Cherry picked: Jack Tanner's favourite ever Cherries match

Everyone remembers Kieffer Moore’s finest moment in a Cherries shirt. Philip Billing’s quick glance, the free-kick rolled short, the biggest man on the pitch ignored by Nottingham Forest and allowed to slot home to seal Bournemouth’s spot in the Premier League.

Automatic promotion on the line in the penultimate game of the Championship season produced the drama, but first the scene had to be set.

It was only a week prior that Moore had notched his first goals for Cherries, grabbing a brace in a remarkable turnaround at Swansea City.

Cherries’ promotion push was on the verge of faltering after one win in five. The run-in is a nervy period for players and fans alike, and Cherries’ indifferent form might have scared a few supporters from making the trip to south Wales on a Tuesday evening.

On the same night as the Swansea game, Nottingham Forest put the pressure on Cherries by beating Fulham - Bournemouth had managed just a draw with the eventual champions at the weekend prior to the visit to Cymru.

Defeat to the Swans would leave Cherries just two points above a resurgent Forest, ahead of both sides meeting on the penultimate day of the season.

Of course, we all know how that went. But at the time Bournemouth supporters and pundits alike were working out the calculations, fearing that a 46-game season would come down to the final day. There was even a small-but-growing chance that Forest could mathematically secure automatic promotion at Dean Court.

So with 18 minutes remaining and a three-goal deficit on the scoreboard, it appeared likely that Cherries would have to win their remaining three matches to guarantee a return to the Premier League at the second attempt - or at least win two and hold off Steve Cooper’s Tricky Trees.

Considering their form at the time, that seemed a tall ask, especially when contrasted against Nottingham Forest’s eight wins and one defeat in 10 games.

At the Swansea.com stadium it should have been a straight-forward result for Cherries, considering the overall balance of play. Scott Parker’s side controlled possession but found themselves picked apart on the counter, a clinical Swansea side taking a three-goal lead with just five shots.

Some sloppy defending saw a half-chance for Swansea recycled into the path of Joel Piroe, who tucked home his first on five minutes.

Seven minutes later he had his second, Cherries turning over possession in their own half before Swansea worked the ball to Piroe, the striker firing past Mark Travers on the edge of the box.

By this point of the game Cherries had registered no efforts on target, and already they were panicking slightly. Lewis Cook and Dominic Solanke resorted to trying their luck from range, and by the time Cherries were getting shots off inside the box, Swansea were now defending deep with multiple bodies, chucking themselves at every effort.

When Cyrus Christie made it three shortly before the hour mark, it felt like it was another game burned, Cherries limping towards the finish line and at risk of falling short.

Parker turned to his bench, opting to bring on a second striker in the form of Kieffer Moore.

Moore had signed on deadline day from Cardiff City, only to be forced off with a foot injury three minutes into his debut off the bench against Birmingham City. Each week Parker was asked for information on his return, Cherries desperately in need of something different during various games.

There was no hiding from the fact that Moore had been drafted in for the run-in as the ultimate plan B. Leading man Dominic Solanke was perfect for Parker’s plans, a willingness to drop deep and orchestrate attacks as well as a nose for finding space to round off moves.

Moore’s hold-up play could help in the build-up, but he had clearly been bought for situations like this: Where the kitchen sink was being launched at a low-block.

10 minutes after his introduction, Moore had the ball in the back of the net. A Jaidon Anthony corner floated in was meat and drink for the Welshman, who wriggled past his marker to nod home.

Cherries were now starting to turn the screw. Swans’ approach of chucking bodies in front of the ball backfired when Ryan Manning’s outstretched arm blocked Ethan Laird’s cross into the box.

Dominic Solanke was handed the ball and responsibility, and just as he did all campaign, Cherries’ talisman tucked home to turn Moore’s consolation effort into a spark that fueled a comeback.

Still, Cherries had a job to do. They continued their onslaught on the Swansea goal ticking into extra time. A Ryan Christie cross from deep found Solanke, but the former Chelsea man could only flick a tame header goalwards.

That prompted a save and a parry from Andy Fisher, the loose ball begging to be turned home by the slightest touch.

Moore still had a task to do, using all 77 inches of his frame at full-stretch to squeeze the ball in at the near post. The former Cardiff man had received stick from the Swansea crowd - despite being Wales’ leading striker - and he promptly gave some welly back. \

Moore’s equaliser could have led to extended celebrations, pure relief in front of the travelling crowd. However, after the initial outburst of joy, Cherries quickly reset and rushed to restart play.

They had salvaged a point but still wanted two more to retain initiative in the race for promotion. It was this fight, this desire that shone through in the dying embers of the campaign.

After a season full of questions over Cherries’ placid style of play, the scattergun recruitment of both windows, and whether Bournemouth had enough to earn a spot in the Premier League, Parker’s side were providing an answer.

They would get the job done with a game to spare, but that display at Swansea highlighted the spirit needed to win promotion from the Championship.