Bournemouth Fans Dare to Believe As European Target Gets Ever Closer

As the final whistle blew on Sunday, sealing a vital three points for Bournemouth against Crystal Palace, celebrations spilled beyond the stands and into the nearby Queen’s Park Hotel, where jubilant fans gathered to revel in a result that edges them ever closer to European football.

On Back of the Net's Full Time Cherries - fans waxed lyrical about the result, with many of them feeling buoyant about their sides' chances of reaching the promised land. Here were a selection of opinions:

Cherries fan and Bournemouth Tiktoker Ben Phillips said: "I just feel relieved because I was really stressing before this as we know that Palace are a good side, but we just made it look really really routine and we shifted off the memories of Leeds last minute goal really really well. We just played with so much confidence, and it was so lovely to see - we could have easily scored five or six on another day!"

"Everyone today was just really good. I'm just I'm just so happy and especially now looking at Fulham's results this season - they don't seem to like playing teams that press them high. You could tell that at Arsenal yesterday - where they pressed them really high and Fulham struggled - it seems like their wins come up against teams that like to sit back, so I'm confident".

"We were superior in every single department, which you you might expect. Crystal Palace have obviously got other priorities, their own quest for for European glory, but ours is very much there for the taking after that result and performance".

"Listen, we might be stood here at the end of May really disappointed that we've missed out, and we might not get three results in those games. But when you look at those three games in isolation, you don't see any reason why we can't take points from from from all of them with the way we're playing at the moment"

"I thought the game management today was superb to get the two goals like we did. We needed at least a two goal advantage and make those opportunities count and that dominance count in the first half - and then I thought we managed it in the second half. We didn't allow them a sniff to get back in and then picked them off on the break for 3-0 and managed it perfectly from there".

"So the way we're playing at the moment, you wouldn't rule us out of any game. Yes, no game is easy - and they're all tough games for us, but you know - that's 15 unbeaten now? That's just incredible to think in the Premier League that we are 15 unbeaten and in sixth spot. Europe has always seemed like a bit of a pipe dream hasn't it, but now it's becoming a reality and with three games left we're in the box seat".

"It was a weird game. Obviously we did our job. We were good today, but you could tell Palace's eyes are on on Thursday. I think you saw that from the team lineup. I think they'd almost be annoyed at the subs they made at half time because the game was kind of dead".

"Fair play, they rallied in the second half, but yeah, we were just better on every part of the pitch. But, it was nice for Jefferson [Lerma] to get back on the score sheet for us. I've always loved that guy and he's has delivered again - he just bleeds red and black".

"Where do I start? thought that when Christie came on he put in a shift. I think Truffert was absolutely incredible. And Alex Scott... he has absolutely blossomed over this season. He absolutely deserves a spot [in the England squad]. He's really come into his own. He's he was instrumental today in that game. He was absolutely everywhere. I think everyone put in a real shift to be honest. Plus I wanted to mention Tavernier, who I thought was amazing".

You can view more raw opinions after the final whistle over on Back of the Net's Youtube Channel.