Early goal enough for Cherries as 10-man visitors suffer straight losses

Marcus Tavernier gave Andoni Iraola’s mighty midgets their first win of the season against ten-man Wolves.

Head coach Andoni Iraola owned up on Friday that his side were the “smallest in the Premier League” and he needed more height.

6 Marcus Tavernier got the Cherries off to a dream start on the south coast Credit: Shutterstock Editorial

But his boys showed big hearts in beating the Wanderers to end their dismal record against them at the Vitality Stadium.

Tavernier’s first-half winner was a little lucky, but the visitors didn’t help themselves when they had to play virtually the second half a man down after captain Toti’s dismissal.

David Brooks has started the season in mesmerising form and the midfielder threatened the visitors' goal in the first minute when he drove over the bar.

Almost immediately Marshall Munetsi raced clear at the other end and battered the ball over the top.

This early action certainly sparked the teams into attacking life and within five minutes the hosts were ahead.

Tyler Adams robbed Jean-Ricner Bellegarde of possession outside the box and found Antoine Semenyo .

The Ghana international, who scored two goals at Liverpool a week last Friday, slipped a pass to Tavernier.

The Scot struck it first time and the ball deflected off Emmanuel Agbadou, crashed down off the underside of the bar and bounced high into the net.

6 Marcus Tavernier scored the Cherries' opener, with help from a harsh deflection Credit: Shutterstock Editorial

It was a great feeling for Tavernier who doesn’t get many goals although he did net in the first home game of last season in a 1-1 draw with Newcastle .

It was just the start the Cherries needed after they gave reigning champions Liverpool a fright before going down 4-2 at Anfield.

And the home side went so close to doubling their lead six minutes later when Semenyo raced onto a Brooks cross and volleyed against the bar from four yards out.

6 Antoine Semenyo assisted his side's opener, but missed a chance to double the advantage Credit: AFP

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But the Cherries are always vulnerable when it comes to defending their box or attacking set-pieces because of lack of height in their ranks.

Iraola concedes he has a bunch of small players after selling the likes of Dean Huijsen and Illia Zabarnyi in the summer which puts his side under pressure.

That was the case on 18 minutes when Ki-Jana Hoever sent over a cross which had Jorgen Strand Larsen’s name written all over it.

But the towering Norwegian sent in a downwards header which Bournemouth’s new goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic comfortably pushed aside.

Wolves, who were smacked 4-0 at home by Manchester City last weekend, went into their shells as they appeared to shut-up shop.

They were showing little threat up front although the Cherries weren’t exactly pulling up trees in the forward stakes either.

Wolves boss Vitor Pereira made a double substitution after the break with Hugo Bueno replacing David Moller Wolfe and Andre coming on for Bellegarde.

But the beer loving coach was soon choking on his water when his captain Toti lost his head and his place on the field.

Brooks’ clever pass put Brazilian striker Evanilson racing towards the box until Toti deliberately tripped him just outside the 18-yard line.

Referee Thomas Bramall had no choice but to show the red card four minutes after the break.

6 Toti Gomes was shown a red card for his cynical foul on Evanilson Credit: Reuters

6 The Portuguese international denied a goalscoring opportunity when he brought the striker down Credit: AFP

Alex Scott rolled the resulting free-kick to Tavernier who drove it low and hard straight into Jose Sa’s waiting arms.

Wolves, who had never lost a Premier League match in Dorset , were again feeling the dread of August.

They arrived on the south coast having won just one of their last 22 top-flight games in the eighth month of the year.

And now they were up against it again without their skipper and Semenyo quickly drove in another volley which Sa saved at his near post.

Then Sa again came to the visitors rescue 20 minutes from time when he tipped over a 22-yard shot from Tyler Adams.

Substitute Justin Kluivert then drove wide of the post but by then Wolves already knew their August jinx had struck again.