Dango Ouattara’s second-half hat-trick fired Bournemouth to a stunning 5-0 statement home win over high-flying Nottingham Forest to raise hopes of a shock Champions League finish.
The Cherries followed up last weekend’s impressive 4-1 win at Newcastle with another sensational victory as they inflicted the Premier League’s third-placed side’s first defeat in all competitions since early December.
An irresistible Bournemouth stretched their club-record unbeaten run in the Premier League to 11 games to move just a point off the top four with Forest’s hopes of a surprise title challenge taking a huge dent as they fell nine points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.
A sorry Forest were rocked in the ninth minute as Bournemouth’s hat-trick hero against Newcastle, Justin Kluivert, struck again with a scorching opener from distance which arrowed into the bottom corner.
Bournemouth then ran riot in the second half as Ouattara’s quickfire double put the home side in full control as he superbly headed home in the 55th minute before netting a low finish six minutes later.
Ouattara then completed his hat-trick in the 87th minute as he rebounded home from close range before Antoine Semenyo added a fifth in stoppage time to cap off a fabulous performance from Andoni Iraola’s side, who will be eyeing another big win next Saturday when they face leaders Liverpool at home.
Player of the match: Dango Ouattara
Dango Ouattara scored a hat-trick in Bournemouth’s sensational 5-0 home win over Nottingham Forest
Ouattara’s sensational performance saw him become the first hat-trick scorer from Burkino Faso in the Premier League.
He scored from three of his four shots on target and has stepped up hugely for the Cherries with strikers Evanilson and Enes Unal suffering long-term injuries.
Ouattara now has 10 Premier League goal involvements for Bournemouth this term (six goals, four assists), more than in his first two seasons in the competition combined (two goals, five assists).
Iraola: Scoring first was key for ‘great result’
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola speaking at his post-match press conference:
“The best thing is to enjoy it. Enjoy today. You can look at the standings but that will not give us anything.
“We have to take it game by game. You can enjoy every week. That’s how we should focus.
“I think it’s a great result. A very good performance. The key was to score first – they have been winning all their games from the first half so to be ahead and make them change their approach was key.
Outtara completes his hat-trick at the Vitality Stadium
“I think Forest are having an amazing season, even after this result they are four points ahead of us.
“But I will not change our approach and not look at the standings. Let’s keep doing the same things.”
Nuno: ‘Surprising’ defeat must be a ‘warning to everybody’
Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo speaking at his post-match press conference:
“I think it surprised everybody, especially the way we started the game. It was bad, from beginning to end it was a bad day.
“We need to realise how we do things, how we play football. We shouldn’t allow so many spaces to quality players. The moment we lose that aspect of the game it becomes much harder.
“We have to look at today and make sure not to repeat it again. It must be a warning to everybody. The players, the staff and the fans.”
Analysis: Iraola’s magic has Bournemouth dreaming of Europe
Bournemouth were jaw-droppingly outstanding in their victory over Forest.
The quality of the goals, the free-flowing football and their defensive solidity shone in a statement win which will increase the belief this joyful Bournemouth can qualify for Europe.
Justin Kluivert celebrates after giving Bournemouth an early lead against Forest
Cherries boss Iraola is the architect of all of this and he will no doubt be linked with bigger jobs in the coming months with the magic he is working on the south coast.
Bournemouth thrashed Forest to record their biggest victory in the top-flight since April 2019. Iraola’s seventh-placed side have now beaten four of the top seven this season so their 12-game unbeaten run in all competitions is no accident.
In a topsy-turvy Premier League season that has seen the bigger sides struggle, Bournemouth have taken full advantage and this stunning display will make them feared.
Leaders Liverpool go to Vitality Stadium next with Bournemouth eyeing another huge scalp.
Beat the Reds, and Bournemouth will not just be seen as European hopefuls but true Champions League contenders, especially with fifth place potentially being enough for Champions League qualification this season.
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