Saturday 29 December 2012 18:32, UK
Bournemouth eased to their 15th match without defeat since Eddie Howe returned to the south coast with a comfortable 3-0 home win over Crawley.
Bournemouth were ahead in the 16th minute when Crawley striker Gary Alexander glanced home a centre from Steve Cook for a spectacular own goal. Striker Brett Pitman fired Bournemouth's second in the 40th minute when a quickly-taken 25-yard free-kick caught Crawley by surprise. Crawley substitute Billy Clarke was denied by the legs of Bournemouth goalkeeper David James before the home side made sure of the points with a third goal in the 84th minute. Simon Francis spilt the Crawley defence with a deep cross from the right and Eunan O'Kane ran clear to beat goalkeeper Paul Jones. Crawley goalkeeper Paul Jones prevented Bournemouth winning by a bigger margin with saves from leading goalscorer Lewis Grabban and from a Cook header in the second half.
