As per usual a new season brings all the usual optimistic opinions on how the new season is going to unfold, with many hoping for a repeat run to at least the play-offs.
With a few departures in the Summer, it was no surprise that the Cherries line up was quite a bit different from that we have been used to over the past couple of seasons. I was just hoping that pre-season form couple be replicated when it came to the real thing come 90 mins.
The opening stages of the first half were pretty uneventful to be honest ..... except for Hollands being applauded and Wiggins being soundly booed by the large contingent in the away end. I couldn't repeat one chant being aimed at Wiggins ...... but did have "what a waste of money" being chanted at him at regular intervals!
Neither side looked like doing anything in the first half until Pugh managed to slip/fall over allowing Wright-Phillips to push forward. The ball was slipped in to the path of Stephens who neatly slotted the ball home past Flahavan.
Charlton tried to press home their advantage, but didn't have their shooting boots on at this stage. Flahavan had to be on his toes, at one stage producing a superb save at full stretch to push the ball away for a corner.
As for the Cherries, hardly a single shot on target, despite some positive runs forward. Sadly with Ings on his own he was never going to make too much head way as he attracted the attention of 2-3 defending players.
HT: 1-0
The second half started with the introduction of Lyle Taylor for Baudry, just to give some more pace up front and another outlet instead of relying on the isolated Ings.
Sadly if that was the plan to push forward, it didn't work as a free kick was conceeded, which saw Wagstaff flight the ball straight in to the top left hand corner of the goal in the 51st minute.
The introduction did give the Cherries pace up front, and did give the Charlton defence something to think about. The closest Cherries front line came to reducing the deficit saw the home keeper make a sharp save low to his right, and a rasping shot from Ings (just as he was flagged off-side so it wouldn't have counted). But the first meaning shot on target didn't come from AFC Bournemouth until the 78th minute when Feeney managed to get a shot on target. By this time it was all too late as Wright-Phillips had already put the Addicks 3-0 up from the penalty spot.
A disappointing start to the new season for the Cherries ...... a disjointed performance to say the least, but there were positives for the management team to work on in the coming weeks.
My man of the match ....... could be Barrett who was great at the back, or Arter who ran and ran his heart out. My selection is Adam Barrett.
Flahavan - looked static on his goal line at times
Bryne - showed promise at right back, but the finished article by any means
Cooper - assured at the back
Barrett - clearly Championship quality at times
Malone - much to learn at left back
Pugh - not the player we were used to last season
Baudry - showed some good touches
Arter - played really well - simply ran his heart out
Feeney - very quiet for Feeney. No over-lapping runs that we've become used to.
Gregory - showed some good touches in midfield.
Ings - did his best with little support
Taylor - very lively when he came on. He is going to cause a few problems for defences this season
Molesley - great to see Molesley back playing again
Fletcher - wasn't on for long enough to make too much of an impact
AFCB: Flahavan, Bryne, Cooper, Barrett, Malone, Pugh, Baudry, Arter, Feeney, Gregory, Ings
Subs: Jalal, Purches, Taylor (for Baudry, HT), Molesley (for Gregory, 66 mins), Fletcher (for Ings, 87 mins)
Andy Burton, Portsmouth