AFC Bournemouth: Three things we learned from the 3-1 defeat to Stoke City

MONEY BUYS YOU QUALITY ON THE CONTINENT

Stoke parted with £12million for Xherdan Shaqiri last summer and the Potters appear to have got what they paid for.

The trickery and technique of the former Inter Milan and Bayern Munich star made him a constant thorn in the side of the Cherries defence.

Shaqiri was involved in Giannelli Imbula’s stunning opener and then provided the inch-perfect cross from which Joselu nodded home the visitors’ third.

YOU CAN’T PLAY INTO THE OPPOSITION’S HANDS

Far too often in the first half, home defenders were getting over the halfway line before finding that they did not have a pass to play.

Cherries were too static and for a disciplined visiting side, it was easy to defend against.

The introduction of Matt Ritchie and Joshua King made a difference in an attacking sense in the second period, but after Cherries fell three goals behind it was too much to overcome.

THE PREMIER LEAGUE DOESN’T GET ANY EASIER

Stoke might have been on a bad run having not scored in more than six hours of league football before their visit to Dorset – but those who expected a home victory got a rude awakening.

Despite their recent form, the Potters are a quality side with plenty of attacking talent and an experienced manager.

The Britannia Stadium outfit still have a shot at earning European football next season so they were never going to be a pushover. And so it proved.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

It might come as little consolation to Cherries fans but Ritchie’s second-half goal was as sweetly-struck as you could have wished.

Charlie Daniels’s inside pass was typically accurate and on another day, Ritchie might have celebrated more extravagantly at the spectacular effort.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

Referee Graham Scott too often allowed Stoke’s gamesmanship to go unpunished.

The man in the middle could have put a stop to the visitors’ tactics earlier with one or two stronger decisions.