Fulham 0-1 Bournemouth: Champions League on cards?
[AFP via Getty Images] Bournemouth have never played in Europe before but not only is that looking increasingly likely for next term, it could well be Champions League football. They are three points behind Aston Villa in fifth - albeit having played a game more - but are the side finishing the season in form, with this their fourth win in their last five Premier League games. Liverpool , who face a tricky game at Villa and then a home game against in-form Brentford, are also still in reach.
The Cherries have a tough test next with a home game against Manchester City but that is followed by a final-day trip to Nottingham Forest , who could well be mathematically safe from relegation by then. The key to Bournemouth's strong finish to the campaign has been the form of Rayan, who has now scored three goals in his last three Premier League games. His goal was the 56th goal either scored or assisted by a teenager in the Premier League this season, the most in a campaign since 2006-07 (58), while only Liverpool in 1994-95 (23), 1997-98 (18) and 1998-99 (18) have scored more goals via teenagers in a Premier League season than Bournemouth this term (17).
However this win also highlighted how much the Cherries will miss manager Andoni Iraola. The Bournemouth boss will leave the club in the summer and he showed great game management here as the visitors adapted better to being a man down, rarely looking troubled by Fulham aside from the late Josh King chance.