Bournemouth have moved to within one point of safety courtesy of a much-needed 2-1 victory over fellow strugglers Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium this afternoon.
The Cherries took the lead after just 16 minutes when Andrew Surman fired a well-taken strike into the bottom corner, and they were two ahead moments later as Junior Stanislas converted from the spot.
Mame Biram Diouf pulled one back for the Potters shortly after the hour mark, but a comeback never materialised as Eddie Howe's side hung on for only their second win of the season.
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Surman's crisp strike from 25 yards was the first moment of real attacking quality in the match as he arrowed an effort into the bottom corner having been teed up by Stanislas.
One quickly became two for the visitors as they scored a second just a couple of minutes later, this time from the spot as Stanislas got his own name on the scoresheet following a clumsy challenge from Ryan Shawcross on Benik Afobe.
Stoke should have pulled one back with 10 minutes remaining of the first half, but Diouf was denied by Asmir Begovic, who made a fine save from point-blank range against his former club.
The hosts had another chance to halve the deficit in stoppage time of the first half too, but this time Shawcross could not steer his effort on target from inside the area.
The Potters continued to push for a route back into the match in the second half, with Diouf and Joe Allen both coming close before the former did pull one back, converting from inside the area after Bournemouth had failed to clear their lines from a long ball forward.
Bournemouth held off any potential fightback, though, and came closest to getting the game's fourth goal themselves when Adam Smith fired wide of the target.
The result sees Stoke fall to their fifth defeat from their last six games across all competitions, leaving them languishing in the relegation zone and just a point better off than Bournemouth.
Howe's side, meanwhile, are now just a point from safety and four clear of bottom-placed Crystal Palace following just their second Premier League away victory of 2017.
Barney Corkhill
