounce for the first time in nearly a year? Before taking a look at the two teams in a little more depth, let us first check out some team news from the Vitality Stadium.
TEAM NEWS!
BOURNEMOUTH XI: Boruc, Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie, Gosling, Surman, Gradel, Afobe, King
SWANSEA CITY XI: Fabianski, Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor, Fer, Cork, Sigurdsson, Barrow, Routledge, Paloschi
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe has opted to name an unchanged starting lineup for the visit of Swansea. The Cherries battled hard to pick up three vital points away at strugglers Newcastle United seven days ago, and the same 11 players are now given another chance to impress at the Vitality Stadium.
Harry Arter was among those in contention to break into the side, but a troublesome Achilles injury sees him ruled out of the squad altogether once more. That means energetic midfielder Dan Gosling will start alongside Matt Ritchie in midfield for the Cherries, as they go in search of three points that will surely secure a second season of top-flight football.
Today's visitors make two changes, meanwhile, as Leroy Fer and Modou Barrow are brought back into the first-team fold in place of Leon Britton and Andre Ayew. Fer had been pushing for a start after coming off the bench and assisting a goal against Norwich City last time out, but the manager's decision was perhaps made easier by the Ghanian picking up an ankle injury.
It is just a fourth start of the season for Barrow, meanwhile, who last featured from the off more than two months ago against Sunderland. Britton does not appear to have any injury issues, so it looks likely that he has been dropped to make way for Barrow on the South Coast. That back five has a more familiar look to it, led by ever-present skipper Ashley Williams.
BENCH WATCH!
BOURNEMOUTH SUBS: Federici, Distin, Elphick, O'Kane, Pugh, Iturbe, Grabban
SWANSEA CITY SUBS: Nordfeldt, Naughton, Amat, Britton, Ki Sung-Yueng, Emnes, Gomis
There was talk in the week of Jefferson Montero perhaps earning a place in the side today, but he reportedly misses out on the squad altogether through illness. No place for Junior Stanislas on the Bournemouth bench, either, as he sits out a third match in succession due to a recent hamstring injury picked up. Lewis Grabban is, however, among the Cherries' back-up options.
Francesco Guidolin will be absent once more from the Swansea bench this afternoon as he recovers from a chest infection, but it is understood that this latest starting lineup has been named by the Italian head coach. The Swans make two changes from last time out, including just a fourth start of the season for Modou Barrow, while opponents Bournemouth remain unchanged.
Well Bournemouth head into this game aiming to make it four games without defeat in the top flight, with the prospect of taking another huge leap towards safety in their first season in the big time. Two wins on the bounce, coming against Southampton and Newcastle United over the past fortnight, has left Howe's men sitting rather comfortably in 14th place.
Despite the margin on the bottom three now standing at a whopping 11 points, Howe is adamant that safety is still far from certain. Five more points are needed to hit the magic 40 number, though a considerably lower tally - perhaps around the 36-point mark - is likely to be the required sum this time around. That is not to say the Cherries can afford to lose today, though, as Swansea are one of the few sides currently below them in the standings.
Bournemouth have never actually won back-to-back home games during their short Premier League journey, but they have the chance to put that right today on the back of a decent showing against rivals Southampton here less than two weeks ago. Going further back, the Cherries have won four of their last eight games overall - going some way to showing just why Eddie Howe has been so highly lauded over the past 12 months or so.
Howe has already been linked to a move away from the Vitality Stadium in the summer, but he needs to look just across his dugout this afternoon to show that it is vital to remain grounded. Cast your minds back to the end of August and then-Swansea boss Garry Monk was being heavily tipped as the next England manager, fast forward just a handful of months and the rookie boss is now out of a job altogether.
You get the impression that Howe is here to stay for the long term, with his Bournemouth adventure merely in the early stages still. Records are seemingly being ripped apart with each victory, and now the South Coast outfit have a chance to put some more distance between themselves and an improving Swansea side. Their success is largely down to the energy throughout the squad, having covered more distance than any other team in the division.
DID YOU KNOW? For all of Bournemouth's achievements this season, they have only managed to pick up four wins on home soil. That is the joint-lowest tally in the division, with only basement boys Aston Villa (2) winning fewer games. It should be mentioned that five other have an identical record, though, and it certainly has not hampered the Cherries' survival aspirations.
While Bournemouth have looked fairly comfortable for a while now, without truly being able to focus on another season of Premier League football, it is only over the last week or so that Swansea have been able to breath themselves. The Swans remain in a lowly position of 16th place, but the gap on the bottom three now stands at a hefty nine points.
The Swans were always doing just about enough to remain out of trouble, largely due to the incompetence of the division's bottom four teams, though back-to-back wins over Arsenal and Norwich have surely ended any talk of relegation. That is a welcome relief for the Welsh outfit, who for the opening month or so of the season looked real contenders to claim a top-six finish this term.
Questions were asked of the club's board when Garry Monk was given the boot earlier in the season, especially when he was replaced by the relatively unknown Alan Curtis. Francesco Guidolin was then brought in to add some experience and, while he has been absent for the past three games now, the Swans' fortune have certainly improved since he came on board.
City have claimed 14 points from eight games since Guidolin was officially appointed, in fact, compared to 19 from 21 prior to the Italian coming in. Alan Curtis deserves a huge slice of the praise too, of course, having been tasked with taking temporary charge in Guidolin's recent absence. Swansea can make it three wins on the bounce for the first time since last April should they prevail here, while all-but sealing another year of Premier League football in South Wales.
Seven of Swansea's eight victories this season have come by a one-goal margin, suggesting that we could be in for another tight game this afternoon. It is worth mentioning that Norwich City have just picked up a decent point against Manchester City in the day's early kickoff, so the gap at the bottom has closed ever so slightly prior to kickoff at the Vitality Stadium.
Defensively speaking, Swansea have managed to keep just the one clean sheet in 14 away games this term, but with Ashley Williams impressing again last time out it could be a tough afternoon for Bournemouth's attacking players. Either way, the Swans know that, with Aston Villa to come next weekend, relegation fears could be a thing of the past by the end of play next week. Alternatively, with back-to-back defeats, it will be squeaky-bum time all over again.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Bournemouth have won only one of the last seven fixtures between these two sides, but they did pick up a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture last November. The Cherries led 2-0 in that one before Swansea pegged them back, with all four goals coming before the interval. In fact, 22 goals have been scored in the last five meetings - more of the same would certainly be nice today!
With kickoff in this 50th league meeting between Bournemouth and Swansea City now less than 15 minutes away, let us check out the pre-match thoughts from both camps at the Vitality Stadium.
Eddie Howe: "No one can predict what the final points tally will be. There is still some way to go in the season, teams can go on good runs at this time of year, so we just have to focus on this game and try to win."
Francesco Guidolin: "I need some more days of rest. I've finished with antibiotics, but it's better for me to relax a bit more. For the match against Aston Villa, I hope to be back. The two victories against Arsenal and Norwich were very important."
You can't really blame Howe for wanting to keep his players on their toes. No manager is likely to ever admit that their side have nothing to play for, but it will take an almighty collapse - and a highly unlikely turnaround by one of the bottom four - to drag the Cherries into danger. All Bournemouth can do at this stage is keep picking up points and aim to finish their maiden Premier League campaign on a real high.
Bournemouth face Tottenham Hotspur, Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United in their final nine league fixtures, so you can see why Howe is refusing to play down today's game. The Englishman knows that a few defeats on the bounce will bring some nervous tension, making those successive wins over Southampton and Newcastle all the more important. Thirty-seven points has been enough to confirm survival in the last two seasons, and the Cherries will surpass that with a victory today.
PREDICTION! A tough one to call, this. Two sides separated by just two points, with both on a high the moment thanks to some impressive recent results. A draw would be the obvious prediction to give, but I am hoping to see both these teams really go for it today with the pressure off slightly at the bottom. Bournemouth to claim a 3-2 win.
Just the one other 3pm fixture in the Premier League this afternoon, incidentally, due to the FA Cup programme this weekend. Stoke City and Southampton face off at the Britannia Stadium in a battle between two mid-table sides, which will not have too much of a baring on this fixture. That point picked up by Norwich against Man City a little earlier does perhaps add the slightest of edges to events at the Vitality Stadium, but the gap is still eight points between the Swans and the drop zone.
The Vitality Stadium has been steadily filling up over the last hour, with kickoff now around four minutes away. Both sets of players will be making their way down the tunnel shortly.
The teams are now out on the field of play at the Vitality Stadium, having been greeted by a strong reception from every section of the ground. This fixture has a nice feel to it, as two teams on a high aim to continue their respective winning runs to climb up into mid-table. A victory for Swansea will take them above their opponents, while Bournemouth can move as high as 13th.
KICKOFF! We are up and running on the South Coast, as Bournemouth - sporting their traditional black-and-red home strip - get proceedings underway. Good atmosphere inside the Vitality Stadium early on.
An early opportunity for King to open the scoring here, as a Gradel cross is met well around six yards out. The forward's header ended on the roof of the net, though, providing an early let-off for the visitors.
Swansea's turn to attack now after Fer turns the tide by winning his side a free kick. The ball is only half cleared as far as Routledge, who looks to hook the ball into the far corner of the net from range. It dipped well but ended a good yard or so wide of goal in the end.
SHOT! Well King had half a chance around two minutes in, but this was even better from a similar position. Daniels pulled the ball back into a decent area, with Afobe struggling to keep it under control. King was there to pick up the loose ball, though, only to blast high and wide from his attempt.
A very open feel to the match early on, pretty much as expected. Both teams playing without much of a care, with a couple of early shots apiece already. Bournemouth coming closest to a breakthrough when King blasted over a couple of minutes ago.
OFF THE POST! Gradel proving a threat once more, this time when cutting inside and drawing a foul from Fernandez. A great position for a free kick, around 25 yards from goal, which Surman dips onto the post. So close to his first league goal there.
Bournemouth really knocking on the door now, creating another opening when a cross from the right is latched on to by Gradel. The midfielder failed to make the desired contact, though, rather scuffing his strike into Fernandez before it could reach the target.
So a really positive start for the hosts, then, but Swansea by no means being dominated. Through Sigurdsson in particular, a man who has six goals in his last 10 appearances, they look particularly dangerous when getting bodies forward on the counter.
PENALTY SHOUT! From pretty much nothing Barrow charges into the box where he is brought down by Daniels. The full-back got very little of the ball but plenty of his opponents, but referee Roger East instead gave just a corner. A tough call to make, which the official probably just about got correct.
Swansea look to break quickly once more, but Cork lacks the legs to really do any damage and the ball eventually works its way back to Williams. Far more evenly-contested match now, following a really bright Bournemouth spell a little earlier.
CHANCE! It is another decent chance for Bournemouth, which once again they fail to make the most of. King was this time the creator after getting in behind Williams, only for Gradel to fire wide when picked out seven yards from goal. Bournemouth need to capitalise on these big openings.
A quarter of the way through this match and it is Bournemouth who have had the better chances so far. Andrew Surman came closest to making a breakthrough when hitting the post from a free kick 25 yards out, while Swansea felt they should have had a penalty up the other end when Modou Barrow was brought down.
The match has gone very quiet over the past five minutes or so, with neither side able to really do much damage in the attacking third. Bournemouth did win their first corner of the afternoon through Gradel's work, which just about evades Afobe when swung into a dangerous area.
Swansea get away their first real shot of the contest, but it is hit wide of the target by Sigurdsson from range. The Icelandic international, on a great run of form of late, used his quick footwork to carve the chance but could not find his range.
Ritchie whips in a free kick that was dipping into the far corner if not for the intervention of Fabianski to push it over the bar. Technically another shot on target for the Cherries, who probably should be ahead in this one as we approach the half-hour mark.
Swansea not really able to find any rhythm to their attacking moves so far, in stark contrast to Bournemouth who get forward down the flanks and pick out a man in the middle. The Cherries' downfall so far has been a failure to put the ball in the back of the net.
Surman lofts one over the top for King to race on to - a tactic that has been deployed all afternoon. Williams was beaten first time around, but this time the ball has too much on it and runs out of play. Clear to see what Bournemouth are planning to do.
YELLOW CARD! First booking of the afternoon goes to Dan Gosling, who brings down Barrow to prevent a Swansea break. Still yet to actually see a shot on goal on the South Coast, but Bournemouth have certainly had their chances.
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 1-0 SWANSEA CITY (MAX GRADEL)
Max Gradel gives Bournemouth a deserved lead at the Vitality Stadium - his first goal in English football since 2011! He took in beautifully, too, coolly picking out the bottom corner after Fabianski flapped at Smith's cross from the right. The Swansea keeper could only push the ball into the path of the attacker, who tucked it home.
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 1-1 SWANSEA CITY (MODOU BARROW)
What a response by the Swans! A little over a minute after going behind, the visitors level up with their first meaningful shot of the afternoon. It was all about the quality of Barrow's strike, as he cut inside from the right before bending one into the bottom corner of the net. Sigurdsson slid in to get a touch, but it went right the way through.
So a shot on target apiece and now a goal apiece. Two quality finishes by Gradel and Barrow, the latter in particular one to remember as it was Barrow's first strike at this level on his fourth start of the season. The wideman now causing real trouble, clearly boosted by that goal.
Swansea the side on top since finding a breakthrough, pushing their opponents back right on the edge of their own area. Barrow still looking lively on the right, causing Daniels plenty of problems as we enter the final minute of the half.
HALF TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 1-1 SWANSEA CITY
The contest remains on a knife edge at the interval, then, as Modou Barrow's first ever Premier League goal quickly cancelled out Max Gradel's opener. It has been a lively opening 45 minutes, with both teams able to find a way through with their only shots on target of the half.
Bournemouth were the side on top in the opening quarter of the match, creating two decent openings early on which Joshua King failed to capitalise on. The forward first placed wide when picked out by Daniels, while also heading behind when getting on the end of a Gradel cross in a similar position.
It was Gradel's trickery that earned a free kick 25 yards from goal soon after, which Andrew Surman sent back off the upright. A let off of sorts for the visitors, but they felt they should have had a penalty at the other end when a lively Barrow was sent tumbling by Daniels just inside the box. The next chance of the half fell to Gradel, who fired wide from seven yards out.
A quiet spell followed, before some real drama when Gradel converted after Fabianski failed to deal with a cross into the box, just a minute or so before Barrow cut inside the level things up with a fine first Premier League goal. All square at half time, then, and plenty to play for in the second half.
BENCH WATCH!
BOURNEMOUTH SUBS: Federici, Distin, Elphick, O'Kane, Pugh, Iturbe, Grabban
SWANSEA CITY SUBS: Nordfeldt, Naughton, Amat, Britton, Ki Sung-Yueng, Emnes, Gomis
RESTART! We are back underway at the Vitality Stadium, and there is news of a home alteration to bring you. Eunan O'Kane is brought on for Dan Gosling in the engine room, which is surely down to an injury problem.
A worry for Swansea here, as the best player on the field is currently down receiving treatment. Barrow appeared to be caught in the face, but he should be fine to continue after a bit of TLC.
Barrow is indeed back on the field of play, so no need for Swansea to join Bournemouth in making a change. Don't want to curse things at this stage, but this game surely has another goal or two in it on the basis of the attacking first half.
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 2-1 SWANSEA CITY (JOSHUA KING)
Right on cue, Bournemouth bag the third goal of the game through King's thumping finish. Gradel initially gave the ball away before winning it back, slotting in his teammate down the right to fire the ball hard and low beyond Fabianski. The Polish stopper will perhaps be disappointed not to have stopped that one.
Paloschi has been a mere spectator all afternoon really, barely getting a touch of the ball. Alan Curtis will surely be thinking about making a change prior to the hour mark, as Bournemouth look to protect their lead for a little longer this time.
Daniels flicks the ball on allowing O'Kane to drive towards the box. The half-time substitute appeared to have won his side a welcome corner, but Roger East changed his mind and instead awarded a goal kick.
Barrow disappointingly drifts a cross into the back-post area, but none of his teammates were anywhere to be seen. Routledge perhaps should have been getting himself into that advanced position.
Smith gets a cross into the box which comes back off Cork's hand. No debate there, but Roger East right to rule out pointing to the spot as there was very little distance between both players when the ball was hit.
SWANSEA CITY SUB! Bafetimbi Gomis, with one goal in 22, is brought on in place of Wayne Routledge. Swansea going with a 4-4-2 formation, with Sigurdsson moving out to the right-hand side.
Max Gradel has scored one and set up another to put Bournemouth 2-1 up, with a little under a third of the game left to play. Swansea City not really asked many questions this half, but they now have a second striker on the field.
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 2-2 SWANSEA CITY (GYLFI SIGURDSSON)
From pretty much out of nowhere, Swansea City have themselves a second goal! Barrow was again involved, pulling the ball back to Sigurdsson after charging to the byline, allowing the in-form Icelandic midfielder to take one touch to set himself and a second to drive the ball into the top corner. Superb finish!
BOURNEMOUTH SUB! Swansea asking all the questions now, almost finding a third when Paloschi was just about beaten to the ball by Boruc. Howe wasting no time to make his first change, as Afobe is replaced by Grabban in a like-for-like switch.
All of a sudden it is Bournemouth who are doing most of the defending, but if what we have witnessed so far is anything to go by then it will be the Cherries that score next! Grabban looking really fired up since coming on.
It finished 2-2 when the sides last met in November, remember, but the game had a different feel to it back then. A point apiece certainly would not be the worst result for either this afternoon, taking them further clear of the drop zone.
Taylor is picked out in a great position inside the box on the left, but he looks to loft a cross into the box rather than going low and hard across the face of goal. Wrong decision in the end, as Bournemouth easily deal with the danger. Still sense another goal in this one.
Another one of the quiet spells in the game at the moment, as both sides take it in turns to knock the ball around. Could be a feeling that a point is worth settling for as we enter the final 15 minutes, but fingers crossed the pace picks up again soon.
BOURNEMOUTH SUB! A great shift put in for Gradel, who scored one and assisted another for his side. Mark Pugh the man on in his place - a free signing from Hereford in 2010. Thirteen minutes left to play at the Vitality Stadium.
SAVE! Boruc forced into pretty much the first save of the match to deny an otherwise quiet Paloschi. The January signing caught the keeper by surprise when taking on a shot on the turn, which Boruc was happy to just push to safety.
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 3-2 SWANSEA CITY (STEVE COOK)
Bournemouth lead for the first time in this thrilling match, and it is Steve Cook who finds this key goal. A corner from the right was met by the defender, who simply jumped highest to pick out the far corner - making it two goals in two home games.
SWANSEA CITY SUB! Swansea's best player, Modou Barrow, is replaced by Marvin Emnes late on. The Swans midfielder has gone straight down the tunnel so it looks likely to be injury related.
Bournemouth just a tad more cautious now, which is completely understandable given the circumstances. Twice they have thrown away a lead, and if they were to do so again there would be no time to find a late winner.
SAVE! Grabban has looked good since coming on, with his audacious chipped effort being tipped over by Fabianski. Ki has now replaced Fer in the Swans' final change of the match.
Boruc now slowing down the tempo of the game, as this contest continues to peter out slightly. Bournemouth will not complain, of course, as they are on the brink of successive home wins for the first time ever in the top flight.
The fourth official has indicated that we will play a further four minutes at the Vitality Stadium, so not much longer for the hosts to hold out now. Emnes wanted a penalty after smashing the ball at Daniels, but the defender was just a yard or so away from the ball when it was struck.
Swansea struggling to create any real openings at the moment. That was the case prior to them bagging their previous two goals, though, so do not rule out a late, late goal on the South Coast.
FULL TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 2-3 SWANSEA CITY
Bournemouth see out the closing stages at the Vitality Stadium with relative ease, meaning three more points and surely safety for another season. Swansea twice battled back to seemingly rescue a vital point in their battle to survive, but it was not to be thanks to Steve Cook's header 12 minutes from time.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at the Vitality Stadium, but there is time to point you in the direction of our FA Cup coverage, as Chelsea lock horns with Everton in what should be a thrilling sixth-round tie. Enjoy!
