West Ham beats Bournemouth 4-0, boosts EPL survival hopes
West Ham United's Pablo Fornals celebrates after scoring their sides fourth goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and Tottenham at St. James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Sunday, April 23, 2023. Credit: AP/Owen Humphreys
BOURNEMOUTH, England — West Ham's hopes of Premier League survival were boosted on Sunday with a 4-0 rout of fellow relegation strugglers Bournemouth.
The win moved the Hammers six points clear of the drop zone up to 13th place in the standings.
First-half goals by Michail Antonio, Lucas Paqueta and Declan Rice put the visitors in control at Vitality Stadium and substitute Pablo Fornals added a fourth after the break.
Antonio struck a fifth-minute opener for his 12th goal of the season from an Aaron Cresswell corner.
The Hammers doubled their lead eight minutes later through Paqueta's header at the back post.
Bournemouth mounted something of a fightback, but West Ham made it 3-0 two minutes before halftime when Rice fired home via a deflection to make it back-to-back goals this week.
The Hammers captain was serenaded by the away fans soon after with chants urging him to stay amid talk his future could lie away from London Stadium after this campaign.
Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke, left, and West Ham United's Nayef Aguerd battle for the ball during their English Premier League soccer match at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, England, Sunday, April 23, 2023. Credit: AP/Steven Paston
West Ham's fourth came when Fornals back heeled Jarrod Bowen's cross into the far corner in the 72nd.
Bournemouth is five points clear of the relegation zone and plays bottom of the table Southampton on Thursday.
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