Bournemouth 4 Leeds United 1: Agony piles on for McDermott as sorry Leeds are thrashed by Cherries

Yann Kermorgant and Lewis Grabban scored two goals each as the Cherries celebrated victory over their rivals for the first time in their history.

Captain Ross McCormack scored a consolation midway through the second half, but it was another sorry night for the visitors, who have now conceded 16 goals in the last five games.

Bournemouth dominated from the start as Marc Pugh’s low drive forced Jack Butland into a smart save at his near post inside 30 seconds. From the resulting corner, former Leeds left-back Ian Harte’s quick thinking found Simon Francis making a late run outside the penalty area, and his shot hit Kermorgant en route into the back of the net.

Bournemouth had only conceded once in the past six league games coming into the fixture, and the closest Leeds came to testing Lee Camp was a wayward long-range effort from Rodolph Austin.

Bournemouth’s leading goalscorer Grabban did not have to wait long to get his 16th goal of the season as he converted Francis’s low cross after a rapid counter-attack in the 18th minute.

Grabban added his second in the 28th minute when he smashed a powerful shot under Butland after a scintillating run by Francis, who hurdled three weak tackles before back-heeling into the path of Grabban.

In the 31st minute, Kermorgant struck the bottom of the post and Bournemouth continued their rout in the second half when Kermorgant met Ritchie’s pinpoint cross at the back post in the 50th minute.

In the 64th minute, Harte swept in another well-hit corner, but Butland blocked centre-back Steve Cook’s header.

McCormack’s in-swinging free-kick came close to grabbing one back in the 66th minute, but neither Tom Lees nor Matt Smith could make contact. The Scottish international did score a consolation goal three minutes later, though, when he turned Cook before beating Camp.

It could have been worse for Leeds, but Butland saved twice late on from Tokelo Rantie.

Bournemouth: Camp, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Harte, Ritchie (Rantie 78), Arter, Surman (O’Kane 54), Pugh, Kermorgant (Pitman 83), Grabban. Unused substitutes: Allsop, Smith, MacDonald, Ward.

Leeds United: Butland,Byram, Lees, Pearce, Pugh, Mowatt, Murphy (Stewart 58), Austin, Hunt (White 58), Smith, McCormack. Unused substitutes: Walters, Tonge, Wootton, Zaliukas, Cairns.

Referee: J Adcock (Notts).