Cherries made three changes to the side defeated by Gillingham at the weekend. Brett Pitman and Josh Gowling missed the game injured while Sam Vokes was away on International duty. In came Jo Tessem and youth team debutants Josh McQuoid and Billy Franks.

Cherries: Forde, Bradbury, Franks (Finlay 77), Pearce, Cooper, Bartley, Hollands, Tessem, Gradel, McQuoid (Partington 90), Kuffour.
Subs: Pryce, Hutchings, Davidson.

Tranmere: Coyne, Stockdale, McLaren, Sherriff, Moore (Curran 84), Greenacre, Jennings (Kay 74), Chorley, Goodison, Taylor, Myrie-Williams (Zola 63).
Subs: Achterberg, Shuker.

Cherries made the best possible start by taking the lead after just forty seconds. A superb switch of play from Hollands released Gradel on the right flank. His cross was deflected into goal by Tranmere skipper Goddison with goalkeeper Coyne only able to look on.

Gradel seemed the main outlet for Cherries and was picked out excellently by debutant Billy Franks on ten minutes. The ball was pulled back to Tessem whose shot lacked direction in the driving rain.

Tranmere's first attempt at goal came on fifteen minutes. Jennison Myrie-Williams cut inside and powered low, but Josh McQuoid was back to block and concede just a corner.

Myrie-Williams was then denied by Franks before a ricochet off Andrew Taylor nearly caught out Forde as the ball cleared the bar.

That was all Tranmere could muster against Cherris youthful defence until the home side doubled their advantage. Jo Tessem won a header from a corner and as Tranmere failed to clear Jo Kuffour crept in to flick home his tenth goal of the season.

Half time: AFC Bournemouth 2-0 Tranmere Rovers

Tranmere presented Steve Jennings with a good chance three minutes into the second half. Bearing down on goal and under pressure from Franks, Jennings could only blast the ball over the top.

Max Gradel and Jo Kuffour combined to good effect eleven minutes into the half. Watched by two Tranmere players, Gradel slipped the ball through to Kuffour whose shot was well saved by Coyne.

Gradel's free kick from near the right corner flag a minute later found Pearce in the box and somehow his goalbound effort was cleared from the line by Tranmere with Cherries supporters already celebrating the goal.

By the hour mark it was David Forde's turn to pull off a wonder save. Ian Moore looked certain to score with a header, but Forde saved point blank showing lightening reflexes.

Tranmere held most of the ball in the closing stages, but offered little in front of goal. It was Danny Coyne who had to make the next save denying Max Gradel on a swift counter attack.
That move kicked Tranmere into with Stockdale and Greenacre both going close before the eighty minute mark.

The visitors looked a deflated side in the final ten minutes and with Cherries passing the ball about with ease, a Kay trip on Kuffour gave Hollands a chance from a free kick. He struck the ball low to Coyne's right, but the keeper followed his shot all the way.

Having missed a couple of chances on the break to make the game safe Tranmere managed to pull a goal back with five minutes remaining. Substitute Antony Kay rose unmarked to head in a free kick from the right.

Final Score: AFC Bournemouth 2-1 Tranmere Rovers