B’mouth 3 – 0 C Palace

Bournemouth moved a step closer to securing European football for the first time in their history after a 3-0 win at home to Crystal Palace lifted them to sixth place.

The Cherries got off to the perfect start when their former player Jeferson Lerma guided Evanilsson’s header over the line in the 10th minute and Elli Jr. Croupie had the chance to double their advantage with a controversial penalty just after the half-hour mark.

Dean Henderson was adjudged to have caught Marcos Senesi in the box – despite minimal contact – after clinging to retrieve the ball while claiming a corner.

“He drops the ball. But he doesn’t give a hand or anything (to trip Seneca),” Glenn Murray said. Sky Sports. “I think it’s extremely soft.”

Cruppi rifled his spot-kick into the bottom left corner before VAR confirmed the on-field call, putting the 19-year-old striker level in the top-flight with Robbie Fowler for the most goals scored by a teenager (12) in their debut season.

Palace boss Oliver Glasner made five changes to the side that beat Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1 in the first leg of their Conference League semi-final three days ago but quickly called on the services of Tyreek Mitchell, Adam Wharton and Ismalia Saard at the break in search of a response.

Changes improved Palace but without a half chance for Jorgen Strand Larsen, one of which was saved by Bournemouth goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic and another skied over the bar, but a third from Ryan with 12 minutes remaining for the home side would seal all three points.

The Cherries have now extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 15 games – the longest streak across Europe’s top five leagues – and hold a one-point advantage over seventh-placed Brentford with three games remaining.

Meanwhile, Palace’s full focus turns to Thursday’s semi-final second leg against Shakhtar Donetsk as Glasner looks to add to his trophy collection before leaving at the end of his contract this summer.