Bournemouth of England’s Nigerian-born duo of Arnaut Danjuma and Philip Anyanwu Billing were both on song Monday night, and their goals helped The Cherries keep pressure on the English Championship’s top six with a 2-0 win away to Blackburn Rovers.
A goal in either half did the damage for The Cherries, as Billing lashed home his third in four games to break the deadlock and a composed finish by Danjuma in the 75th minute calmed nerves in an underwhelming second half.
It was a vital result after wins for Barnsley and Reading but also showed that Jonathan Woodgate’s men will take some stopping, given their form is only bettered by the top two. They are a point off sixth place with a game in hand after a third straight win.
Blackburn did not do a lot wrong in the game but could not find the required finish in attack, summed up by a poor penalty from Adam Armstrong in stoppage time. They have gone seven without a win at Ewood Park for the first time since 2004, and have lost more games overall than they did in the whole of last season.
The first passage of genuine quality produced a goal in the 29th minute as the Cherries worked the ball to Danjuma on the left, who cut inside to fire goalwards. Although his shot was blocked, the ball fell to Billing 12 yards out who slammed the ball beyond Thomas Kaminski.
Danjuma hammered wide towards the end before Rovers were given a lifeline in the second minute of injury time after Adam Smith upended Gallagher in the area. Armstrong, though, fluffed his lines with a penalty that lacked direction and was saved by the legs of Begovic.
