Like London buses, you wait ages for a Rodrigo Muniz Premier League goal and then they come along all at once. The Brazilian striker was perhaps the only Fulham player who came out of last weekend’s collapse at Burnley in credit, given the way he gave the Whites a commanding lead they later squandered, but he produced a brilliant brace to brush Bournemouth aside and prove that manager Marco Silva’s faith was well founded.

Muniz was an impulse buy at the start of Silva’s Craven Cottage tenure two years ago and, had a couple of clubs from his homeland been a little braver with their bids last month, he might not have even been amongst Fulham’s striking options this afternoon. His English career has been something of a slow burner, initially as underemployed understudy to Aleksandar Mitrovic, and then as a bit-part performer who fell out of favour after a managerial change at Middlesbrough on loan, who was swiftly usurped by Raul Jimenez. But Jimenez’s hamstring strain and the late arrival of Armando Broja from Chelsea on deadline day, gave Muniz another opportunity that he has seized ruthlessly.

His predatory instincts put clear water between the Whites and Bournemouth here just when it looked as if the Cherries might become the second side to fightback from 2-0 down against Fulham in the space of seven days. The hosts raced out of the traps, eager to make up for letting two points slip through their grasp at Turf Moor, and took the lead after only five minutes. Muniz sped eagerly along the right flank but his cross seemed set to be intercepted by Lewis Cook. The midfielder’s untimely slip gave Bobby De Cordova-Reid a glimpse of goal and the Jamaican international rifled a resounding shot into the bottom corner to ease any nerves around Craven Cottage.

It could easily have been two five minutes later. Tom Cairney, restored to the starting line-up in place of Harrison Reed, worked an opening with Willian but the Brazilian’s shot was palmed aside by Neto. Cairney was soon struck in the face by a powerful Bournemouth free-kick but made light of his discomfort to control proceedings from the middle of the park. The Scottish midfielder was involved in a sweeping move that saw Timothy Castagne switch the play across the pitch to Antonee Robinson but the left back’s dangerous cross just evaded the best efforts of Muniz.

Bournemouth were far from passengers and Andoni Irola’s side fashioned several chances to draw level. Luis Sinisterra, who turned his loan from Leeds into a permanent move earlier this week, almost surprised Bernd Leno at his near post with a ferocious drive before Dominic Solanke almost punished some poor poor marking from the subsequent corner only to his sky his shot over the bar at the near post.

The Whites made their visitors’ pay for Solanke’s uncharacteristic prolificacy. Muniz produced a clever finish, lifting the ball impudently over a helpless Neto from close range to make it 2-0 after De Cordova-Reid had headed a deep cross from Willian towards goal. That gave Silva’s side a platform to build upon, although Alex Scott – whose dynamic display on Boxing Day punished a feeble Fulham showing – slammed a long-range shot wide of Bernd Leno’s goal. The home side could have gone even further in front before half time but Willian saw an audacious effort from an acute angle thwarted by Neto after excellent interplay with Robinson.

The Cherries came out on the front foot after the interval and – after Neto had foiled a Willian shot from the edge of the area – forced their way back into the contest five minutes into the second half. Solanke nodded down a corner and centre back Marcos Senesi fired home the loose ball. The goal survived a VAR check for a foul on Bernd Leno, which incensed the Fulham goalkeeper, although their anger was shortlived. Muniz pounced within seconds, ghosting away from a couple of Bournemouth defenders to lash home a lovely Willian cross at the back post.

Fulham set back after restoring their two-goal cushion and Bournemouth, to their great credit, kept pushing until the end. Solanke saw a bicycle kick deflected onto the roof of the net and his physical presence was to the fore as Bournemouth piled on the pressure from a succession of late corners. He headed over from one dangerous delivery before Dango Ouattara skipped around Leno with Castagne on hand to clear from inside his own six yard box.

Relief rather than rapture was the overriding emotion at full time as Silva’s side battled to a first league win of 2024. They made heavy weather of it – but Muniz, something of a Craven Cottage cult hero, had also made his point, which might leave Broja waiting a little longer for a starting opportunity at his new club.

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, A. Robinson, Diop, Ream; Palhinha, Cairney (Reed 63); De Cordova-Reid (Wilson 64), Willian (Traore 85), Pereira (Ballo-Toure 85); Muniz (Broja 75). Subs (not used): Rodak, de Fougerolles, King, Lukic.

BOOKED: Wilson.

GOALS: De Cordova-Reid (5), Muniz (35, 52).

AFC BOURNEMOUTH (4-2-3-1): Neto; Smith (Faivre 85), Kelly (Kerkez 45), Zabarnyi, Senesi; Cook, Christie; Tavernier (Ouattara 69), Sinisterra (Ünal 69), Scott (Semenyo 63); Solanke. Subs (not used): Travers, Mepham, Sadi, Kluivert.

BOOKED: Smith, Solanke.

GOAL: Solanke (50).

REFEREE: Darren England (Doncaster).

ATTENDANCE: 24,271.