David Brooks’s late winner saw new head coach Andoni Iraola mark his first AFC Bournemouth friendly on English soil with victory.

The Cherries, sporting their new blue away kit, triumphed 3-2 against south coast neighbours Southampton at St Mary’s.

An entertaining first half saw the Cherries reach the break leading 2-1 thanks to goals in quick succession from Dango Ouattara and Ryan Christie.

Ouattara drew first blood with a fine header from Christie’s 15^th-minute cross before the Scotsman netted from close range following good work by Jaidon Anthony and Dom Solanke two minutes later.

Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy pulled off top-drawer saves to keep out efforts from Kerkez and Anthony, while Neto denied Che Adams.

The Cherries captain was powerless to prevent the hosts from making it 2-1 on the stroke of half-time, Shea Charles nodding Ryan Manning’s free-kick into the back of the net.

And midway through the second half, substitute Stuart Armstrong levelled for Southampton, the Scotland international finishing with accuracy into the bottom corner.

An end-to-end affair was settled in favour of the Cherries when Brooks netted the winner four minutes from time after being put through by Hamed Traorè.

Sam Amo-Ameyaw’s darting run created the first chance of the contest after seven minutes but Neto was equal to Moussa Djenepo’s shot, the Cherries goalkeeper saving comfortably.

New recruit Kerkez displayed his attacking threat, the defender’s fiercely-struck effort tipped over the crossbar by Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.

Christie seized on a stray pass only to drag his shot wide before Ouattara’s deflected effort from 30 yards was parried by McCarthy.

Ouattara opened the scoring when he outjumped the Southampton defence to meet Christie’s 15^th-minute cross, the Burkina Faso international hanging in the air and delicately diverting the ball past McCarthy from around six yards.

The Cherries quickly doubled their lead, with Christie’s goal two minutes later owing much to the tenacity of Jaidon Anthony who won possession inside the 18-yard box after closing down the hosts’ defence.

And after Dom Solanke had wriggled free from his marker and centred for Christie, the Scotsman made no mistake and side-footed home his first goal of pre-season.

As Southampton looked to halve the deficit through Che Adams, Neto again protected his goal, the goalkeeper diving full length to his right to turn the striker’s low drive past the upright.

Visiting supporters applauded Kerkez after the Hungary international had bravely thrown himself in front of James Bree’s low cross, the resultant corner coming to nothing.

Anthony was almost rewarded for his excellent first-half showing with a goal, the winger trading passes with Ouattara before letting fly from close range, McCarthy saving one handed.

A lovely one-two between Anthony and Kerkez split the Southampton defence, the left-back’s dangerous cross just failing to find a teammate.

Southampton reduced the arrears on the stroke of half-time when Charles, a new signing from Manchester City, headed home Manning’s free-kick.

Ouattara just failed to meet Anthony’s corner at the start of the second half before Carlos Alcaraz’s free-kick flashed past the post at the other end.

Will Smallbone’s heroic block prevented Solanke from restoring the Cherries’ two-goal lead after Ouattara had been gifted possession by MCarthy.

Southampton appealed in vain for a penalty after Djenepo had gone to ground under an Adam Smith challenge before Manning stuck out his leg to block Ouattara’s shot.

Ouattara was again in the thick of the action when Anthony delivered a corner in the 62^nd minute, only for his header to be saved by McCarthy.

Stuart Armstrong, one of a number of substitutions made by the hosts, restored parity when he found the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the box after 65 minutes.

Neto made a fine save after Illia Zabarnyi had diverted Nathan Tella’s cross goalwards before the Ukraine international blocked Tella’s follow-up effort.

Brooks had the final say when he held his nerve to beat McCarthy having been put through by Hamed Traorè’s pass four minutes from time.

AFC Bournemouth: Neto, Smith (Hill, 77), Senesi, Mepham (Zabarnyi, 67), Kerkez (Greenwood, 77), Cook (Rothwell, 77), Christie (Kilkenny, 77), Ouattara (Traorè, 67), Anthony (Kluivert, 67), Billing (Brooks, 67), Solanke (Moore, 67).

Unused sub: Randolph (g/k).

Southampton: McCarthy, Manning (Stephens, 61), Lyanco (Caleta-Car, 61), Adams (Adam Armstrong, 67), Bree (Walker-Peters, h/t) , Djenepo (Tella, 67), Edozie (S Armstrong, 61), Charles (Livramento, 61), Alcaraz (Doyle, 67), Amo-Ameyaw (Meghoma, 61), Lavia (Smallbone, h/t).

Unused sub: Bazunu (g/k).