Stoke City 0-1 Bournemouth: Dominic Solanke winner extends Cherries’ lead at top

Dominic Solanke scored the only goal of the game as Championship leaders Bournemouth won at Stoke.

On a night when Stoke lost their own top scorer Nick Powell to a first-half lower leg injury, the Potters at least enjoyed seeing striker Tyrese Campbell return off the bench after the break following 10 months out with a knee injury.

But although he twice went close and Sam Clucas hit the post, the unbeaten Cherries remained relatively untroubled – and their ninth win in 13 games this season was enough to send Scott Parker’s men six points clear at the top.

Second-placed West Bromwich Albion will try to halve the leeway again on Wednesday when they go to Swansea.

It was Stoke boss Michael O’Neill’s 100th game in charge – but the statistics otherwise did him no favours.

Stoke’s first home defeat of the season was not only Bournemouth’s fourth single-goal win in a row in the Potteries, it was also their fourth successive Tuesday night victory.

And the Potters had only themselves to blame as they had marginally the better chances.

Inside the first 20 seconds Jacob Brown should have scored, only to drag his left-foot shot wide with the best chance of a poor first half.

But just six minutes into the second half the Cherries won it when Stoke sloppily gave the ball away. Ryan Christie took a speculative poke at goal, the ball bounced off the chest of the clumsy Davies – and Solanke slotted away the rebound.

Of his nine goals this season, seven have been at home, while the other two have both come in the Midlands, as he also scored in a 2-0 win at Birmingham in August.

What’s up next?

After suffering back-to-back defeats for the first time since April, Stoke slip to sixth and could drop even lower if Huddersfield and Reading both win on Wednesday, ahead of Saturday’s trip to Millwall.

Bournemouth are also back in action on Saturday at home to Huddersfield.

Potters manager Michael O’Neill told BBC Stoke:

“You never like losing at home and it’s very disappointing losing that one as there was very little in it. You can see why they’re top of the league. They have good players but we gave as good as we got.

“Nick Powell took a kick on the inside of his fibula and it’s very sore, but we’ll have to wait and see if there’s any damage.

“I’m delighted for Tyrese Campbell to be back and pleased to have him back. And you could see the reaction inside the stadium. He had chances too, but then again he always will. That’s what he does.”

Bournemouth boss Scott Parker told BBC Radio Solent:

“Dominic Solanke does what he does best and poached a goal. Like any number nine he wants to score goals. He’s special and we’re lucky to have him.

“But it’s all built on a foundation of hard graft – and six clean sheets away from home in this league is quite something.

“I’ve been here now 17 weeks. You want to take it to the next level and it’s nice to see all the work we’ve put in come to fruition – and hopefully we can keep on winning like we’re doing.”