Heavy back-to-back defeats before the international break had dampened the mood on the South Coast, and the injury-enforced absence of star player Antoine Semenyo won’t have filled home fans with much confidence ahead of kick-off.
By contrast, West Ham were buoyed by their first pair of successive league wins, and they claimed an 11th-minute advantage courtesy of a former Bournemouth fan favourite.
A long ball from Alphonse Areola deceived Marcos Senesi, allowing Wilson to control with his chest before beating Djordje Petrovic with a low drive, aided by the blustery conditions.
Following the early setback, the Cherries eased themselves into the contest, coming close to a leveller through Marcus Tavernier, who sent a close-range effort disappointingly off-target from a promising position.
With half an hour gone, the hosts were dominating possession, but that counted for little as they fell further behind when a set piece made its way to Wilson, who improvised brilliantly with a hooked finish into the top corner for his third league goal in two games.
Two goals down at the break, Bournemouth had it all to do in the second half. West Ham were certainly inviting pressure with their low block, emphasised by Nuno Espirito Santo’s decision to bring on Tomas Soucek for Wilson before the hour mark, and they needed Areola to be alert to thwart Ryan Christie’s rifled effort.
Eventually, the Cherries clawed their way back into the game with 69 minutes played, benefiting from a rash Max Kilman to deny Evanilson, which resulted in a spot-kick that was thrashed home by Tavernier.
An equaliser was looking increasingly likely as Bournemouth continued to attack, and with nine minutes left, Areola was beaten for a second time. The shot-stopper had done well to keep out Eli Junior Kroupi, but there was nothing he could do when substitute Unal received the ball on the turn and dinked home.
Uncontent with a draw, the hosts’ barrage continued to the final whistle, but West Ham ultimately clung on for a point, meaning they are now undefeated in nine Premier League head-to-heads (W3, D6), with the result lifting them a point clear of the drop zone.
Meanwhile, a spirited second half sees Bournemouth remain in the top half, extending manager Andoni Iraola’s unbeaten league head-to-head record against Espírito Santo (W2, D3).
Flashscore Man of the Match: Alphonse Areola (West Ham United)
