AFC Bournemouth 1-4 Southend United Cherries crash to heavy home defeat

Cherries make two changes from Saturday's defeat at Cheltenham with Sam Vokes and Max Gradel replacing Brett Pitman and Lee Bradbury.

Southend marches into a three goal lead by half time and an own goal from Lewis Hunt from Cummings' cross gave Cherries a glimmer of hope before an easy fourth sealed the points.

Cherries: Stewart (Pryce 72), Young, Cummings, Gowling, Perrett, Hollands, Cooper (Pitman 90 +5), Gradel, Tessem (Bartley 62), Kuffour, Vokes.
Subs: Pearce, Bradbury.

Southend: Flahavan, Francis, Hunt, Clarke, Barrett, Gower, McCormack, Black, Hammell, Hooper (Scannell 81), Bailey.
Subs: Maher, Collis, Richards, Moussa.

Max Gradel made an instant impact on his first game since re-signing on loan from Leicester. The tricky winger popped p on both flanks in the opening three minutes to create Cherries first breaks into the Southend penalty area.

In the ninth minute the influential Gradel plucked out a cross for Sam Vokes whose header was tipped over the bar by Southend stopper Darryl Flahavan.

On eighteen minutes Southend took the lead. Gary Hooper darted down the right hand side and fizzed the ball into the danger area. Gareth Stewart could only parry leaving Mark Gower with a simple finish.

Four minutes later it was 2-0. Simon Francis was allowed the freedom of Dean Court to move into a shooting position and his final effort was spilled by Gareth Stewart before rolling into goal.

Cherries had a chance to get back into the game when Warren Cumming's driven free kick from the right caused problems. The ball fell loose for Danny Hollands, but his shot failed to find the target.

Sam Vokes spent much of the first half in a physical battle with Adam Barrett. His determination left him with a shooting chance on thirty-four minutes and he stabbed the ball beyond the far post.

Southend's third goal was as simple as the previous couple. Two passes ripped through the heart of the Cherries defence and Tommy Black provided the finishing touch.

Half time: AFC Bournemouth 0-3 Southend United

Cherries were handed a lifeline four minutes into the second half. As the ball came forward Sam Vokes battled to keep the attack alive. The ball fell for Warren Cummings whose cross was diverted into goal by a luckless Southend defender.

Two minutes later the visitors had a penalty. Cherries were put into trouble by a loose ball from Josh Gowling. When the cross came in Russ Perrett's pull went unseen by the referee, but the linesman correctly awarded the spot kick. Mark Gower stepped up and rolled the ball wide of Stewart's right post.

Any lifeline Cherries may have carved themselves was completely undone on sixty-four minutes. Gary Hooper easily got the better of Gowling then rounded Stewart who had come to the edge of the area before applying a routine finish.

With eighteen minutes remaining Cherries Manager Kevin Bond opted to hand Ryan Pryce a first senior appearance. The seventeen-year-old youth team stopper replaced Gareth Stewart, who was struggling with an injury.

Both sides created a couple of half chances as the game drew to a close, but the game had long since ended as a contest. Jo Kuffour nearly got the goal his effort levels deserved with a powerful shot skimming the outside of the side netting.

Danny Hollands had a shot blocked off the line before Damion Scannell showed narrowly wide at the start of seven added on minutes after the ninety.