GOALS from Ryan Fraser and Callum Wilson fired Cherries to victory over Premier League new boys Cardiff City.

Fraser’s strike after a phase of neat passing set his side on their way to their first win in the opening game of a Premier League season since promotion in 2015.

Wilson failed to double the lead from the penalty spot after he was brought down by Bruno Ecuele Manga just after the half hour mark.

Cardiff struggled to test the home side from open play and were restricted to chances from set-pieces. Asmir Begovic made an important save from close range to deny Sean Morrison midway through the second half.

Wilson made amends for his penalty effort by scoring to put the game to bed with a smart finish in second half stoppage time.

Cherries were unchanged from their 5-2 pre-season victory against Marseille.

This meant Eddie Howe handed 21-year-old summer signing David Brooks a Premier League debut. Adam Smith started at right-back for the first time in a competitive game since injuring his knee against West Brom in March.

Club captain Simon Francis was named on the bench, with Andrew Surman taking the armband. England international Lewis Cook was also among the substitutes.

Diego Rico served the first of a three-game suspension carried over from his time with Leganes, while Jefferson Lerma was not fit enough to feature in the squad. The pair were introduced to the home crowd on the pitch ahead of kick-off.

Bobby Reid was the only one of Cardiff’s six new additions to feature in the starting line-up. Deadline day loan signing Harry Arter was ineligible to play against his parent club.

The first glimpse of Fraser in the opening minutes showed Cardiff just what they should fear in the top flight. A sprint from the slight winger was cut short by Lee Peltier. A yellow card followed from Kevin Friend in only the fourth minute.

The visitors showed early promise with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing delivering a teasing cross, but consistent pressure was sparse.

Wilson fashioned Cherries’ first shot in the 11th minute. The former Coventry man weaved away from Sol Bamba, created space for himself in the box and fired just wide of Neil Ethridge’s goal.

As the game began to pick up pace Reid flashed a speculative effort high and wide.

A cross from Fraser in the 23rd minute caused confusion among the Cardiff defence, before they managed to clear their lines.

The following minute Cherries broke the deadlock, with a well-worked team goal and the first shot on target in the contest.

Fraser started the move from the middle of the pitch when he found Joshua King in a pocket of space. The Norwegian international fed strike partner Wilson, who drove into the box before he cut it back into a dangerous area. Fraser had continued his run from deep and he tucked away the ball away.

Howe’s side started to find their groove. King collected on the edge of the penalty area. This time the 26-year-old tried his luck and dragged his effort wide of the far post.

Cherries were handed the opportunity to double their lead from the penalty spot ten minutes after their opener.

Charlie Daniels played Wilson through and it was the Bournemouth man who always looked to have the upper hand on Manga. The Cardiff defender tripped Wilson as the pair entered the box, the striker appealed and Friend awarded the penalty.

Wilson stepped up to take the spot-kick, but his low side-footed effort to Etheridge's left was met by the outstretched hand of the goalkeeper.

While Cherries’ defenders were spectators for most of the first half, a swept ball in from Joe Ralls eluded everyone in a red and black shirt. To the home side's relief Mendez-Laing was also unable to make contact at the far post. Daniels was cautioned by the referee after he brought down Junior Hoilett from behind in the final moment of note before the break.

The home side reasserted their dominance after the interval. Bamba somehow escaped a card for a high lunge on Fraser on the left wing.
Brooks won his side a free-kick with a neat piece of skill. Pressure from the home side then forced a pair corners in quick succession.

Cardiff finally came forward in the 15th minute of the second half to launch their best spell in the game. A scramble in the box resulted in a corner. Dutch international Nathan Ake headed clear. The visitors had another chance the following minute, but this time Steve Cook sent it away with his head.

Brooks had the goal at his mercy to score on his debut after a free-flowing counter. Daniels careered down the left and fed Fraser with a perfectly weighted ball. The Scot scurried beyond Sean Morrison with ease and fired a cross to Brooks. The pace of the ball made it difficult and he failed to send his header towards goal.

Neil Warnock made a double switch just after the hour, introducing Danny Ward and summer signing Josh Murphy for Mendez-Laing and Callum Paterson.

Murphy had an instant impact. He sent an acrobatic effort towards goal, which came to Morrison. The Cardiff captain flicked the ball towards goal, but Asmir Begovic was alert as he crucially flung himself at Morrison and delivered a crucial goal-line clearance.

Howe brought his own captain on from the bench with 23 minutes left. Francis replaced Brooks and Smith pushed forward into a more advanced role.

The 33-year-old's first involvement in the game was to bring down Ralls for a free-kick in a dangerous area. Reid stepped up and failed to direct his shot on goal.

Cardiff pressure continued through another corner. Morrison got his head to Mendez-Laing’s deep cross. Bamba attempted an overhead of his own, but Fraser put his head in the way to earn a free-kick.

As the rain continued to pour the game slipped into a scrappy affair.

Dan Gosling slid Wilson through beyond the Cardiff defence. The striker decided to try to pick out King rather than shoot at goal and the chance came to nothing. A deep free-kick from Fraser again found Wilson, but his glancing header bounced straight into Etheridge’s arms.

Cook was flattened by a clash of heads with Morrison as the visitors went in search of an equaliser in the final five minutes. The former Brighton man was able to continue after receiving treatment.

Wilson secured the victory in stoppage time. Francis wrestled the ball from Murphy. He then strode into the box, took his time and picked out Wilson who buried his first-time effort inside the far post in expert fashion.

CHERRIES (4-4-2): Begovic, Smith (Defoe 93), Ake, S Cook, Daniels, Brooks (Francis 67), Surman, Gosling, Fraser, Wilson (Mousset 93), King.

UNUSED SUBS: Boruc (g/k), Mings, L Cook, Ibe.

BOOKED: Daniels

CARDIFF CITY (4-5-1): Etheridge, Peltier, Manga, Morrison, Bennett, Mendez-Laing (Ward 62), Paterson (Murphy 62), Bamba Ralls, Hoilett, Reid (Madine 89)

UNUSED SUBS: Smithies (g/k), Richards, Cunningham, Camarasa.

BOOKED: Peltier

ATTENDANCE: 10,353