RYAN CHRISTIE’S FIRST Bournemouth goal helped the Championship leaders to a comfortable 3-0 win over 10-man Cardiff.

Top-scorer Dominic Solanke was also on the scoresheet before Cardiff goalkeeper Alex Smithies’ late own goal sealed a great night for Scott Parker’s men.

Cardiff had midfielder Leandro Bacuna sent off in first-half stoppage time as they were plunged deeper into relegation danger.

Bournemouth were looking for back-to-back wins to move four points clear at the summit after defeating QPR on Monday.

Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Mark Travers featured between the sticks for Bournemouth while Ireland U21 player Mark McGuinness lined out for Cardiff. James Collins started on the bench for Cardiff but was brought on for striker Kieffer Moore just before the hour-mark.

Jefferson Lerma had their first shot on goal with only three minutes on the clock when he fired over from long range.

Cardiff could have scored three minutes later when top-scorer Moore headed tamely at goalkeeper Travers.

In the 13th minute in-form Bournemouth striker Solanke sent Lewis Cook through on goal, but the midfielder made a mess of his first touch, allowing Curtis Nelson to slide in and clear the danger.

Moments later, Solanke combined neatly with Christie before drilling a shot across the face of goal, which was well cleared by Bacuna.

Cardiff looked dangerous on the counter-attack and after 17 minutes Ryan Giles picked out the unmarked Mark Harris six yards out, but he could not bundle the ball past Travers.

Another good breakaway move from the Bluebirds in the 24th minute saw Will Vaulks fire into the gloves of Travers with a cross-shot.

Bournemouth took the lead in the 25th minute thanks to Christie’s first goal in 20 games for the club.

Solanke did well down the right before picking out Christie just inside the area.

His shot looked to be heading wide before taking a deflection off McGuinness, leaving the stranded Smithies powerless to come to his side’s rescue.

Moore had a good chance to level when his attempt to guide Harris’ teasing cross beyond Travers was pushed out by the Irishman.

Cardiff ended the half a man light after Bacuna was shown a straight red card for a reckless scissor tackle from behind on Philip Billing in the centre circle.

The challenge sparked an ugly melee.

Lerma had a good chance to make it 2-0 in the 64th minute when the Colombian headed over from a corner.

Solanke did find the net four minutes later with a coolly-taken finish.

The ex-Liverpool forward played a one-two with Billing before sliding his shot beyond Smithies and into the bottom left corner.

Soon after Solanke fired over from close range as Bournemouth continued to terrorise a tired Cardiff defence.

It was 3-0 seven minutes from time when Lerma’s fiercely struck shot from a corner smashed against the underside of the bar before hitting Smithies and flying into the net.

Covid-hit Cardiff also saw top-scorer Moore hobble off with an ankle injury as they endured a miserable return to action after three weeks off.

Elsewhere in the Championship, 

Huddersfield held out under a remarkable storm of pressure to claim a 1-0 win at the City Ground that left Nottingham Forest kicking themselves in frustration.

Steve Cooper’s side created chance after chance, either side of Duane Holmes’ 30th-minute strike for the visitors.

But goalkeeper Lee Nicholls made a string of saves and Forest spurned a host of opportunities as they somehow managed to emerge from a game they could easily have won by a comfortable margin, empty handed.

In League One, Sunderland recorded a huge 5-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday. Former Ireland U19 international Ciaran Brennan started on the bench for the Sheffield side but was brought on in the 29th minute.

Olamide Shodipo, who previously played for the Ireland U21s, was also among the substitutes.