A TRIO of second-half goals saw Leeds United come from behind to condemn Cherries to a dispiriting 3-1 defeat at Dean Court tonight.

The contest had started so well for Eddie Howe’s men with new signing Andrew Surman firing them ahead after just six minutes.

And an impressive first-half showing from Cherries suggested anything other than a resounding home victory would halt the hosts’ four-match winless run.

However, the visitors, searching for a first away win of the season, had other ideas and levelled midway through the second half through Souleymaine Doukara.

A disputed free-kick – superbly finished by Giuseppe Bellusci – put Leeds ahead eight minutes from time before his Italian compatriot Mirco Antenucci’s late goal completed Cherries’ misery.

Surman was drafted in for his first start since his deadline-day return to Dean Court as boss Howe made three changes to his starting line-up.

Former Leeds favourite Ian Harte and Ryan Fraser were also brought in with Eunan O’Kane, Marc Pugh and Charlie Daniels dropping to the bench.

Fraser was in the thick of the action early on, his left-foot strike acrobatically clawed past the post by Leeds goalkeeper Marco Silvestri inside the opening three minutes.

From the resultant corner, taken short, a cross from Simon Francis into the danger zone just eluded both Tommy Elphick and Steve Cook.

However, there was no let-off for the visitors after six minutes when Surman despatched a delightful curling shot past Silvestri to open the scoring.

The midfielder’s sublime finish into the bottom corner from just inside the 18-yard box was his first goal since he netted a consolation for Norwich in a 6-1 defeat by Manchester City in April 2012.

Silvestri was by far the busier of the two goalkeepers, the Italian forced to save low down at his near post after Matt Ritchie had let fly as Cherries went in search of a second.

And Ritchie again had Silvestri on his toes when he took aim with a blistering left-foot strike, the stopper tipping the winger’s drive over the crossbar.

Callum Wilson almost profited from a charitable refereeing decision when Andy D’Urso deemed he had fairly challenged Jason Pearce following a flick from Yann Kermorgant.

But despite going through with just Silvestri to beat, the Cherries striker was forced wide and eventually thwarted by the goalkeeper who smothered at his feet.

Cherries defended stoutly as Leeds mounted a couple of counter-attacks and a long-range effort from Tommaso Bianchi sailed high over Lee Camp’s head.

Although the visitors enjoyed a brief spell of possession, the first half had belonged to Cherries, their display including similar passages of play which had seen them rip apart Leeds last season.

Camp saved comfortably after Rodolph Austin had tried his luck early in the second half before Ritchie’s thumping drive took the wind out of Pearce’s sails.

Referee D’Urso waved away Cherries’ claims for a penalty after Ritchie had tangled with Stephen Warnock and did likewise after Billy Sharp had taken a tumble following an Elphick tackle.

Silvestri parried Fraser’s effort after Harte’s clever pass had teed up the Scotsman before Warnock blocked a Ritchie snapshot.

Leeds levelled midway through the second half when Doukara fired low past Camp after Bianchi’s pass had split the Cherries defence.

The visitors went close to adding a second almost immediately when Sharp weaved his way through, only for the former Southampton man to fluff his lines from close range.

Defender Bellusci, booked for a foul on Wilson, fired Leeds in front when he clipped a majestic free-kick into the top corner eight minutes from time.

Cherries could have justifiable claims that the award was contentious with Simon Francis appearing to have cleanly won the ball when he tackled Austin in the lead up to the free-kick.

Leeds added a third on the stroke of full-time when Antenucci was set free down the middle by Doukara’s pass, the Italian making no mistake with an assured right-foot finish.

Cherries: Camp, Francis, Cook, Elphick, Harte (Smith, 87), Fraser (Stanislas, 70), Arter (Pitman, 87), Surman, Ritchie, Kermorgant, Wilson. Unused subs: Daniels, Pugh, O’Kane, Flahavan (g/k).

Leeds: Silvestri, Berardi, Bellusci, Pearce, Warnock (Cooper, 75), Austin, Bianchi, Cook, Doukara, Sharp (Byram, 75), Antenucci. Unused subs: Adryan, Wootton, Tonge, Sloth, Taylor (g/k).

Booked: Bellusci.

Referee: Andy D’Urso (Essex).

Attendance: 9,307 (including 1,390 away supporters).