Fulham were held to a 2-2 home draw by Bournemouth in their final Premier League game of the year on Sunday after Dango Ouattara scored a late equaliser for the visitors in an end-to-end clash at Craven Cottage.
With both sides unbeaten in December, Bournemouth are in sixth place with 30 points at the halfway mark this season, while Fulham are a point behind in eighth - below seventh-placed Newcastle United on goal difference.
Goals from Raul Jimenez and Harry Wilson gave Fulham a 2-1 lead but Ouattara, on as a substitute, scored a late goal for the second time this season for both teams to share the spoils.
"We normally finish games strong, we value the subs and what they give us energy-wise," Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola told the BBC.
"We had 13 outfield players for the first team. If anyone deserved to win today then it was more Bournemouth than Fulham. I thought we played very well in the first half but at least we could recover one point."
Both sides had opportunities to score in a cagey first half-hour, with Bournemouth's David Brooks and Fulham's Wilson finding space in the box to shoot twice but goalkeepers Bernd Leno and Kepa Arrizabalaga stood firm to deny the two midfielders.
We never say die 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/bcJkkGJ95J
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) December 29, 2024
Fulham's Issa Diop nearly committed an error when he attempted to clear a long ball that allowed Evanilson to steal in behind with only Leno to beat, and the defender heaved a sigh of relief when the Brazilian forward missed.
JIMENEZ OPENS SCORING AGAIN
Fulham then took the lead in the 40th minute from a corner kick when Jimenez escaped his marker and powered home a header for his sixth league goal of the season - all of which have been opening goals.
Ryan Christie then sparked a confrontation between the teams after a rough tackle on Antonee Robinson, and referee Robert Jones cautioned the Scottish midfielder, with VAR checking for a possible red card but agreeing with Jones' decision.
Bournemouth equalised six minutes after the restart when James Hill put a cross in behind the defence for Evanilson, and the club's record signing let the ball bounce before volleying it past Leno from a tight angle.
"It was a really tough goal, I didn't even believe the ball was in. After a while I went off to celebrate and it was a really nice goal," Evanilson said.
Fulham restored their lead in the 72nd minute when Robinson whipped in a cross and Wilson found space near the penalty spot to head home his second goal in as many games.
But Bournemouth pressed hard to find an equaliser and their efforts yielded a chance when they won the ball back and Antoine Semenyo found substitute Ouattara who chipped it over the onrushing Leno and into the net to secure a point for his side.
"We have to be more ruthless. We go with the strange feeling that we should have taken more points," Fulham boss Marco Silva said.
"We should have more impact on the table but seven games unbeaten after playing every three days is a great run from us."