ARNAUT Danjuma’s first competitive goal for Cherries proved the difference as the hosts sealed a 3-2 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Vitality Stadium.

The Dutchman sent a sublime right-foot effort into the top corner seven minutes from time, adding to goals from Jack Stacey and Jefferson Lerma to give the hosts all three points.

Victory also sealed a first win in the Championship for new boss Jason Tindall, on the opening day of the campaign.

Just five members of Tindall’s XI survived from the club’s final starting line-up of last season at Everton – but six full internationals still took to the field for the hosts against Rovers.

Mark Travers got the nod in goal for the Dorset club, with Asmir Begovic left out of the squad all together.

There was also a first league start since New Year’s Day for central defender Chris Mepham, who had recovered from two knee operations in 2020 to line-up in the hosts’ backline.

Wales international David Brooks, who got through 76 minutes for his country against Bulgaria last week after an ankle injury, was named on the bench.

After both Adam Armstrong and Lewis Cook saw strikes sail wide early, the first real opening of the contest came on nine minutes.

Dominic Solanke was felled on the edge of the box by Rovers skipper Darragh Lenihan but the resulting free-kick from Junior Stanislas deflected off the wall to safety.

Blackburn had seen a fair amount of the ball throughout the opening quarter but it was Cherries who took the lead on 25 minutes.

A well-worked short corner routine found the former Luton man Stacey on the edge of the box, who drilled the ball into the corner of the net off the post past keeper Thomas Kaminski for his first Cherries goal. But Rovers were level four minutes before the break with a moment to forget for young stopper Travers.

Bradley Johnson’s effort from range appeared to be covered by the Maynooth-born keeper, but the 21-year-old could only palm the ball into his own net.

Rovers had a chance to gain the advantage early in the second half. After Steve Cook’s foul on Armstrong earned him a caution, midfielder Johnson sliced wide after the free-kick fell to him in the area.

But it was the hosts who regained their advantage on 53 minutes.

Stacey got forward to find Solanke inside the box and, instead of shaping to shoot, he teed up Lerma to drill into the corner.

That was to be the midfielder’s last act as, on a caution, he was replaced by Dan Gosling just before the hour mark.

Tindall’s side should have had a third but for some heroics from Kaminski in the visiting goal.

Stanislas slipped in Danjuma to pull the ball back for Solanke, whose strike was parried out by the Belgian keeper diving to his left.

Armstrong failed to hit the target when he could have brought Rovers level. Substitute Joe Rothwell burst into Cherries’ box and, after the ball flicked off Mepham, the striker could not keep his attempt down. But the former Newcastle United frontman was not to be denied as he levelled with 17 minutes remaining.

His neat turn and finish made it 2-2 after latching onto Ryan Nyambe’s cross from the right flank.

Tindall looked to the bench and switched to a back four in the closing stages, replacing Mepham with Brooks.

And despite the visitors having goal from Lewis Holtby flagged offside – it was Cherries who won it thanks to a moment of magic from Danjuma.

Similar to his goal against Benfica in pre-season last month, the Dutchman picked the ball up in the left channel before shifting onto his right foot and finding the top corner to win it.

Lloyd Kelly then put in a heroic block inside his own box for Cherries late on, ensuring Tindall’s men secured all three points.

Cherries: Travers, S Cook, Kelly, Mepham (Brooks, 77), Stacey, L Cook, Lerma (Gosling, 58), Smith, Stanislas (Billing, 85), Solanke, Danjuma.

Unused subs: Surridge, Ofoborh, Simpson, Dennis (g/k).

Booked: S Cook, Lerma

Blackburn: Kaminski, Nyambe, Lenihan, Williams, Bell, Travis (Evans, 86), Holtby, Johnson, Brereton (Dolan, 68), Armstrong, Rankin-Costello (Rothwell, 68).

Subs: Buckley, Wharton, Bennett, Fisher (g/k).

Booked: None

Referee: Gavin Ward