Semenyo scores inside 60 seconds as Bournemouth hang on to beat Fulham 1-0

Antoine Semenyo’s strike inside the opening 60 seconds proved to be the only goal of the game as Bournemouth hung on to beat Fulham 1-0.

Semenyo robbed the ball from a clumsy Antonee Robinson, drove forward and placed one beautifully into the bottom corner with his weak foot to give the Cherries a lead after just 53 seconds.

The winger’s versatility has been on show all season and since the start of the 2023-24 campaign, he is one of four Premier League players to score at least eight goals with both his right and left.

The goal was Bournemouth’s fastest in the league this season and helped the hosts move ahead of Fulham into eighth on goal difference after 32 games.

Bookmakers price Bournemouth at 10/1 to finish in the top six which looks unlikely but not impossible with six games remaining.

Andoni Iraola’s side are six points adrift the tightly matched Chelsea in sixth and Aston Villa in seventh.

The May 10th showdown with Villa at the Vitality Stadium could prove decisive if Bournemouth continue to collect points with fixtures against Crystal Palace, Manchester United and Arsenal to come.

Seventh place will earn a spot in the qualifying round for the Conference League and if successful in their quest the Cherries could play European football for the first time in club history.

WATCH: Bournemouth 1-0 Fulham Highlights

Bournemouth have now equalled their highest ever points tally in a Premier League campaign (48) going on par with last season and the three points come at a vital time – their first in seven outings.

Level on points with Bournemouth, Fulham are of course in the mix to play in Europe next season and they also have a meeting with Villa to follow as well as Chelsea.

The Cottagers are a model of inconsistency at the minute and can’t seem to string two good performances together, failing to record back-to-back wins in the league since early November.