Pictures and analysis of Shrews 0 Bournemouth 3

Brett Pitman sneaked away with the matchball after helping inflict Shrewsbury's heaviest league defeat of the season.

Perhaps Jermaine Grandison will be happy to hear of the cheeky departure from the Greenhous Meadow of League One's current most lethal finisher.

For although Pitman laid claim to a hat-trick, it was the defender making his long-awaited return to the Town side who inadvertently diverted Bournemouth's third goal into his own net.

The frontman was understandably only too eager to boost his goal tally, having hit six in consecutive games before his arrival in Shropshire to breath new life into Eddie Howe's side's bid for automatic promotion.

After despatching a clinical early penalty, the Jersey-born player produced a stunning effort to beat Chris Weale soon after the restart.

But even if the dubious goals panel sat in the Football League it wouldn't be able to conjure Pitman's touch on Harry Arter's cross into his third. Grandison's misconnection summed up a miserable afternoon for the centre-half, whose touch was rusty early on and whose fitness was in question later when he made way for Connor Goldson.

The latter had been unfortunate to be omitted at the back after forging a decent partnership with Yado Mambo. And the new central pairing looked ill at ease against Bournemouth's swaggering attacking play which forced several uncomfortable last-ditch manoeuvres.

The die was cast as early as the fourth minute when Jon Taylor was caught out by Marc Pugh's give-and-go with Pitman and ended up tripping the former Shrewsbury winger inside the box.

Pitman demonstrated the lethal touch he has rediscovered since rejoining the Cherries following a low-key two years at Bristol City by beating Weale from 12 yards.

And the 25-year-old could have added to his tally as Howe's in-form team took a firm grip on the first 45 minutes.

After driving one effort past the post, he was perfectly positioned to hook home after Mambo skied a clearing header into his path. Town were spared on that occasion – but they were not so fortunate later.

Picking up a pass, Pitman transferred to his right boot and curled exquisitely into the far corner.

The wonder strike came less than a minute after Town were desperately close to getting back on terms. A rugged backline was breached for the only time by James Hurst's cross, but skipper Matt Richards' looping header came back off the underside of the bar with the assistance of centre-half Steve Cook.

In truth, it may have made little difference such was Bournemouth's complete dominance.

Howe is a preacher of a passing game and his side lived up to his values with some frightening ball retention.

The game was ebbing further and further away from Town by the time Tommy Elphick's firm header billowed the side-netting.

Lewis Grabban nearly capitalised on a handling error by Weale as the keeper was forced off his line.

Then a short-corner routine provided the coup de grace in the 61st-minute.

Town had virtually nothing to offer to match that firepower. Marvin Morgan ran the channels with vigour but neither he nor Tom Eaves got near Ryan Allsop's goal. Mambo provided a shooting lesson with an effort on the turn, which didn't miss the bottom corner by much.

But Pugh and Simon Francis went close to adding to the misery with late strikes. Weale parried the winger's effort, while attacking right-back Francis suffered a rush of blood after breezing past Richards only to waft across the face of goal.

Pitman, too, volleyed wide in stoppage time when a legitimate hat-trick beckoned.

But by then it was all too easy for Howe's players as they made it seven wins on the trot to keep up the pressure on leaders Doncaster.

By Gwyn Griffiths