Marcus Tavernier’s early goal was enough to give AFC Bournemouth their first win of the Premier League season as they defeated 10-man Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Having given defending champions Liverpool a run for their money in the season opener at Anfield, Bournemouth were dominant on their return to Vitality Stadium.
A deflected Tavernier strike could have been followed by further goals, and Wolves’ hopes of rescuing an unlikely point took a hit when Toti Gomes was sent off early in the second half.
Although Bournemouth’s profligate performance set up a nervy finish, they held on for a deserved victory.
Wolves are still without a goal or a point, after suffering back-to-back defeats.
How the match unfolded
There were early missed chances at either end before Bournemouth found the net in the fourth minute. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde was caught in possession and Antoine Semenyo teed up Tavernier, whose low shot was deflected by Emmanuel Agbadou before going in off the underside of the crossbar.
Bournemouth should have doubled their lead when Semenyo rattled the crossbar from close range, although only a strong save from Djordje Petrovic, denying Jorgen Strand Larsen, kept them in front at half-time.
Wolves boss Vitor Pereira responded with two changes at the break, and substitute Hugo Bueno was immediately involved with a cutback that the unmarked Jhon Arias blazed narrowly wide.
However, Wolves’ momentum was swiftly halted when captain Toti brought down Evanilson as he ran through on goal and was shown a red card.
Semenyo was wasteful again as he blazed over, while Jose Sa made an athletic stop to deny Tyler Adams from distance, but Bournemouth were not to be punished for failing to find an elusive second goal.
Iraola’s men have lift off for the season
Despite the 4-2 defeat, there had been encouraging signs from Bournemouth at Liverpool, providing a constant threat in attack and showing great fight to come from two goals down before the Reds’ late show.
Andoni Iraola’s side showed their attacking intent from the outset again on Saturday, pressing high and forcing their opponents into early errors.
This aggression contributed to the decisive goal, with Adams making a key interception deep inside the Wolves half and kicking off an attacking move that was finished, with a little help from Agbadou, by Tavernier.
Bournemouth look to have plenty of options going forward, with new recruit Adrien Truffert energetic again from left-back and Amine Adli showing promise making his debut as a second-half substitute.
A new-look defence are perhaps yet to prove their credentials, rarely tested after Toti’s red card, but a clean sheet will be welcome at this early stage, regardless.
Iraola will now hope Bournemouth can continue their form into the EFL Cup clash with Brentford and a league trip to Tottenham Hotspur beyond that.
Two defeats from two for Wolves
If Bournemouth took encouragement from their opening defeat, the same was perhaps not true of Wolves, who were bottom of the pile after Matchweek 1 as Manchester City won 4-0 at Molineux.
Pereira saw little by way of a reaction from his side, though, lacking bite in midfield and creating little before half-time outside of a Strand Larsen header.
The Wolves No 9 has been linked with a move away from the club, but having already lost Matheus Cunha, a team without a goal through two matches surely cannot afford to let him go.
Strand Larsen would have hoped to have greater support in the second half, with Bueno pushing forward down the left and new signing Jackson Tchatchoua already on for the injured Ki-Jana Hoever on the opposite flank.
But the red card gave Wolves an uphill battle they could not overcome, with injuries and suspensions meaning problems are already mounting for Pereira.
Home matches against West Ham and Everton in the cup and league respectively over the coming week will have to provide a springboard for their season.
Club reports
Bournemouth report | Wolves report