Junior Stanislas stuck his late chance under Stoke keeper Josef Bursik to secure all three points for Bournemouth in the Potteries
Junior Stanislas scored the only goal of the game as Bournemouth shaded Stoke City in a low-key Championship encounter in the Potteries.
The Cherries midfielder raced clear down the inside-left channel late on to latch onto a superb Lewis Cook through ball before drawing Josef Bursik out and slipping a low left-foot shot under the Stoke keeper.
Striker Dominic Solanke had wasted a similar first-half chance when set free by another superb 60-yard lofted Cook pass.
The on-rushing Bursik did enough to distract him and, although the Cherries top scorer executed a neat right-foot chip over him on the run, he gave the ball too much flight and it clipped the bar before going over.
- Relive Bournemouth's win at Stoke
But Stanislas showed how it should be done with a 79th-minute winner that helped Bournemouth bounce back from the defeat at Brentford - their first in six games.
That lifted Jason Tindall's side to third, keeping them within two points of second-placed Swansea City and six behind leaders Norwich City, with a game in hand on both.
Bournemouth top scorer Dominic Solanke clipped the best effort of the first half at the Bet365 Stadium onto the top of the crossbar
Stoke, badly missing injured top scorer Tyrese Campbell, have dropped to eighth, two points outside the play-off zone, after failing to score for the fourth time in six games.
On a cold night at the Bet365 Stadium which had second-half snow flurries compared to the fog which shrouded Wednesday's game against Nottingham Forest, it was another match dominated by two hard-working but overmanned midfields.
Nick Powell diverted Stoke's best chance wide, a first-half header, but just when they looked set to suffer a sixth 0-0 draw this season, and fourth in seven games, Stanislas struck with the Cherries' first effort on target.
They might have had a second but for Diego Rico's shot being blocked before Stoke substitute Sam Vokes went close against his old club with the final effort of the game. Defeat left the Potters with one win in eight matches.
Both sides are now in FA Cup third-round action on Saturday, Stoke at home to Leicester, while Bournemouth go to Oldham.
The Cherries resume in the Championship at home to Millwall on 12 January, when they will have an opportunity to use up their game in hand and move into the top two.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsStoke
- 32Bursik37Collins36SouttarBooked at 90mins12ChesterBooked at 58mins14SmithSubstituted forVokesat 84'minutes4Allen13Obi34ThompsonBooked at 57minsSubstituted forClucasat 69'minutes11McCleanBooked at 73minsSubstituted forTymonat 84'minutes25Powell21FletcherSubstituted forBrownat 25'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Batth9Vokes17Shawcross18Brown20Oakley-Boothe22Clucas24Cousins35Tymon40Nna Noukeu
Bournemouth
- 1Begovic15A SmithSubstituted forKingat 86'minutes3S Cook25Simpson5Kelly21Rico16L Cook19Stanislas8LermaBooked at 90mins9Solanke14SurridgeSubstituted forBrooksat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Gosling7Brooks20Riquelme23Travers24Ofoborh26Kilkenny27King32Anthony33Zemura
Referee:John BrooksMatch StatsHome TeamStokeAway TeamBournemouthPossessionHome53%Away47%ShotsHome11Away10Shots on TargetHome3Away2CornersHome2Away3FoulsHome11Away14Live TextPost update
Match ends, Stoke City 0, Bournemouth 1.
90'+6'Full Time
Second Half ends, Stoke City 0, Bournemouth 1.
90'+5'Booking
Harry Souttar (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+4'Post update
Foul by Harry Souttar (Stoke City).
90'+4'Post update
Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+3'Post update
Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Nathan Collins.
90'+3'Booking
Jefferson Lerma (Bournemouth) is shown the yellow card.
90'+2'Post update
Nick Powell (Stoke City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'+2'Post update
Foul by Lewis Cook (Bournemouth).
90'Post update
Sam Clucas (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'Post update
Foul by Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth).
88'Post update
Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Jack Simpson.
87'Post update
Attempt missed. David Brooks (Bournemouth) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Lewis Cook.
87'Post update
Attempt blocked. Diego Rico (Bournemouth) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lewis Cook.
87'Post update
Attempt blocked. Junior Stanislas (Bournemouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Dominic Solanke.
86'Substitution
Substitution, Bournemouth. Joshua King replaces Adam Smith because of an injury.
84'Substitution
Substitution, Stoke City. Josh Tymon replaces James McClean.
84'Substitution
Substitution, Stoke City. Sam Vokes replaces Tommy Smith.
83'Post update
Foul by Jacob Brown (Stoke City).
83'Post update
Adam Smith (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Page 1 of 5rewindpreviousNavigate to the next pagenextNavigate to the last pageforward
Source: bbc.com