Kieffer Moore sends Bournemouth back to the Premier League with a late winner against Nottingham Forest.
Substitute Moore’s cool finish, after a low free-kick found him unmarked in the box, leaves third-placed Forest needing to go through the play-offs if they are to join the Cherries in the top flight next season.
Moore, a January arrival from Cardiff who has managed to make just three substitute appearances for the club because of injury, was smothered by jubilant team-mates as they knew a win against their closest challengers would end a two-year top-flight absence.
They return to the Premier League under manager Scott Parker, who celebrates his second promotion in three campaigns, having taken Fulham up in 2019-20 before leaving the west London club for Bournemouth following relegation last season.
The showdown between second and third in the Championship, while lacking the hype and pageantry of a play-off final, felt every bit the high-stakes encounter that makes the Wembley showpiece the richest game in club football.
In an absorbing and tense first half, Forest striker Sam Surridge hit the crossbar and had a compelling penalty appeal ignored after an incorrect offside flag against his former club.
The visitors created little in a second half dominated by the Cherries, with Dominic Solanke hitting the side netting while Philip Billing and Moore tested Reds goalkeeper Brice Samba.
When Jordan Zemura was brought down on the edge of the area, Billing appeared to be ready to go direct for goal.
Instead, he spotted Moore free in box to sweep home a goal that propelled the hosts back to the Premier League after two seasons away and sparked a party atmosphere at the Vitality Stadium, which saw ecstatic home fans spill onto the pitch at full-time.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Bournemouth
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 42TraversBooked at 90mins
- 15A Smith
- 2Phillips
- 5Kelly
- 33Zemura
- 8LermaSubstituted forMooreat 59’minutes
- 4L Cook
- 10ChristieSubstituted forPearsonat 88’minutes
- 29Billing
- 32AnthonySubstituted forMephamat 89’minutes
- 9SolankeBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 1Woodman
- 3Laird
- 6Mepham
- 12Brady
- 21Moore
- 22Pearson
- 37Dembélé
Nottm Forest
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 30Samba
- 4Worrall
- 27S CookSubstituted forLolleyat 84’minutes
- 26McKennaBooked at 82mins
- 2SpenceBooked at 90mins
- 22Yates
- 37Garner
- 8ColbackSubstituted forLaryeaat 84’minutes
- 11ZinckernagelSubstituted forMightenat 85’minutes
- 20Johnson
- 16Surridge
Substitutes
- 1Horvath
- 3Figueiredo
- 14Laryea
- 17Mighten
- 18Ribeiro Dias
- 19Costa Silva
- 23Lolley
- Referee:
- Stuart Attwell
Live Text
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Match ends, Bournemouth 1, Nottingham Forest 0.
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Second Half ends, Bournemouth 1, Nottingham Forest 0.
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Attempt missed. Brice Samba (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the right following a corner.
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Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Lloyd Kelly.
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Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth).
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Djed Spence (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Mark Travers (Bournemouth) is shown the yellow card.
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Offside, Nottingham Forest. Brennan Johnson tries a through ball, but Ryan Yates is caught offside.
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Offside, Nottingham Forest. Brennan Johnson tries a through ball, but Ryan Yates is caught offside.
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Djed Spence (Nottingham Forest) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Djed Spence (Nottingham Forest).
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Kieffer Moore (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Richie Laryea (Nottingham Forest).
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Substitution, Bournemouth. Chris Mepham replaces Jaidon Anthony.
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Substitution, Bournemouth. Ben Pearson replaces Ryan Christie.
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Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Alex Mighten replaces Philip Zinckernagel.
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Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Richie Laryea replaces Jack Colback.
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Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Joe Lolley replaces Steve Cook.