The Clarets held on for a nail-biting 3-2 victory after racing into a 2-0 lead inside 17 minutes in a game in which the points should have been secured more comfortably.
Attacking changes from Sean Dyche shortly after half-time proved key as Burnley secured their fifth home victory of the season, helping them ease away from the relegation zone ahead of back-to-back away games in London.
Positives
Burnley looked extremely threatening throughout the match and could have added to their scoreline with calmer heads in the final third. When the team came under severe pressure from Bournemouth in the second half, they held firm to deliver a vital three points, end a run of three straight losses and get the festive period off to a cracking start.
Negatives
Both goals conceded by the Clarets came in injury time and the team has to be more professional in the dying moments of a half, while a strange kick-off from Ashley Barnes could have cost his side at 3-2. Burnley could and perhaps should have won the game easier and earlier by killing Bournemouth off.
Manager rating out of 10
9 -- Dyche reverted to the 4-5-1 that has been so effective at home and the formation worked a treat again in the first half, with Jeff Hendrick excelling in an advanced midfield role. It was an aggressive double change from Dyche shortly after half-time that proved pivotal, complete with a switch back to 4-4-2, with substitute Andre Gray extremely lively from the bench, the striker creating the fully deserved winner for George Boyd with a cute back-heel.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Tom Heaton, 7 -- The captain was not overworked on his return after two games out with a calf injury, but one flying save on Adam Smith's deflected free kick showed terrific reactions.
DF Matt Lowton, 7 -- Restored to the side after Jon Flanagan's shocker at Stoke last week, this was arguably Lowton's finest display of the season and he threatened in attack all game, picking up an assist on Hendrick's sensational opening goal -- the shirt is now surely his for keeps.
DF Michael Keane, 8 -- The in-demand centre-back returned to something near his best with a commanding display against Benik Afobe, who was a handful and had a goal disallowed for handball.
DF Ben Mee, 7 -- Like Keane, Mee did not concede a single foul, a statistic that shows how in control the pair were despite collective losses of concentration costing the Clarets in stoppage-time of both halves.
DF Stephen Ward, 8 -- The Republic of Ireland left-back scrambled in his first goal of the season from a corner and was otherwise extremely solid.
MF Dean Marney, 7 -- At times the game seemed to be passing Marney by, but in Burnley's best periods he was the driving force of the team.
MF Jeff Hendrick, 8 -- Hendrick finally showed the ability that convinced the club to make him their record signing with fantastic technique in his stunning volleyed goal to open the scoring. The confidence boost that wonder-strike provided carried him through his best performance for Burnley.
MF George Boyd, 7 -- More positive in possession than he has been all season, Boyd's renewed drive to get into dangerous positions was rewarded with a fine finish for the winning goal.
MF Scott Arfield, 6 -- Arfield could have been involved more in attack and he missed a brilliant late chance, but his work rate in defence was crucial to the Clarets' win.
MF Steven Defour, 7 -- Dyche does not seem to fancy Defour in a 4-4-2 and he was one of two players sacrificed for a change of shape in the second half, but before the break he had been very good.
FW Sam Vokes, 6 -- The striker's goalless spell extended to four league games and, while he provided a platform for his side's attack, they were arguably more threatening after he and Defour were substituted.
Substitutes
FW Andre Gray, 8 -- Gray's introduction was the catalyst for Burnley to see off Bournemouth's revival, the striker recording a fine assist for the winner and causing the visitors huge problems with his pace.
FW Ashley Barnes, 7 -- While not as eye-catching as Gray from the bench, Barnes' arrival gave the Clarets more physicality in the final third and he linked up well with Gray.
DF James Tarkowski, N/R -- With Bournemouth pushing for an equaliser, Tarkowski came on at the end to help see the match out.