AFC Bournemouth
Junior Stanislas' second-half goal saw AFC Bournemouth past Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 on a night where the result took all the importance,
The hosts were much the more likely to score in the first half, but despite chances were unable to break through the stout visiting backline.
After the restart, Alex Pattison was red carded for a late tackle on Lewis Cook.
The Cherries didn't take long to make the most of their extra man with Stainslas scoring after some delightful combination play with David Brooks.
The goal was the least the side's play deserved, but was a welcome relief for teh home fans with Wycombe's dogged defending making the win far from certain until the very end.
Manager Jason Tindall named an unchanged team from Saturday's win over Huddersfield, with a home attendance increased to 2,000 supporters inside Vitality Stadium.
Kicking-off in their yellow change kit, Wycombe were soon under the cosh and had former Cherries 'keeper Ryan Allsop to thank when he pounced low to his left to make a strong save and keep out Dominic Solanke's header.
Brooks' short pass into Solanke on the edge of the box prefaced the striker's quick turn and shot, which was blocked, Jack Simpson soon needing treatment for a gashed arm.
Jefferson Lerma flashed a shot over when presented the opportunity by Lloyd Kelly 12 yards out. Deflected over for a corner, it was taken short and led to two long-range shots, Lewis Cook's was blocked while Philip Billing's needed saving by Allsop.
The pressure continuing, Brooks worked the ball onto his right but fired over from 20 yards, while the Chairboys had half a rare foray forward and an opening when Scott Kashket advanced into the box but was unable to get a shot away.
Billing scudded in a volley that was saved before a delicious Brooks ball set Stanislas into the box, cutting in to shoot, his deflected effort was hacked off the line by a covering defender.
There was a stoppage for the injured Dominic Gape, who needed replacing, just prior to half time, the Cherries frustrated at not being able to turn their dominance into an opener before the interval.
Bournemouth attacking the Steve Fletcher Vitality Stand in the second half, it was at the other end where the first attack of not took place - Adebayo Akinfenwa reaching a cross and heading back into the six-yard area, with no team-mate their to profit.
Billing's right-wing run onto Steve Cook's ball threatened, but the low centre was a yard beyond Solanke.
Begovic then had his first save of note as he dived to his left to palm behind substitute Nick Freeman's 22-yard effort.
The game yet to reach the hour mark, the slowing tactics from the visitors was causing frustration among the home contingent, David Wheeler soon conceding a free-kick in range for Stanislas. It was the winger who took it, but it flew a foot or so over the crossbar.
Sam Surridge replaced Billing as Tindall switched his side's shape, though it was Begovic who made the best save of the contest so far as he sprang left to save from Gareth McCleary despite the shot coming in from behind a number of bodies.
Wycombe were reduced to ten men when Alex Pattison received a straight red for a reckless challenge on Lewis Cook, the tackle prompting angry exchanges between the two sets of players.
The Cherries' breakthrough was not long in coming as the home side pushed home their numerical advantage.
Stanislas created the goal with a deft ball through for Brooks, charging into the six-yard box to convert the return from the Welshman and capping a wonderfully-worked move.
The hosts maintained their push, Lewis Cook shooting from outside the box, Solanke diverting and Allsop miraculously still able to block, a cross for Surridge next just out of reach of the striker.
Lerma struck a powered effort over with 85 minutes on the clock, though Wycombe were not done - David Wheeler heading over from a left-wing cross.
Into five minutes of added time, Begovic made a strong claim from another aerial delivery, while Surridge had the last chance of the game when he bent a left-footed shot wide of the far post.
The win secured by the referee's final whistle, the Cherries hopped to the summit of the Championship, for 24 hours at least.
