Match ends, Bournemouth 1, Cardiff City 2.
BournemouthAFC Bournemouth1CardiffCardiff City2
Mick McCarthy's spectacular start to life as Cardiff City boss continued as the Bluebirds beat Bournemouth to climb into the Championship's top six.
Sean Morrison's header and a Kieffer Moore penalty put Cardiff firmly in control at the break.
On-loan Southampton striker Shane Long pulled one back with a header of his own, but McCarthy's side held on for a sixth straight win.
They leapfrog Bournemouth, who drop out of the play-off places.
This was hardly the start Jonathan Woodgate was looking for having been named permanent Cherries boss this week, but Cardiff's McCarthy-inspired revival goes on.
The Welsh club were a distant 13 points adrift of sixth place in 15th when McCarthy arrived to replace Neil Harris in January.
A team who underachieved in the early stages of the season now find themselves back on course - for the moment at least - to match last season's play-off appearance.
For Bournemouth, who began this campaign with top-two ambitions, the immediate challenge is to get back into the play-off spots after successive losses.
Woodgate was handed the reins on a deal until the end of the season last Sunday despite defeat at Queens Park Rangers 24 hours earlier.
Thierry Henry and John Terry were among those linked with Bournemouth following Jason Tindall's sacking, but Woodgate's tally of 10 points from five games as caretaker boss was enough to see him land the job, albeit on a short-term contract.
McCarthy is another whose deal expires in the summer, yet he has already made a big enough impression - it is now 20 points taken from his first eight games in charge - to suggest he may be around for some time.
This was the first time in McCarthy's tenure that Cardiff had faced a side sitting above them in the table, but they came through the examination thanks to their latest wholehearted display.
The Championship's form team had to do some defending early on, with Junior Stanislas' free-kick forcing a save from Dillon Phillips.
Yet Cardiff seized the initiative after converting their first chance of the game, as Morrison rose powerfully at the near post to meet Bournemouth old boy Harry Wilson's corner with a header which flashed beyond Asmir Begovic.
The Cherries keeper made a fine point-blank save to deny Moore after Will Vaulks' long throw was not dealt with, but the visitors' top scorer would not be denied.
After Diego Rico's clumsy challenge on Cardiff right-back Perry Ng saw referee Gavin Ward point to the spot, Moore claimed a 15th goal of the season thanks to an emphatic penalty.
Bournemouth might have responded swiftly when Rico crossed invitingly for Sam Surridge, but his first-time effort was blocked by Phillips.
The home side were the first to threaten after the break, with Stanislas forcing a fine save from Phillips at his near post before his second free-kick of the contest drew another stop from the Cardiff keeper.
Stanislas, Bournemouth's best player throughout, created their goal by picking off a loose Marlon Pack pass before bursting forward and feeding Arnaut Danjuma.
His cross-shot deflected kindly to the far post for fellow substitute Long, who nodded in his second goal in as many games having gone almost a year without finding the target.
There was plenty of Bournemouth possession as they pushed for an equaliser, but Cardiff were relatively untroubled from that point on as they claimed a fourth successive away league win, a feat the club last achieved in 2013.
Bournemouth head coach Jonathan Woodgate:
"Set-play, we knew what they were going to do. They have created numerous chances before in different games that we have watched.
"It's difficult to stop when they have that big a height advantage on you, but we gave them another leg-up with the penalty, which is not good enough. It's sloppy play.
"We were a lot better second half. We created more chances and it could have ended up 2-2.
"We are trying to get as many messages across as possible. We have got another game on Saturday and we need a reaction. I want a big reaction out of the players - I want them to show me how much pride they have got to get this next win."
Cardiff manager Mick McCarthy:
"I am delighted with the performance. I thought we deserved our lead - we were the best team in the first half - and I expected a reaction from them, which we got.
"We knew they were the second best team scoring on transitions and we gave them the opportunity - we lost it and it ends up in our net.
"That meant a tense last 15 minutes but wow, didn't the lads scrap it out? They were great.
"I am learning about the players. I have just found they are a great bunch of lads who are really prepared to put a shift in and actually have got quality as well."
Line-ups
Bournemouth
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Begovic
- 18Carter-Vickers
- 3S CookBooked at 76mins
- 5KellyBooked at 90mins
- 15A Smith
- 16L CookSubstituted forLongat 45'minutes
- 8Lerma
- 21RicoSubstituted forDanjuma Groeneveldat 45'minutes
- 29BillingBooked at 26mins
- 19Stanislas
- 14Surridge
Substitutes
- 6Mepham
- 10Danjuma Groeneveld
- 11Wilshere
- 12Long
- 20Riquelme
- 22Pearson
- 23Travers
- 32Anthony
- 33Zemura
Cardiff
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Phillips
- 4Morrison
- 5FlintBooked at 90mins
- 16NelsonBooked at 26mins
- 38NgBooked at 77mins
- 6Vaulks
- 21Pack
- 3Bennett
- 23WilsonSubstituted forBacunaat 61'minutes
- 11MurphySubstituted forOjoat 60'minutes
- 10MooreBooked at 86mins
Substitutes
- 7Bacuna
- 12Smithies
- 15Williams
- 19Watters
- 27Ojo
- 28Sang
- 29M Harris
- 30Brown
- 32Bagan
- Referee:
- Gavin Ward
Match Stats
Home TeamBournemouthAway TeamCardiff
- Possession
- Home69%
- Away31%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away4
- Corners
- Home4
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home20
- Away16
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bournemouth 1, Cardiff City 2.
Post update
Lloyd Kelly (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Leandro Bacuna (Cardiff City).
Booking
Lloyd Kelly (Bournemouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Lloyd Kelly (Bournemouth).
Post update
Sheyi Ojo (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Booking
Aden Flint (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Sam Surridge (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Aden Flint (Cardiff City).
Post update
Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Steve Cook.
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Attempt blocked. Jefferson Lerma (Bournemouth) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Arnaut Danjuma Groeneveld.
Booking
Kieffer Moore (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Steve Cook (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Kieffer Moore (Cardiff City).
Post update
Shane Long (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Curtis Nelson (Cardiff City).
Post update
Offside, Bournemouth. Adam Smith tries a through ball, but Shane Long is caught offside.
Post update
Steve Cook (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Sheyi Ojo (Cardiff City).
