Solanke can’t stop scoring grabs a double again for Bournemouth
Dominic Solanke grabbed a double as unbeaten Bournemouth cruised to a 3-0 victory over Huddersfield to equal the club’s best start to a league season.
His first-half goals took his tally to 11 for the season, before defender Lloyd Kelly added a third in the second half to keep the Cherries in control at the top of the Championship.
Bournemouth are now unbeaten in their first 14 matches this season, a statistic only matched by the 1961-62 side in the Old Third Division with Liverpool the only other side in the top four English tiers yet to lose.
Both teams warmed up with messages printed on their T-shirts in support of Cherries winger David Brooks, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma last week.
The crowd then erupted in a minute’s chanting for the Wales international which ended seconds before Ollie Turton clumsily tripped Solanke to gift the hosts a penalty.
Solanke picked himself up, and after a slow run-up, sent Lee Nicholls the wrong way in the ninth minute.
It was Solanke’s ninth Championship strike of the season and ended Nicholls’ three-match clean sheet run.
Former Huddersfield midfielder Phillip Billing was booed by the away fans before lofting a cross into the box for Solanke to skid a header wide.
The pair then combined again in the 21st minute to double Bournemouth’s advantage.
Ryan Christie bent in a delicious cross from the right, which Billing cushioned to Solanke, who chested down before rifling home.
READ ALSODominic Solanke nets to move Cherries six points clear
Gary Cahill tried his luck from 30 yards and Jaidon Anthony curled over for the Cherries, while Fraizer Campbell ended the half by shooting into the stands – the visitors only having one first-half touch in the Bournemouth box.
Nicholls was forced into a smart stop to deny Christie after the restart, before Campbell saw a shot blocked on the edge of the area after a strong press at the other end.
Solanke almost grabbed his treble after a blistering counter-attack between Anthony and Billing saw the slide strike deflect out the ground.