AFC Bournemouth
Ryan Longman’s second-half goal condemned AFC Bournemouth to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of rejuvenated Hull City at Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
The Tigers were taken over on Wednesday and celebrated by beating the Cherries’ fellow Championship promotion hopefuls Blackburn.
Scott Parker’s team were made to pay for squandering a number of presentable first-half chances when Longman bagged the only goal in the 77th minute.
Head coach Parker made three changes to his starting line-up following the last-gasp defeat at Luton seven days previously.
Chris Mepham, Phil Billing and Jamal Lowe came in for Lewis Cook, Gary Cahill and Jaidon Anthony, the latter two named on the bench.
Hull were unchanged following their impressive 2-0 win over high-flying Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday, the day the Tigers revealed the club had been taken over.
Dominic Solanke closed down a clearance from Hull goalkeeper Nathan Baxter in the first minute and saw the ball loop over the crossbar.
Referee Matthew Donohue turned down a claim for a penalty after Lowe appeared to have been wrestled to the floor by Greg Docherty following a Ryan Christie corner.
The Tigers also had a spot-kick appeal waved away after Longman’s cross had struck Leif Davis, the Leeds loan man then mounting an attack with a pinpoint pass to Solanke.
But after the striker had gathered the ball, Tigers goalkeeper Baxter raced off his line to intercept and averted the danger.
Solanke’s close-range header from Christie’s delicate cross bounced the wrong side of the post with Baxter seemingly beaten.
And as the chances continued to come, Baxter saved from Emi Marcondes after Solanke’s cross had struck a defender and rolled into his path.
Marcondes saw his first-time effort hit the upright after Billing’s delightful cross had picked him out at the far post before Baxter parried Solanke’s snapshot.
Davis saw his 25-yarder soar narrowly over the crossbar before his centre found Solanke whose header flashed past the upright.
A neat one-two between Christie and Billing created an opening for Marcondes but his low shot was comfortably saved by Baxter.
The Cherries were forced to make a change six minutes before half-time when Mepham went down with what appeared to be a hamstring injury and was replaced by Cahill.
Solanke, under pressure from a defender, scooped a difficult chance over the crossbar following good work again by the lively Marcondes.
Mark Travers was forced to make his first save on the stroke of half-time, the Cherries goalkeeper diving full length to his left to push away Longman’s drive.
Keane Lewis-Potter fashioned two chances at the start of the second half, the Hull striker slicing the first high and wide before Travers tipped his second past the post.
Travers saved acrobatically after Tom Eaves had tried his luck from 25 yards, the Cherries goalkeeper pushing his thunderous effort over the crossbar.
Another penalty appeal fell on dear ears after Solanke had gone to ground before Billing’s flick at the near post was smothered by Baxter.
Longman made the breakthrough for the visitors when he turned inside and unleashed an unstoppable drive past Travers in the 77th minute.
AFC Bournemouth: Travers, Stacey, Mepham (Cahill, 39), Kelly, Davis (Rogers, 84), Marcondes, Lerma, Billing, Christie, Solanke, Lowe (Anthony, 66).
Unused subs: Pearson, Hill, Kilkenny, Nyland (g/k).
Booked: Stacey, Lerma.
Hull City: Baxter, Bernard, McLoughlin, Greaves, Williams (Fleming, 90), Smallwood, Docherty, Longman (Smith, 86), Honeyman, Eaves, Lewis-Potter.
Booked: Smallwood, Smith.
Unused subs: Moncur, Huddlestone, Arthur, Jones, Ingram (g/k).
Referee: Matthew Donohue.
