Ryan Christie grabbed his first goal for AFC Bournemouth as the Dorset club beat 10 man Cardiff 3-0 at Vitality Stadium.
Dominic Solanke made it 18 goals in 24 league games before an Alex Smithies own goal secured all three points for Scott Parker’s side.
The Cherries dominated the second half following Leandro Bacuna’s sending off just before the break.
Christie’s curling effort took a wicked deflection off Mark McGuiness in an exhilarating first half on the south coast but the Cherries controlled the second half and never looked like losing their lead as they increased their lead at the top of table to four points over Fulham.
Bournemouth made two changes from Monday night’s win over QPR as captain Lloyd Kelly returned after recovering from COVID. The 23 year-old defender replaced Chris Mepham whilst Jaidon Anthony replaced Junior Stanislas on the left wing.
Steve Morison’s side had not played since December 11 after games against Derby and Coventry were postponed due to COVID and Morison made three changes from the Bluebirds 2-2 draw with Birmingham. Will Vaulks, Leandro Bacuna and Mark Harris came in for Ruben Colwill, James Collins and Marlon Pack.
Bournemouth got off to an energetic start and created a couple of early half chances with Philip Billing and Jefferson Lerma both looking to test Alex Smithies in the Cardiff goal.
Billing’s shot from an acute angle was gathered easily by the Bluebirds keeper at the near post whilst Lerma’s speculative effort from distance flew over the bar.
Cardiff gave Bournemouth an early scare of their own as a Vaulks long throw was headed onto the back of Dominic Solanke by Gary Cahill.
Kiefer Moore almost got his head to the ball as it bounced in the six yard box, but Mark Travers was on hand to gather the loose ball.
With just over 10 minutes played, Lewis Cook let a big chance go begging as he was slipped in by Solanke. The midfielder running at pace, from deep, took a touch which allowed a Cardiff defender to get a block in but the shot was begging to be hit first time.
The opening 20 minutes was played at pace from both sides and at times felt like a basketball match as both sides looked to play forward quickly.
It was the home side who found the opening on 25 minutes though, with Ryan Christie finishing from just inside the box, claiming his first goal for the club.
The Scotland international received the ball from Solanke who pulled the ball back to Christie from the right flank.
Christie looked to curl the ball with his left foot into the far corner and McGuiness was only able to divert the ball past Smithies as he attempted to block the shot.
Solanke’s hold up play was a highlight of the first half. The striker was bringing the likes of Christie, Anthony and Billing into play constantly as well as looking like a threat on the shoulder of the Cardiff backline.
Travers kept the scores level with a brilliant save from Moore as the game approached half time. Ryan Giles' excellent cross from the left found Moore in the six yard box, but Travers was on hand to produce a brilliant reaction save at close range.
Just before the halftime, Bacuna received his marching orders as he lunged in from behind on Billing with what was a poor tackle from the former Villa man.
The halftime break gave Morison an opportunity to regroup his side and brought on Isaak Davies for Harris with the Bluebirds trailing 1-0.
Morison made his second substitution just before the hour mark as Bournemouth started to take control and dictate the tempo of the game and replaced Moore with Collins in attack.
Jordan Zemura and Solanke almost linked up well on the edge of the box as the clock struck the hour mark, but the left back was unable to get onto the return ball from Solanke and Smithies was able to scoop up the loose ball.
Lerma came close from a corner soon after as he was allowed to run from deep but his header went over the bar and will be disappointed he didnt at least test Smithies in the Cardiff goal.
With just under 20 minutes left to play Parker’s men doubled their lead through Solanke. The Cherries number nine latched onto a wonderful back heel pass from Billing inside the left hand side of the box and slotted the ball into the far corner from 8 yards.
It was no more than the home side deserved as they dominated possession throughout the second half.
Solanke almost made it three as the game approached the final 15 minutes. Christie’s pull back nearly found the striker who was ready to tap in from close range but Cardiff were able to clear the ball before the forward could inflict any more damage.
Billing was next to come close when his outstretched leg met a low driven cross from Zemura 12 yards from goal, but the shot was blocked.
The Cherries did make it three from the resulting corner though as Cardiff failed to clear the ball. Lerma rifled a shot from 8 yards as the ball pinged around the box. The Colombian’s shot bounced back off the crossbar with Smithies helpless as the ball hit the Cardiff keeper on the back and then crossed the line.
With just over five minutes to go there was one negative moemnt for the Cherries however. Stanislas who came on halfway through the second had to be replaced by Emiliano Marcondes after aggravting a shoulder injury picked up earlier in the week in the win over QPR.
Bournemouth made it back-to-back wins and now look ahead to Monday night's visit of Peterborough as they end the year top of the Championship table.