Bournemouth 1-2 Burnley: Robbie Brady thunderbolt silences Cherries as Sean Dyche's surprise package keep pace with Premier League leading pack

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It wasn't the night's loudest chant but the belief and optimism just couldn't be disguised. 'We're all going on a European tour,' sang the Burnley fans in one corner of the Vitality Stadium.

Well, who knows? Maybe they will be gracing the continent next season.

It won't match the glamour of their 1960-61 campaign when the Clarets, as reigning league champions, reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup.

Robbie Brady roars after doubling Burnley's lead in Wednesday night's Premier League clash on the south coast

Brady's rocket was unstoppable for Bournemouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic and all but secured the victory for Burnley

Burnley were looking to maintain their reputation as the season's surprise package and keep pace with the league leaders

His strike followed up Chris Wood's opener from close range after Brady saw his cross deflected into his path

Wood tapped in on 37 minutes as Nathan Ake and keeper Begovic were left stranded by the deflection

MATCH FACTS, RATINGS, TABLE AND MATCH ZONE

Bournemouth (4-4-1-1): 

Begovic 6; Francis 6, S. Cook 5, Ake 5, Daniels 5; Ibe 6.5 (Fraser 69, 6), Arter 6 (L. Cook 58, 6), King 6.5, Surman 6, Pugh 6 (Defoe 63, 6); Wilson 6

Subs not used: Boruc; A. Smith, Gosling, Afobe

Manager: Eddie Howe 6 

Burnley (4-4-1-1): 

Pope 6; Bardsley 6.5, Tarkowski 6, Mee 6, Ward 6; Gudmundsson 6.5, Cork 7.5, Hendrick 7.5 (Barnes 85), Defour 6.5 (Westwood 75), Brady 8.5; Wood 8 (Vekes 89)

Subs not used: Lindegaard; Long, Taylor, Arfield

Manager: Sean Dyche 7.5 

Referee: R East 6

Man of the Match: Robbie Brady

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Robbie Brady is found by Johann Gudmundsson as he cuts in and fires Burnley's second past Asmir Begovic to all-but secure the points for Sean Dyche's men. For more key match facts, visit Sportsmail's exclusive Match Zone, here.

 

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But nobody in Burnley is likely to care. As things stand, they could well qualify for the Europa League. Who would have predicted that?

This was another superb performance by Sean Dyche's team, now proudly in the top six of the Premier League table having moved above Tottenham.

It's pinch-me stuff for their fans at the moment.

But most impressive here was the firm grip they had on proceedings, a control rewarded by goals from Chris Wood and Robbie Brady in each half.

It meant Eddie Howe's 40th birthday wasn't especially joyous and he admitted that Joshua King's late reply made the scoreline flattering for his sub-par side.

Dyche laughed when it was put to him that Burnley could soon be playing in Europe, but his satisfaction in how his methods are paying off this season is clear.

'We're not trying to be Barcelona but we are trying to mix our football and be effective in as many ways as possible,' Dyche said.

'For our fans, it is absolutely amazing to watch their team do what they're doing. They should enjoy all of this. We are giving the players a chance to play and win in our style and that's because our style suits us.'

Simon Francis (left) of Bournemouth and Brady hit the deck as they feel the force of their attempts to win possession

Sam Vokes limbers up for as waits to be introduced to the game for Burnley's opening goalscorer Wood

Lewis Cook is hit hard by Burnley midfielder Steven Defour as Burnley dominate for the most part at the Vitality Stadium

Steve Cook makes a crucial block to deny Jeff Hendrick early on as Burnley continue to pressure their hosts

Sean Dyche protests a challenge made by Cherries defender Nathan Ake as referee Roger East grants his wishes

Ake makes an unusual attempt at a tackle on goalscorer Wood as he regains possession for the home side

Dyche (left) shakes hands with his opposite number Eddie Howe at the Vitality Stadium after the full-time whistle

Josh King gave the home supporters some hope of a comeback after he netted a consolation goal with 10 minutes to go

There was certainly plenty of class about Brady's goal midway through the second half. Burnley swept down the right-hand side, Jack Cork moving the ball on to Johann Gudmundsson, who centred to Brady.

Shifting his weight, he stepped inside Andrew Surman and curled a beautiful shot into the top corner from 20 yards. In what seemed like a flash, Dyche's side gained the two-goal advantage their dominance deserved.

'It was a tough one to take in terms of performance. I'm very disappointed with how we played and we didn't truly get going at any stage of the game,' admitted Howe. 'You have to give Burnley credit, they do what they do very well. They have improved, they are playing with confidence and they have players who can hurt you.'

At first, it was their bulldozer forward Wood inflicting all the damage. The Kiwi, signed from Leeds for £15million in August, waited 78 minutes to get off the bench against Arsenal on Sunday and clearly felt he had something to prove.

King (left) high-fives team-mate Jermain Defoe after giving Bournemouth hope with his late strike

Howe sends on Ryan Fraser in an attempt to salvage something from a disappointing night for his Bournemouth side

New Zealand striker Wood celebrates his fifth goal of the season after giving Burnley the lead on the south coast

Dyche issues his players tactics from the Burnley technical area as his side look to preserve their advantage

While Bournemouth boss Howe is left scratching his head as his side slip to their first defeat in four Premier League games

Inside three minutes, his looping header clipped the top of the bar and he then darted between Nathan Ake and Steve Cook to force Asmir Begovic into a save with another forceful header.

But when another chance fell the way of Wood, he couldn't miss. The move started when Cook's under-hit clearance was seized upon by Brady, who fed Cork and then got the ball back.

Driving inside, Brady's cross deflected off the hapless Cook right to the feet of Wood, whose fifth goal for the Clarets was a tap-in. He celebrated with a knee slide in front of the hardy travelling fans.

Howe would happily have exchanged a few birthday gifts for an improved second-half display from his underperforming team but their rally came too late.

Though 11 minutes remained when King turned home from close range after Jermain Defoe's mis-hit shot had been pushed out by Nick Pope, Burnley dealt with all threats thereafter.

'It was a great goal by Brady and then we were calm in our defending,' added Dyche. 'There wasn't a frantic edge to us. We saw the game out and rightly so.'

Substitute Sam Vokes is booked for time wasting by referee Robert East as Burnley look to hold out for the three points

Wood is replaced by Vokes after his first-half strike moved Burnley within touching distance of the top four

The Burnley players thank the travelling supporters after their result saw them leapfrog Tottenham into sixth