Bournemouth cruise past calamitous Crystal Palace to climb into Premier League’s top six | OneFootball

Bournemouth boosted their European hopes with a thumping 3-0 Premier League win over woeful Crystal Palace.

A calamitous own goal from former Cherries midfielder Jefferson Lerma and Junior Kroupi’s 32nd-minute penalty set the in-form hosts on course to climb to sixth place in the table.

Brazilian winger Rayan completed the scoring 13 minutes from time as Andoni Iraola’s side stretched their remarkable unbeaten run to 15 top-flight games in convincing fashion.

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Jefferson Lerma's calamitous own goal summed up a wretched display from Crystal Palace (PA)

Palace’s visit to the Vitality Stadium was sandwiched between their two-legged Conference League semi-final against Shakhtar Donetsk, which they lead 3-1 on aggregate.

Eagles manager Oliver Glasner made five changes for the match and watched his 15th-placed side contribute to their own downfall during a wretched display.

Substitute Ismaila Sarr, who opened the scoring against Shakhtar on Thursday, almost claimed a late consolation but his volley bounced back off the left post.

While the FA Cup holders hope to lift European silverware this season, Bournemouth boss Iraola is seeking to secure continental qualification as a parting gift before leaving Dorset in the summer.

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Bournemouth are eyeing a strong finish to Andoni Iraola's tenure (Reuters)

In his penultimate home game, the Spaniard saw his side snatch a 10th-minute lead in bizarre fashion.

Following Alex Scott’s corner from the left, Evanilson’s header appeared to be going wide, only for Colombia international Lerma – who spent five seasons as a Bournemouth player – to inadvertently nod the ball over his own goal-line, despite the best efforts of Eagles goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

Evanilson, Rayan and Marcus Tavernier all threatened to double the dominant home team’s advantage before Palace eventually fell further behind following another glaring mistake.

England international Henderson initially caught James Hill’s long throw into the box but dropped the ball after colliding with team-mate Jaydee Canvot and then tripped Marcos Senesi in his desperation to retrieve it.

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Junior Kroupi celebrates scoring Bournemouth’s second goal from the penalty spot (PA Wire)

Referee Robert Jones pointed to the spot and, following a VAR check on the extent of the contact, Kroupi confidently dispatched his fourth goal in five games – and 12th of the season – into the bottom-left corner from 12 yards.

Glasner responded to a dismal opening period in which Palace failed to register an attempt at goal by introducing Tyrick Mitchell, Adam Wharton and Sarr in a triple change.

Eagles striker Jorgen Strand Larsen dribbled a shot too close to Cherries keeper Djordje Petrovic straight after the restart as the visitors resumed with greater intent.

Bournemouth were content to sit back and wait for opportunities on the counter-attack. Kroupi was denied his second by a block from Mitchell, before Petrovic saved a tame effort from Brennan Johnson at the other end.

Unlikely hopes of a turnaround were ended in the 77th minute as Rayan was slipped through on goal by substitute David Brooks and duly bobbled his second goal in as many games into the bottom-left corner.

Sarr almost gave the vocal travelling fans something to cheer in the 89th minute when he rattled the frame of the goal before Cherries supporters celebrated an emphatic victory as they dream of a maiden European adventure under incoming head coach Marco Rose next term.