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Bournemouth went top of the Championship by beating 10-man Sheffield Wednesday for a seventh consecutive league and cup victory.

The mid-table Owls were holding their own until Royston Drenthe was sent off after an hour for a second booking.

Five minutes later, Callum Wilson found Andrew Surman, who curled a left-foot shot past Keiren Westwood.

And the game was sealed when Ryan Fraser clipped the ball home moments after coming on as a substitute.

Recent weeks have seen Eddie Howe's Cherries surge up the table, only six years since they started the League Two season on minus 17 points for exiting administration in an incorrect manner.

The Owls, on the other hand, have struggled for consistency and have only scored three goals in their seven home league games this season.

However they had the first chances at Hillsborough.

Drenthe twice forced Artur Boruc to save when shooting from distance, with Jacques Maghoma also bringing a good stop from the Pole with a bouncing 30-yard shot.

Bournemouth wasted a great chance to open the lead when Owls keeper Westwood parried Wilson's shot to strike partner Brett Pitman, who failed to connect.

Wilson fired wide following a counter-attack early in the second half and it seemed as if they were going to be frustrated, before the game's turning point.

Drenthe fouled Marc Pugh for his second booking in the 60th minute and was sent off.

And it did not take long for Bournemouth to profit, with Surman firing home from 18 yards out.

And they took full advantage of Watford's 2-1 defeat at Birmingham as Wilson found Scotland Under-21 winger Fraser, who had only been on the pitch for two minutes.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Stuart Gray:

"That is not an acceptable performance. That's probably the worst I've felt losing a game with Sheffield Wednesday.

"You're not going to win games of football if you wait until the 85th minute to get a tackle in. You're not going to win football matches by playing square and backwards.

"We lost probably in every department. We seemed to down tools after going down to 10 men.

"We are a Jekyll and Hyde side at the moment. We have confidence and self-belief away from home but not at home."

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe:

"It was another good, professional performance and a big three points.

"I don't think we were at our best in the final third in the first half. We needed an extra pass before shooting and thankfully we got that in the second half with two goals of real quality.

"You need goals to stamp your authority and I back this team to score goals.

"The red card certainly helped us. I don't think the tackles were in any way malicious. I think they were just mistimed.

"We want to enjoy being top of the table but we've got to look to maintain our position."