Anyway on to the game and about 85 minutes of Bournemouth domination! The Cherries kicked off towards the new South End with Soupa back in the starting line up and Dani back on the bench. Soupa showed his intentions straight from the kick-off, charging down a poor back pass but sadly his shot went well wide. The game was really starting to flow with Dermot Gallagher excelling as the man in black and showing his class as a referee.
On 12 minutes a lob from James O'Connor went agonisingly close, landing on the top of the net. Hayter then went very close after a poor kick out from the City keeper Phillips. The Cherries defence was showing great resoluteness in breaking up the odd City attack. Again Bournemouth went close with Maher heading narrowly wide from a corner.
Next it was Surman's chance to join in the fun going on a mazy run and getting brought down yards from the penalty area by Louis Carey. Stock immediately claimed the free kick and curled it sublimely through a crowd of players into the right hand corner of the net, on the 20 minute mark - GOAL!
Bristol City probably had their best period of the game now in the run up to half time, but Neil Moss only had one bit of real anxiety, having to pull off a Premiership class save in time added on, from a lob that had goal written all over it. The North Standers held their breath and then erupted in applause as Moss twisted and pushed it over the angle of post and bar!
HT: 1-0
5 minutes into the second half and the game was over as a contest, with David Partridge giving away the silliest penalty I have seen for a while with a blatant handball when under no pressure at all. Up stepped our new penalty taker James Hayter to send Phillips the wrong way on the 50 minute mark - GOAL! Cherries 2 - City 0
Within minutes the ball was in the net again after great build-up play with Spicer providing the final ball. However, Hayter was harshly judged offside. The Cherries upped their game in brief periods after this but for the main were quite happy to play the ball around and not do anything silly. You always felt that if a third goal had come City would have crumbled and it could have become a massacre.
Moss was virtually a spectator in the 2nd half with only a Cotterill header to save. A large travelling support from City started leaving mid-way through the half in dribs and drabs, venting their frustration at their players and manager!
For me perhaps the biggest plus of the half was the performance of Dani Rodrigues in the last 13 minutes when he replaced Surman. Speedy, incisive and very unlucky not to score was my verdict! Two more late substitutions followed with Spicer and Hayter going off to be replaced by Stephen Cooke and James Coutts. I have only seen brief glimpses of Cooke in the two games I have attended so far, but he looks a real acquisition - a very intelligent attacking player with great skill.
The last action of the game saw Browning, who had had a great game in midfield, flash a header narrowly wide. Great applause followed as our long winless run at home was finally over.
Marcus Browning - ran the midfield showing his wealth of experience AFCB: Moss, Young, Maher, Howe, O'Connor, Surman, Browning, Stock, Spicer, Hayter, Fletcher
Subs: Stewart, Cooke (on for Spicer, 86), Rodrigues (on for Surman, 77), Coutts (on for Hayter, 88), Gowling
Rob Mann, Newton Abbott