AFC Bournemouth tightened their grip on top spot in their Premier League Cup group thanks to an impressive 4-0 win over Charlton Athletic at Wimborne’s New Cuthbury on Saturday.

Dan Adu-Adjei’s double, coupled with goals from Balraj Landa and Dominic Sadi, saw the Cherries establish a three-point lead over second-placed Norwich City with one game remaining.

The Cherries and the Canaries will duel for first place when they lock horns at New Cuthbury on 3^rd February – with the team finishing top of the group having home advantage in the last 16.

Adu-Adjei took his tally for the season to 19, his haul including no fewer than five goals in three games against Charlton, the striker netting in the second and 72^nd minutes.

Landa, a late replacement in the starting line-up after Michael Dacosta Gonzalez had felt unwell in the warm-up, bagged his seventh goal of the season in the 12th minute.

And Sadi, who came off the bench for the first team in their FA Cup win over Swansea on Thursday, capped a memorable week when he made it 3-0 in the 15th minute, the midfielder adding to his double against Wolves on Monday in the Premier League Cup.

The Cherries made an ideal start when they took the lead through Adu-Adjei after just 119 seconds, the goal owing much to the determination of Sadi.

He showed great tenacity to win the ball near the halfway line before threading a lovely pass to Adu-Adjei who finished with aplomb into the bottom corner with his left foot.

Charlton were then thankful to goalkeeper Prince Adegoke who saved bravely at the feet of Adu-Adjei as he prepared to pull the trigger for a second time.

Two important blocks by Noa Boutin prevented two efforts from Henry Rylah reaching Cherries goalkeeper Cam Plain before a volley from Finn Tonks was deflected for a corner.

Adu-Adjei turned provider as the Cherries doubled their lead in the 12^th minute, his precise pass teeing up Landa who fired across Adegoke, giving the Addicks goalkeeper no chance.

Sadi extended the Cherries’ advantage when he swept home from close range in the 15^th minute after Adu-Adjei had headed Tonks cross to him following some excellent build-up play.

Greenwood slid in to block Rylah’s shot before Plain got down smartly to smother Ralfi Hand’s low drive as the visitors looked to reduce the deficit.

Adu-Adjei lifted his shot over the crossbar after Sadi and Clarke had combined to fashion another opening before Hand’s 20-yarder flashed past the upright.

Some neat footwork from Sadi set up an opportunity for Adu-Adjei four minutes before the break, his shot taking a deflection and going narrowly past the post.

Ladapo fired into the side netting as the Addicks made a fast start to the second half before the Cherries appealed in vain for a penalty after Boutin appeared to have been shoved in the back by Alan Mwamba.

Adegoke raced off his line to beat Clarke to a towering clearance from Plain before the Charlton goalkeeper saved with his face after Adu-Adjei had been picked out at the near post by Boutin’s low cross.

Clarke finished an electrifying run with a thunderous drive which Adegoke smothered midway through the second half.

Adu-Adjei added his second and the Cherries’ fourth when he emphatically fired an angled drive past Adegoke to complete the scoring in the 72nd minute.

AFC Bournemouth: Plain, Tonks (Holman, h/t), Boutin, Brown, Kinsey (Morgan, 63), Greenwood, Winterburn (Clarke, 20), Sadi, Adu-Adjei, Landa, Tydeman (Osborne, 74).

Unused sub: Crisp (g/k).

Charlton Athletic: Adegoke, Hobden (Mwamba, 15), Toure, Bakrin, Dench, Gough, Santos (Adigun, 60), Hand, Rylah, Mbick, Ladapo (Enslin, 69).

Unused sub: Batt (g/k).

Referee: Gary Parsons.