The opening game of the season ended in disappointment with a 1-0 defeat at Charlton.  The Cherries paid the price for a poor first half showing, but a good second half display saw them come close on a number of occasions and also have two penalty claims turned down against a Charlton side that ended up with ten men.

Eddie Howe started the game with a 4-5-1 formation, handing debuts to Marc Pugh and Harry Arter.  There was the surprise inclusion of Michael Symes and Danny Hollands on the bench.  It was sunshine as the teams came out, although much of the game was played in the rain, with the Cherries roared on by an impressive 1,397 travelling support in the excellent Valley.

It was the hosts though who started brightly, giving the Cherries no time to settle.  Former Cherries loan player Scott Wagstaff fired over early on before Akpo Sodje spurned a great chance, firing the ball high over the bar from a good position.  On 22 minutes though, Charlton grabbed what proved to be the decisive goal.  The dangerous Kyle Reid crossed the ball for Sodje who made no mistake from close range.

Bournemouth rarely threatened and Howe made changes at the break, bringing on Symes for Arter and opting for a 4-4-2 and the second half proved to be a different story.  Early in the half, the Cherries appeared to have been awarded a penalty, but the referee gave a free kick right on the line after Pugh had been fouled.  Liam Feeney then tested the keeper as the Cherries looked for an equaliser.

On 61 minutes, Charlton were reduced to ten men when Jose Semedo was shown a straight red card for a lunge on Symes.  The Charlton man clearly caught the Bournemouth striker, but there was no malice in the challenge, but the referee decided it was worthy of a red card.

This challenge by Jose Semedo earned him a straight red card

With ten men, Charlton closed ranks and made things difficult for Bournemouth to create chances.  Pugh found space for a strike that was well saved before the Cherries were denied what appeared to be a clear penalty when Symes's goalbound effort was cleared by defender Gary Doherty's hand, but nothing was given.

Late chances fell for the Cherries through Pugh and Feeney, but the side couldn't conjure up an equaliser, but the second half display will give the Cherries good heart.