Bournemouth have pulled off one of the shock results of the season by beating Premier League champions Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge, easing their relegation fears in the process.
The Cherries travelled to London sitting just two points above the dropzone, but three second-half goals in 16 minutes from Callum Wilson, Junior Stanislas and Nathan Ake saw them leave celebrating a surprise victory.
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Antonio Conte's side dominated possession during the first half, but did little of any note with the ball, while the visitors showed more ambition and creativity in the final third when they managed to venture forward.
Blues goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was called into action in the 25th minute when Jordon Ibe gained possession on the edge of the area and let fly, his effort sailing straight into the arms of the Belgian international.
There was misfortune for Conte and his men around the half-hour mark as defender Andreas Christensen had to be withdrawn with a suspected hamstring injury, forcing the Italian to replace him with Antonio Rudiger.
Chelsea's best chance of the game came from a corner moments later, which Pedro swung into the centre of the penalty area, finding his captain Gary Cahill, whose header was just inches over.
The hosts began the second period on the front foot and came close from a free kick in the 50th minute, with Marcos Alonso curling a shot beyond the wall and narrowly over the bar.
However, Bournemouth launched a blistering counter straight from the restart, which ended with Ibe threading a through-pass to Wilson, allowing the forward to slide the ball beyond Courtois and into the net from close range.
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Chelsea went in search of an immediate response, but neither Eden Hazard nor Rudiger could find a way past Asmir Begovic in the away goal when chances fell their way.
Bournemouth took full advantage of Chelsea's bluntness in the final third and hit them with another swift counter-attack in the 64th minute, Wilson unleashing Stanislas along the left channel before the latter chipped the ball over Courtois and across the line to double the visitors' advantage.
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There was no way back for the hosts three minutes later when Ake netted Bournemouth's third, a goal which marked the first time his side have scored three away to a top-six opponent in the Premier League.
Poor defending from the home team allowed Stanislas to shoot into a crowded penalty area, but his effort ended up falling kindly for Ake in the six-yard box, gifting his teammate with a tap-in.
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Chelsea heads dropped when the third goal went in and their fans filtered out of the stadium, but substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi - who became the second-youngest player to feature for Chelsea in the top flight - almost pulled one back late on, testing Begovic with a low, angled strike after collecting a pass from N'Golo Kante.
Bournemouth's surprise win brought Chelsea's run of eight home games unbeaten to an abrupt end, and saw them drop below Liverpool into third place in the table on goal difference.
Howe's side, meanwhile, have climbed three places to 10th and are now on a run of six games without defeat.
CHELSEA (3-4-3): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Christensen (Rudiger '28), Cahill, Zappacosta (Hudson-Odoi '65); Kante, Bakayoko; Alonso, Barkley (Fabregas '54), Hazard; Pedro
BOURNEMOUTH (4-4-1-1): Begovic; Daniels, Ake, Cook, Francis; Fraser, Cook, Stanislas (King '71), Gosling, Ibe (Pugh '82); Wilson (Mousset '92)
Mark Langshaw
