Eddie Howe saw his free-scoring Bournemouth side rack up another five goals against Fulham and joked : 'Thankfully we do n't pay goal bonuses ! ' The country 's top scorers marched back to the top of the Sky Bet Championship courtesy of two goals apiece from Brett Pitman and Matt Ritchie followed by a late cracker from Steve Cook to seal a thumping 5-1 victory . ' I 'm delighted with the win , ' said Cherries boss Howe . 'We felt it was going to be a difficult fixture when you see players Fulham have , but we started well , we were very positive , we scored at good times and could have scored more . Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has joked that he is happy not to have to pay out goal bonuses . Bournemouth players celebrate Steve Cook 's ( second left ) goal during the 5-1 away win against Fulham . 'Thankfully we do n't have goal bonuses in the contracts . We took them out . ' Pitman , only in the side due to an injury to Yann Kermorgant - who hit both goals in their midweek victory over Wolves - got the ball rolling just before the half-hour mark with his first goal since Boxing Day . Ritchie doubled the advantage before half-time with a deflected effort and Pitman helped himself to a fine solo goal on the hour . Matt Smith pulled one back with his first goal in Fulham colours , but any hopes of a home comeback were extinguished when Fernando Amorebieta was sent off for fouling Callum Wilson and Ritchie blasted in the resulting free-kick . Cook then crashed in number five with six minutes remaining to put the icing on the cake for the Cherries , who made it back-to-back victories after five games without a win to put their promotion bid right back on track . Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson ( centre ) rounds Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli ( right ) Brett Pitman ( centre ) breaks away with the ball for Bournemouth while Fulham 's Scott Parker ( right ) chases . 'During the five games we did n't win the performance levels were still strong , ' added Howe . ' I did n't think there was anything wrong with the team and I think we have proved that . When we have that ruthlessness we are hard to stop . 'The lead has changed so many times it 's almost become the tag no one wants . That 's been the nature of it and it may stay that way until the end of the season , so back-to-back wins are so important . ' Fulham , by contrast , are looking over their shoulders at the relegation battle - their cushion could be cut to five points by Saturday evening . 'It looked like top against bottom , ' admitted manager Kit Symons . 'All credit to Bournemouth but we are bitterly disappointed with the performance . 'Until we are mathematically safe we have to get as many points as we can . We are conscious of what 's below us . No one is under any illusions , you only have to look at the table . Everyone is fully aware of where we are . ' Matt Ritchie ( centre ) scored a brace as the Cherries moved top of the Sky Bet Championship table .
Bournemouth beat Fulham 5-1 at Craven Cottage on Friday night . The Cherries moved to top of the Championship table on goal difference . England international Danny Welbeck scored twice as they came from behind against West Ham United in a 1-1 draw at Upton Park on Saturday.