CHERRIES surrendered a 2-0 lead but claimed a valuable point from an entertaining 2-2 draw with Premier League rivals Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium.

Eddie Howe’s team had by far the better of the game in south Wales and were on course to end their winless run before they were pegged back.

Joshua King opened the scoring and his goal account for Cherries when he prodded home from close range after 10 minutes.

And the visitors doubled their lead midway through the first half when Dan Gosling finished a superb team move with a precision shot into the roof of the net.

However, Swans reduced the deficit through Andre Ayew’s cheeky back heel before levelling thanks to Jonjo Shelvey’s hotly-disputed penalty in the 39th minute.

Steve Cook was restored to the starting line-up as boss Eddie Howe made one change following Cherries’ 1-0 defeat by Newcastle.

Cook came in at the heart of the Cherries defence to partner Sylvain Distin with skipper Simon Francis shuffling across to right-back.

Distin, who holds the record for the most appearances in the top flight by a non-UK outfield player, made his 450th start in the Premier League.

The first shooting chance fell to Gosling who lifted his effort over the crossbar following neat approach play involving King and Junior Stanislas.

King drew first blood when he tapped the ball home from close range having been picked out by a cross from the right by Stanislas.

The Norwegian’s first goal for the club owed much to Stanislas who seized on Kyle Bartley’s poor clearance before providing the assist.

Cherries were then indebted to Adam Federici for two top-drawer saves in quick succession, the Australian firstly diverting Wayne Routledge’s shot past the post.

Federici also reacted smartly to scoop away a header from Eder after the striker had arrived to meet an Ashley Williams flick following a corner.

King capitalised on a slip by Leon Britton and raced towards goal, only to fire straight at Swans goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.

An effort by Stanislas was ruled out for offside after he had strayed behind the Swans defence to sweep home a cross from Francis.

Federici hared off his line to beat Eder to Harry Arter’s wayward back pass before Gosling doubled Cherries’ lead midway through the first half.

The midfielder timed his run to perfection and placed a right-foot shot into the roof of the net from 12 yards after being teed up by Ritchie’s inviting pass.

However, Cherries’ two-goal cushion was short-lived as Swans halved the deficit within two minutes through Ayew.

The Ghanaian international cleverly back heeled the ball past Federici after Shelvey had nodded it back into the danger zone following a Neil Taylor cross.

Swans had a penalty appeal waved away after a shot from Ki Sung-Yueng had struck Cook before a second spot-kick shout was given by referee Andre Marriner.

The official pointed to the spot and judged Francis to have felled Ayew, even though the player appeared to have fallen over his own feet.

Shelvey squeezed the resultant penalty into the bottom corner, despite the best efforts of Federici who guessed correctly by diving to his left.

Fabianski saved comfortably after Arter had let fly from distance early in the second half before Ritchie was fortunate to escape a second booking for a foul on Leon Britton.

Cook saw his low drive flash across the face of the goalmouth after Stanislas’s corner had fallen for him before Ritchie’s shot was blocked by a defender.

Defender Cook again got in on the act when his volley flew over the crossbar, while Federici punched clear following a dangerous cross from Jefferson Montero.

Adam Smith’s brave block charged down Shelvey’s effort before the England midfielder blazed another chance high into the stand.

Swans appealed in vain for a penalty after Williams had gone to ground late on, while Shelvey was booked for a vicious tackle on Arter.

Cherries: Federici, Francis, Cook, Distin, Daniels, Stanislas, Arter (MacDonald, 90), Surman, Gosling, Ritchie (Smith, 79), King (Murray, 86).

Unused subs: Kermorgant, O’Kane, Cargill, Allsop (g/k).

Booked: Ritchie, Stanislas.

Swans: Fabianski, Naughton, Bartley, Williams, Taylor, Ayew, Sung-Yueng, Shelvey, Britton (Sigurdsson, 70), Routledge (Montero, 70), Eder (Gomis, 74).

Unused subs: Rangel, Cork, Fernandez, Tremmel (g/k).

Booked: Bartley, Sigurdsson, Shelvey.

Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands).

Attendance: 20,878.