Bournemouth stormed into League One's top six as they beat play-off hopefuls Crawley to go 15 games unbeaten.

The Cherries went ahead when Steve Cook whipped in a fierce cross which Crawley skipper Gary Alexander headed past his own goalkeeper Paul Jones.

Brett Pitman made it 2-0 when he rolled in a quickly taken 20-yard free-kick.

Home keeper David James saved well when substitute Billy Clarke had Crawley's best chance, before Eunan O'Kane added a late third from close range.

Eddie Howe's side, who won all their five games in December, now head to Brentford on New Year's Day as the division's two form teams meet.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Bournemouth assistant manager Jason Tindall told BBC Radio Solent:

"With two home games, it was important that we tried to get maximum points. We've managed to do that and it sets us up nicely for the new year.

"I don't think we were under any great deal of pressure. I thought the guys at the back defended extremely well and it's another clean sheet for us as well.

"It was always the aim to put ourselves in contention (for promotion), we've managed to do that with an incredible run of 15 games unbeaten. The hardest part for us now is to try and stay there."

Crawley Town manager Richie Barker told BBC Sussex:

"I thought 3-0 was harsh. You know it is possible if you take your chances and you're positive in your little spell but we weren't quite positive enough today.

"We didn't come and sit here for the draw, we just tried to make sure we filled the gaps and we were aware of what they do.

"They are a good side and 15 games unbeaten now and their expectations are high.

"When you find out from the fourth official that the referee asked the players if they want to take a quick free-kick - that's even worse. To instigate it from a referee's point of view I think is really poor."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Bournemouth

  • 34 James
  • 02 Francis
  • 03 Cook
  • 13 Elphick
  • 07 Pugh
  • 08 Arter (Tubbs - 83' )
  • 11 Daniels
  • 17 McQuoid (Fogden - 67' )
  • 32 O'Kane
  • 22 Grabban
  • 40 Pitman Booked (Hughes - 79' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Jalal
  • 06 Partington
  • 12 Fogden
  • 23 McDermott
  • 26 Hughes
  • 18 Tubbs
  • 33 Fletcher

Crawley Town

  • 01 Jones
  • 03 Sadler
  • 04 Connolly
  • 13 Hunt Booked
  • 28 Davis Booked
  • 11 Simpson
  • 15 Bulman
  • 16 Adams (Jonte Smith - 79' )
  • 18 Cooper (Clarke - 68' )
  • 21 Jones (Akinde - 79' )
  • 09 Alexander

Substitutes

  • 25 Kuipers
  • 12 Walsh
  • 07 Clarke
  • 08 Torres
  • 10 Clifford
  • 17 Akinde
  • 23 Jonte Smith
Ref: Probert
Att: 7,855

Match Stats

Shots

19 8

On target

11 5

Corners

6 5

Fouls

9 5

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:08 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +2:15

Matt Tubbs takes a shot. Save by Paul Jones.

90:00 +0:01

Free kick awarded for a foul by Tommy Elphick on John Akinde. Dannie Bulman takes the free kick.

86:58

The ball is delivered by Jonte Smith, David James makes a save.

85:19

Billy Clarke crosses the ball, Steve Cook manages to make a clearance.

83:47

Assist by Simon Francis.

83:47 Goal scored

Goal - Eunan O'Kane - Bournem'th 3 - 0 Crawley Eunan O'Kane gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the box low into the middle of the goal. Bournemouth 3-0 Crawley Town.

82:56 Substitution

Substitution Matt Tubbs on for Harry Arter.

81:39

Wes Fogden has an effort at goal from the edge of the box that misses to the right of the target.

81:31

Lewis Grabban takes a shot. Blocked by Mark Connolly.

80:32

The ball is sent over by Simon Francis, Claude Davis makes a clearance.

79:55

Billy Clarke produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.

78:04 Substitution

Substitution (Bournemouth) makes a substitution, with Richard Hughes coming on for Brett Pitman.

78:04 Substitution

Substitution (Crawley Town) makes a substitution, with Jonte Smith coming on for Nicky Adams.

78:04 Substitution

Substitution John Akinde is brought on as a substitute for Mike Jones.

77:54

The ball is swung over by Dannie Bulman.

77:21

Billy Clarke takes a shot. David James makes a brilliant save.

76:25

A cross is delivered by Lewis Grabban.

76:02

Mike Jones takes a shot. Save by David James.

75:28

Corner taken by Charlie Daniels, save made by Paul Jones.

75:14

Harry Arter takes a shot. Dannie Bulman gets a block in.

74:41

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Charlie Daniels.

74:28

Brett Pitman takes a shot. Blocked by Mike Jones.

72:48

Simon Francis sends in a cross, Lewis Grabban takes a shot. Mat Sadler gets a block in. Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Charlie Daniels, Steve Cook takes a shot.

71:45

Nicky Adams sends in a cross.

71:06

Unfair challenge on Nicky Adams by Harry Arter results in a free kick. Free kick taken by David Hunt.

70:41

Centre by Lewis Grabban, clearance by Claude Davis.

70:30

Simon Francis delivers the ball, clearance made by David Hunt.

69:28

The ball is sent over by Marc Pugh, David Hunt gets a block in.

68:26

Billy Clarke takes a shot. Comfortable save by David James.

67:34 Substitution

Substitution Billy Clarke is brought on as a substitute for Shaun Cooper.

65:57

Outswinging corner taken by Brett Pitman, Steve Cook takes a shot. Save by Paul Jones.

65:57 Substitution

Substitution Wes Fogden comes on in place of Josh McQuoid.

65:57

Lewis Grabban takes a shot. Save by Paul Jones.

65:14

David Hunt produces a cross, clearance made by Tommy Elphick.

64:19

Nicky Adams crosses the ball.

63:40

Marc Pugh has shot on goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

62:35

Marc Pugh produces a right-footed shot from outside the box and misses left.

61:43

The ball is swung over by Charlie Daniels.

59:19

Nicky Adams delivers the ball.

57:51

Harry Arter challenges Josh Simpson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Mat Sadler, save by David James.

57:51

Harry Arter challenges Josh Simpson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Mat Sadler.

57:23

Eunan O'Kane challenges Nicky Adams unfairly and gives away a free kick. Mat Sadler takes the direct free kick.

57:02

Shot by Mark Connolly from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.

56:26

The ball is sent over by Nicky Adams, Simon Francis manages to make a clearance. Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Nicky Adams.

56:10

The ball is delivered by David Hunt, blocked by Marc Pugh.

55:18

Brett Pitman crosses the ball, clearance by Claude Davis.

54:06

Gary Alexander is adjudged to have handled the ball. Free kick taken by Steve Cook.

53:09

Inswinging corner taken by Mat Sadler from the right by-line, save by David James.

52:38

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Nicky Adams, save by David James.

52:14

Corner taken by Mat Sadler.

51:33

Free kick awarded for a foul by Simon Francis on Gary Alexander. Free kick crossed right-footed by Nicky Adams, Tommy Elphick makes a clearance.

50:19

Mat Sadler sends in a cross, Gary Alexander takes a shot. Save by David James.

49:35

The ball is sent over by Marc Pugh, clearance by Mark Connolly.

48:44

Lewis Grabban is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Mark Connolly takes the free kick.

45:48

Nicky Adams takes a shot. Save made by David James.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +1:08 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

45:00 +0:53

Marc Pugh sends in a cross, clearance made by Claude Davis.

45:00 +0:32

Marc Pugh delivers the ball.

44:52

Effort on goal by Harry Arter from long range goes harmlessly over the bar.

44:40

Lewis Grabban takes a shot. Save made by Paul Jones.

43:43

Marc Pugh produces a cross, Mark Connolly makes a clearance.

42:11

Charlie Daniels decides to take the corner short, Brett Pitman takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the crossbar.

41:26

Shot from just outside the area by Gary Alexander misses to the left of the target.

39:56

The assist for the goal came from Marc Pugh.

39:56 Goal scored

Goal - Brett Pitman - Bournem'th 2 - 0 Crawley Brett Pitman finds the net with a goal direct from the free kick from outside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Bournemouth 2-0 Crawley Town.

39:19

Foul by Shaun Cooper on Marc Pugh, free kick awarded.

38:42

The ball is swung over by Josh McQuoid, Mark Connolly manages to make a clearance. Simon Francis produces a cross.

38:35

Centre by Lewis Grabban, clearance made by Claude Davis.

37:57

Unfair challenge on Mark Connolly by Lewis Grabban results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Paul Jones.

36:36

David James takes the direct free kick.

36:36 Booking

Booking David Hunt receives a yellow card.

36:32

David Hunt gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Harry Arter.

29:37

The offside flag is raised against Lewis Grabban. Mark Connolly takes the indirect free kick.

28:15

Lewis Grabban has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.

24:11

Corner taken left-footed by Mat Sadler from the right by-line, save made by David James.

23:05

David Hunt produces a cross.

21:22

Steve Cook gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Shaun Cooper. Free kick crossed left-footed by Mat Sadler from right channel, David James makes a save. Foul by Claude Davis on David James, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by David James.

20:39

Harry Arter is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Mark Connolly.

19:43

Centre by Mike Jones, Josh McQuoid gets a block in. The referee blows for offside against Gary Alexander. Free kick taken by David James.

18:35

Paul Jones takes the direct free kick.

18:35 Booking

Booking Booking for Brett Pitman for unsporting behaviour.

18:25

Foul by Brett Pitman on Nicky Adams, free kick awarded.

18:11

Simon Francis produces a cross, blocked by Mat Sadler.

16:45

Brett Pitman challenges Mike Jones unfairly and gives away a free kick. Mark Connolly takes the free kick.

15:46

Steve Cook provided the assist for the goal.

15:46 Goal scored

Goal - Gary Alexander - Bournem'th 1 - 0 Crawley Headed own goal by Gary Alexander. Bournemouth 1-0 Crawley Town.

14:56

The free kick is swung in right-footed by Brett Pitman, clearance made by Dannie Bulman.

14:56 Booking

Booking Claude Davis is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.

14:34

Charlie Daniels fouled by Claude Davis, the ref awards a free kick.

13:04

A cross is delivered by Charlie Daniels, Marc Pugh takes a shot. Save by Paul Jones.

11:51

Mike Jones crosses the ball.

11:12

The assistant referee signals for offside against Simon Francis. Paul Jones takes the indirect free kick.

11:06

Josh McQuoid produces a cross.

10:22

Nicky Adams crosses the ball, blocked by Charlie Daniels.

7:46

A cross is delivered by Simon Francis, save by Paul Jones.

7:31

Simon Francis crosses the ball, clearance by Claude Davis.

5:55

Harry Arter has a shot on goal from outside the area which misses right.

5:48

The ball is sent over by Marc Pugh.

5:01

Dannie Bulman crosses the ball, Tommy Elphick manages to make a clearance.

3:48

Marc Pugh is caught offside. Paul Jones restarts play with the free kick.

3:04

Lewis Grabban sends in a cross, clearance made by David Hunt. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Brett Pitman from the left by-line, Paul Jones makes a save.

2:45

Free kick awarded for a foul by David Hunt on Marc Pugh. Harry Arter restarts play with the free kick.

1:22

Marc Pugh crosses the ball, save by Paul Jones.

0:23

A cross is delivered by Nicky Adams, save by David James.

0:00

The referee gets the game started.

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