Bournemouth leapfrogged Middlesbrough to return to the top of the Championship table after a dominant victory over their promotion rivals.

The Cherries now hold a one-point advantage over Watford with Yann Kermorgant's penalty, Harry Arter's stunning strike and a further spot-kick from Brett Pitman sealing victory.

It was a return to winning ways for the Cherries with seven games to go.

Boro, who failed to register a single shot on target, slipped to third.

Kermorgant's first-minute free-kick, which forced a save from Dimi Konstantopoulos, set the tone for the opening 45 minutes at the Goldsands Stadium with the hosts completely dominating.

The recalled striker fired home from the spot after Tomas Kalas hauled down Callum Wilson in the area following a fine long ball from Arter.

Konstantopoulos was busy throughout the first half keeping out efforts from Kermorgant and Matt Ritchie, while Wilson was also proving a menace up front.

Brett Pitman

Brett Pitman took his tally to 14 with Bournemouth's second penalty against Middlesbrough

The Cherries almost doubled their lead shortly after the restart when Tommy Elphick's close-range header from Ritchie's free-kick was superbly kept out.

Bournemouth did make it 2-0 shortly afterwards, Arter grabbing his second goal in a week with another stunning strike from distance.

Ritchie blazed over from close range on the hour following an earlier defensive calamity from Boro while Kike found the net with a header after 65 minutes but he was ruled offside.

Substitute Pitman's disputed penalty made it 3-0 after Arter went down in the box.

Boro forward Patrick Bamford, anonymous throughout, floated a late free-kick on to the roof of Artur Boruc's goal in what was the closest Middlesbrough came to scoring.

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe:

"That's as well as we have played when you consider the opposition we were up against.

"We defended very well and limited them to half chances and with the ball we were excellent so it's been a really good day. We fully deserved the win.

"Psychologically it gives us a boost knowing we've beaten one of the best sides in the division and it should serve us well hopefully in the remaining games."

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka:

"Today we had all the things against us. The penalties, for me, are unbelievable.

"I can understand mistakes because everyone makes mistakes, but I can't understand behaviours. For example, when we had a disallowed goal the linesman was laughing.

"I knew it was going to be a very difficult game, because we played against one of the best teams in the league."

"It was going to be difficult and then I started to see the mistakes we made, especially in the first half. Then I started to feel the referee's decisions."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

AFC Bournemouth

  • 31 Boruc
  • 02 Francis
  • 05 Elphick
  • 03 Cook
  • 11 Daniels
  • 30 Ritchie (Smith - 65' )
  • 08 Arter Booked
  • 06 Surman
  • 07 Pugh
  • 18 Kermorgant (Pitman - 61' )
  • 13 Wilson (Rantie - 90' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Camp
  • 09 Rantie
  • 10 Pitman
  • 15 Smith
  • 16 MacDonald
  • 20 Fraser
  • 22 Ward

Middlesbrough

  • 13 Konstantopoulos
  • 24 Nsue Lopez Booked (Forshaw - 55' )
  • 26 Kalas
  • 06 Gibson
  • 03 Friend
  • 07 Leadbitter (Whitehead - 79' )
  • 08 Clayton Booked (Garcia Martinez - 55' )
  • 20 Reach
  • 10 Tomlin
  • 27 Adomah
  • 23 Bamford

Substitutes

  • 09 Garcia Martinez
  • 12 Ripley
  • 18 Whitehead
  • 21 Vossen
  • 22 Omeruo
  • 33 Wildschut
  • 34 Forshaw
Ref: Anthony Taylor
Att: 10,998

Match Stats

Shots

17 3

On target

7 0

Corners

5 6

Fouls

10 16

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full Time Match ends, Bournemouth 3, Middlesbrough 0.

90:00 +4:10 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Bournemouth 3, Middlesbrough 0.

90:00 +2:23

Marc Pugh went off injured after Bournemouth had used all subs.

90:00 +1:02

Foul by Lee Tomlin (Middlesbrough).

90:00 +1:02

Marc Pugh (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

89:48

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

89:45 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Bournemouth. Tokelo Rantie replaces Callum Wilson because of an injury.

88:14

Delay in match Callum Wilson (Bournemouth) because of an injury.

86:49

Attempt missed. Patrick Bamford (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.

85:43

Adam Forshaw (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

85:43

Foul by Andrew Surman (Bournemouth).

85:21

Foul by Tommy Elphick (Bournemouth).

85:21

Kike (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

84:57

Attempt missed. Brett Pitman (Bournemouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Adam Smith.

83:38

Adam Smith (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

83:38

Foul by Adam Reach (Middlesbrough).

82:22

Foul by Patrick Bamford (Middlesbrough).

82:22

Charlie Daniels (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

81:25

Lee Tomlin (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

81:25

Foul by Harry Arter (Bournemouth).

79:53

Attempt missed. Marc Pugh (Bournemouth) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right.

78:35 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Middlesbrough. Dean Whitehead replaces Grant Leadbitter.

77:09

Brett Pitman (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

77:09

Foul by Tomas Kalas (Middlesbrough).

73:55 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Bournemouth 3, Middlesbrough 0. Brett Pitman (Bournemouth) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.

73:06

Penalty Bournemouth. Harry Arter draws a foul in the penalty area.

73:06

Penalty conceded by Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough) after a foul in the penalty area.

72:32

Adam Smith (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

72:32

Foul by George Friend (Middlesbrough).

69:52

Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Lee Tomlin.

68:25

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

67:27

Delay in match Artur Boruc (Bournemouth) because of an injury.

66:36

Offside, Middlesbrough. Lee Tomlin tries a through ball, but Kike is caught offside.

66:24

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Steve Cook.

64:59 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Bournemouth. Adam Smith replaces Matt Ritchie.

60:50

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Steve Cook.

60:17 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Bournemouth. Brett Pitman replaces Yann Kermorgant.

59:44

Attempt missed. Matt Ritchie (Bournemouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Charlie Daniels with a cross.

58:21

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Simon Francis.

56:03 Booking

Booking Harry Arter (Bournemouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

56:00

Foul by Harry Arter (Bournemouth).

56:00

Lee Tomlin (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

54:39 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Middlesbrough. Kike replaces Adam Clayton.

54:30 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Middlesbrough. Adam Forshaw replaces Emilio Nsue Lopez.

52:57

Attempt blocked. Lee Tomlin (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Grant Leadbitter.

52:12

Yann Kermorgant (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

52:12

Foul by Patrick Bamford (Middlesbrough).

51:55

Foul by Callum Wilson (Bournemouth).

51:55

Emilio Nsue Lopez (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

51:22

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Tommy Elphick.

47:08 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Bournemouth 2, Middlesbrough 0. Harry Arter (Bournemouth) left footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Marc Pugh.

45:50

Attempt saved. Tommy Elphick (Bournemouth) header from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Matt Ritchie with a cross.

45:23

Marc Pugh (Bournemouth) wins a free kick on the left wing.

45:23

Foul by Adam Clayton (Middlesbrough).

45:00

Second Half begins Bournemouth 1, Middlesbrough 0.

45:00 +1:05 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Bournemouth 1, Middlesbrough 0.

45:00 +0:44

Foul by Yann Kermorgant (Bournemouth).

45:00 +0:44

George Friend (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.

44:11

Attempt missed. Callum Wilson (Bournemouth) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Simon Francis with a cross.

43:38 Booking

Booking Emilio Nsue Lopez (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

43:22

Marc Pugh (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

43:22

Foul by Emilio Nsue Lopez (Middlesbrough).

42:12

Attempt missed. Harry Arter (Bournemouth) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.

41:17

Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Grant Leadbitter.

40:03

Attempt missed. Callum Wilson (Bournemouth) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Yann Kermorgant.

36:14 Booking

Booking Adam Clayton (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

36:07

Callum Wilson (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

36:07

Foul by Adam Clayton (Middlesbrough).

35:34

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Charlie Daniels.

34:02

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Tommy Elphick.

33:03

Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Tomas Kalas.

32:37

Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Adam Reach.

31:29

Attempt missed. Simon Francis (Bournemouth) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Andrew Surman.

30:27

Attempt saved. Matt Ritchie (Bournemouth) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Callum Wilson.

26:59

Attempt saved. Yann Kermorgant (Bournemouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner.

25:51

Attempt blocked. Harry Arter (Bournemouth) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum Wilson.

24:43

Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Tomas Kalas.

23:49

Callum Wilson (Bournemouth) wins a free kick on the left wing.

23:49

Foul by Tomas Kalas (Middlesbrough).

21:23

Foul by Andrew Surman (Bournemouth).

21:23

Lee Tomlin (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

20:32

Attempt missed. Yann Kermorgant (Bournemouth) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Matt Ritchie.

18:41

Attempt missed. Callum Wilson (Bournemouth) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Andrew Surman.

18:04

Marc Pugh (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

18:04

Foul by Emilio Nsue Lopez (Middlesbrough).

15:24

Foul by Simon Francis (Bournemouth).

15:24

Adam Reach (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.

13:37

Attempt missed. Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.

12:29

Offside, Bournemouth. Matt Ritchie tries a through ball, but Yann Kermorgant is caught offside.

11:35 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Bournemouth 1, Middlesbrough 0. Yann Kermorgant (Bournemouth) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top left corner.

10:55

Penalty Bournemouth. Callum Wilson draws a foul in the penalty area.

10:55

Penalty conceded by Tomas Kalas (Middlesbrough) after a foul in the penalty area.

10:28

Andrew Surman (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

10:28

Foul by Patrick Bamford (Middlesbrough).

5:43

Hand ball by Callum Wilson (Bournemouth).

4:04

Offside, Bournemouth. Matt Ritchie tries a through ball, but Callum Wilson is caught offside.

3:12

Callum Wilson (Bournemouth) wins a free kick on the left wing.

3:12

Foul by Tomas Kalas (Middlesbrough).

1:51

Adam Clayton (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

1:51

Foul by Harry Arter (Bournemouth).

1:23

Attempt saved. Yann Kermorgant (Bournemouth) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

0:29

Matt Ritchie (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

0:29

Foul by George Friend (Middlesbrough).

0:00

First Half begins.

0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

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