Sheff Utd 1 Bournemouth 3: Woeful Blades thumped at home after Wes Foderingham howler gifts goal to Justin Kluivert

WES Foderingham kicked-off the pantomime season with an early festive foul-up to help Bournemouth take a huge stride towards Premier League safety.

But the only way the woeful Blades look capable of beating the drop is if the powers that be hand out plenty more penalties like the one dished out to Everton during the international break.

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Goals from Justin Kluivert and Marcus Tavernier gave Bouremouth a comfortable victory[/caption]

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Tavernier was at the double against the struggling Blades[/caption]

Paul Heckingbottom‘s men climbed a place in the relegation dogfight thanks to Everton’s 10-point deduction, but largely thanks to the heroics of two-goal Marcus Tavernier it was back to reality to a bump as they failed to turn up against one of their main rivals in the battle to stay up.

Bournemouth didn’t need a second invitation to take full advantage of the gifts on offer as first-half goals from Tavernier and Justin Kluivert – the striker’s first in the Premier League courtesy of keeper Foderingham’s embarrassing blooper – helped the Cherries stroll to a third win in four games to ease their fears of the drop.

This clash was billed as an early do-or-die relegation six-pointer – but only one side looked like it was trying to beat the drop.

Heckingbottom’s sleep-walking troops played at the pace of a pre-season friendly, and came away with exactly what they deserved. Oli McBurnie’s stoppage-time header was the most scant of consolations.

Thousands of home fans voted with their feet by heading for the exits long before the final whistle – and most of those who stayed to the bitter end only did so in order to boo the Blades off. You couldn’t really blame them.

Bournemouth hadn’t won on the road in the league for seven months – but will have few easier afternoons as they moved seven points clear of third-bottom United.

They had shipped at least two goals in each away game this season but keeper Neto should have been charged admission as he had so little to do against the toothless Blades.

After their torrid first-half, any slim hopes of a revival lasted just six minutes into the second half when Tavernier caught substitute Anel Ahmedhodzic napping to volley home an Adam Smith cross at the far post.

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Tavernier celebrated in style as Bournemouth pulled themselves clear of the drop zone[/caption]

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It was another painful day at the office for Sheffield United[/caption]

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The international break came at a bad time for both clubs with Bournemouth on a high from beating Newcastle 2-0 – and the unchanged Blades showing signs of life with four points from their last two games – as many as in their previous 12.

It was the Cherries who looked much sharper from the start, and it was no surprise as they took a deserved lead thanks to Tavernier’s first goal of the season.

Their 12th-minute opener owed much to the industry and vision of Antoine Semenyo, who cut inside from the right with pace and power to slip his team-mate through with a precision slide-rule pass into the box.

Tavernier still had plenty to do as he took a touch to steady himself before easily beating Foderingham with a confident left-foot finish into the bottom corner from 10 yards.

Tavernier almost doubled his tally for the season after neatly swapping passes with the lively Kluivert only for a timely block from defender Jack Robinson to take the pace off the midfielder’s low shot to allow Foderingham to make a comfortable save.

The Blades are the only Premier League team not to score in the first half hour of a game this season, and they added to that unwanted stat as they struggled to get out of their own half with Bournemouth dominating possession and territory.

Oliver Norwood’s frustration boiled over as the Blades skipper was needlessly booked for dissent to sum up a first-half to forget for the out-of-sorts hosts who were second-best in every department.

Kluivert and Dominic Solanke both sent stinging shots into the side-netting as Bournemouth closed in on a crucial second goal which their dominance deserved.

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The game was not free of drama despite Bournemouth’s easy victory[/caption]

Tavernier sent a shot from 12 yards sailing over the bar after Semenyo provided another pinpoint cross which should have nestled in the back of the net instead of 15 rows back in the Kop – it was just about his only mistake of the entire 90 minutes.

It was quickly forgotten when Kluivert doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time thanks to a nightmare moment from Foderingham.

The Blades keeper should have cleared after intercepting a routine long-range pass on the edge of his area. But got the ball stuck under his feet to allow Kluivert to win possession and plant a shot into an unguarded net for Bournemouth’s second to put a more realistic edge on the scoreline.

After Tavernier doubled his tally, Solanke should have made it four when the unmarked striker’s follow-up hit the side-netting after Foderingham saved from the outstanding Semenyo – who was a real handful all game.

The busy Blades keeper stood firm to deny Ryan Christie and substitute Luis Sinisterra fired an angled drive inches wide before the Leeds loan midfielder sent a header over from a late corner – but by that point it didn’t really matter as the damage had long since been done.

Will Osula finally mustered his side’s first shot of note inside the final five minutes – with Neto probably glad of something to do as he finally got a chance to warm his hands by pushing the substitute’s shot round the post for a corner before McBurnie’s late, late header.

Here’s how the action unfolded…