Caretaker Manager Joe Roach has made a number of changes to the side defeated by Port Vale and gives Jeff Goulding a full debut.

Cherries: Jalal, Cummings, Bradbury, Pearce, Cooper, Hollands, Anderton (Bartley 77), Wagstaff, Igoe (Partington 84), Pitman, Goulding (McQuoid 63).
Subs: Pryce, Ward.

Bristol Rovers: Phillips, Green (Hinton 77), Anthony, Elliott, Lescott, Lines, Disley, Campbell, Hughes (Rigg 61), Lambert, Duffy (Hunt 72).
Subs: Green, Parrinello.

Att: 2,220

Ricky Lambert had the first chance of the game for the visitors with a low near post drive. Shwan Jalal did well did get a strong fist to the ball and divert it behind for a corner.

Igoe then had a shot out of nowhere twenty-five yards out after Goulding had created the opportunity. On eight minutes it was Wagstaff's turn to trouble the Rovers keeper with a low shot to Phillips' left hand side.

By ten minutes Wagstaff turned creater with an inviting cross that Pitman reached at the back post only to shoot over the bar. The Charlton loanee was at the centre of almost every Cherries attack and later he laid the ball on a plate for Hollands to strike goalwards from eighteen yards.

On thirty-five minutes Bournemouth should have been a goal up. Brett Pitman chased a forward ball and did well to beat Steve Phillips to the touch on the edge of the area. His initial header was blocked off the line, but instead of giving Sammy Igoe a tap-in from the rebound Pitman attempted the goal himself and duly missed the target.

A minute later debutant Jeff Goulding showed Pitman how it should be done. A corner to the six yard box was flicked on by Darren Anderton and headed into the unguarded section of Steve Phillips goal by the former non-league striker.

Half time: AFC Bournemouth 1-0 Bristol Rovers

Pitman and Goulding linked up well shortly into the second half with the Jerseyman providing an incisive ball across the box for the debutant. However a blue shirted defender nicked in front of Goulding to tap the ball safely behind and out of play.

Rovers first chance of the second half came as Lescott pumped a cleared corner back into the penalty area. Byron Anthony beat Anderton in the air and headed onto the roof of the net over the bar.

Wagstaff ccould have created a hat-trick of goals by the sixty-first minute when a delightful chip gave Goulding a headed opportunity that also landed onto the roof of the net.

Twenty minutes into the second half Bournemouth doubled their advantage. Danny Hollands' threaded pass sent substitute Josh McQuoid away on the right hand side. McQuoid did what Pitman failed to do in the first half and set the ball up for Sammy Igoe who simply directed the ball into goal and score his first in Bournemouth colours.

A wonderfully worked move on seventy-one minutes nearly added a third Cherries goal. McQuoid's persistence kept the ball in play by the corner flag and Igoe offered his support. The ball fell for Brett Pitman whose fierce shot narrowly cleared the far post.

Danny Hollands capitalised on a woeful defensive error to make it 3-0. Steve Elliott's header was neither a clearance or backpass and Hollands strolled through to apply the finish and get off the mark for the season.

Two thumping shots from Sammy Igoe then caused more havoc as Cherries won a succession of corners in search for a fourth. Igoe was then replaced by Partington and he received a standing ovation from both sets of fans including congratulation from Rovers Manager Paul Trollope.

Ricky Lambert was close to scoring a consolation for Rovers late on, but a superb block from Jason Pearce kept the clean sheet intact.

Final Score: AFC Bournemouth 3-0 Bristol Rovers