Middlesbrough’s hopes of avoiding relegation suffered a major setback as they lost heavily at Bournemouth after playing for 70 minutes with 10 men.
Midfielder Gaston Ramirez was sent off for two bookable offences after 20 minutes – one for diving and another for a reckless challenge on Marc Pugh.
They were already trailing 2-0 after Joshua King had scored from close range just 96 seconds into the match and then Benik Afobe converted from Charlie Daniels’ pass.
Marc Pugh’s curling effort made it 3-0 and Daniels added the fourth.
Boro, 19th in the Premier League table, are nine points from safety with just five games remaining.
Reckless Ramirez costs Boro
Middlesbrough’s relegation could be confirmed as early as next weekend.
They entertain Manchester City on 30 April and if they lose that – and results go against Steve Agnew’s team between now and then – their return to the Championship after one season will be confirmed.
Boro needed to win at the Vitality Stadium. Instead, they were embarrassed during a self-inflicted defeat and are now 16 league games without a win.
Pugh was afforded too much space to cross for King to break the deadlock so early in the game, while Middlesbrough’s defence was caught out by Daniels’ clever pass for Afobe to double the lead.
Ramirez’s red card was inexcusable. The former Southampton player deservedly got a yellow card for diving inside the Cherries’ penalty area before needlessly hacking at Pugh.
Marten de Roon did force a fine save from Artur Boruc, but Bournemouth cruised to three points after the interval.
Pugh marked his 250th league appearances for the Cherries by making it 3-0 after a wonderful pass from Lewis Cook, before Daniels skipped around a couple of challenges and rifled home from 20 yards.
Cherries set for third Premier League season
Bournemouth came into this on the back of a four-match winless run that had raised fears they could be dragged into the end-of-season battle for survival.
This win catapulted Eddie Howe’s men four places up the table to 12th, seven points above the relegation zone with four games to play.
Only a disastrous finish will prevent the Cherries from playing in the top flight for a third successive season.
They have 38 points and need another five from four games to surpass last season’s tally of 42, which earned them 16th spot.
Although Middlesbrough were poor, Bournemouth turned on the style as they overcame the loss of on-loan midfielder Jack Wilshere for the rest of the campaign to ease to victory.
