FORMER Cherries man Harry Wilson came back to haunt his previous loan club, as Jason Tindall’s side were made to settle for a 1-1 Championship draw with Cardiff.
Wilson, who featured 35 times for Cherries on loan from Liverpool last season, started for the first time for the Bluebirds - having joined them late last Friday.
And he found a second-half equaliser to cancel out Dominic Solanke’s opener – the point meant the Dorset club have picked up 12 points from their opening six league games.
Cherries made two changes from the side that played out a goalless draw against Queens Park Rangers last time out.
Creative duo Arnaut Danjuma and Junior Stanislas returned to the starting XI, with Lewis Cook and Sam Surridge dropping to the bench.
There was still no place among the substitutes for Joshua King, David Brooks and Lloyd Kelly as they continued to nurse injuries – but Philip Billing did return to the matchday group after being left out at the weekend.
New loan recruit Cameron Carter-Vickers was not named in the travelling squad, having joined on domestic transfer deadline day last week.
It took Wilson – playing in the number 10 role - just 18 seconds to have an effort against his former club, dragging a shot wide of the post as the hosts looked to catch Cherries’ backline cold.
Cherries’ first attempt on goal came on seven minutes. After Jefferson Lerma won back possession in midfield, the ball broke kindly for Danjuma to drive at the home defence.
Shifting the ball onto his right foot, the Dutchman’s shot was comfortably gathered by Alex Smithies in the home goal.
And it was then the turn of Adam Smith to advance forward for Tindall’s men as they looked to create the opener.
Good work from Danjuma saw him find the marauding left wing-back, who gained half a yard of space away from Will Vaulks before seeing his fizzing strike beaten away by the Cardiff keeper.
The Bluebirds were not short of chances themselves during the opening quarter, however.
Junior Hoilett blazed over following a half-cleared free-kick, before Vaulks failed to keep an effort down after being teed up by Liverpool loanee Sheyi Ojo.
Lerma, who was showing his energy in the middle of the park for Cherries, then almost added to his goal haul for the campaign just before the half an hour mark.
After Stanislas failed to connect with a pull-back from the right, the Colombian’s low drive was well held by keeper Smithies.
But the former Levante star was to play a part in what proved to be the opener for Cherries on 35 minutes. Lerma threaded a perfectly-weighted ball for Jack Stacey to meet, having surged forward from right wing-back.
His drilled cross found Solanke to slot home his second goal of the campaign and put the visitors 1-0 up.
Cardiff could have had a rapid response, however - it almost came through that man Wilson.
After Rico lost out to Ojo, Wales international Wilson found space to shoot just wide of Asmir Begovic’s left-hand post.
But it was the visitors who had the opportunity to double their lead at the start of the second half. After Solanke battled in the final third, Danjuma’s backheel played in Stacey, who smashed the ball into the side netting.
Danjuma continued to cause havoc – this time drifting over to the right before squaring for Stanislas. His deflected strike was just wide.
Solanke then must have thought he had got his second just before the hour mark.
Danjuma slid in Stacey on the counter who unselfishly pulled the ball back for the Cherries striker – his close-range attempt was tipped onto the bar by Smithies and fell to safety.
But it was Cardiff who then applied the pressure and almost profited from the set-piece prowess of Wilson.
Diego Rico fouled Robert Glatzel on the edge of the box, allowing the Liverpool loanee the chance to take aim. Wilson’s vicious free-kick was pushed onto the bar by Begovic.
He was not to be denied once again however, as the Bluebirds got their leveller on 62 minutes. Ojo won the ball back on the left flank, allowing Hoilett the chance to cut back across goal.
There was Wilson to drill into the bottom corner past Begovic from the edge of the box. The Wrexham-born star modestly celebrating against his former loan club.
Tindall’s side then went agonisingly close to regaining their advantage. After Lerma was clattered by Sean Morrison on the edge of the box, Stanislas placed down the resulting free-kick.
His fierce strike rattled the crossbar with keeper Smithies nowhere near it.
Solanke then failed to take a glorious opportunity as the visitors pushed to win it. Smith’s precise centre was planted on the head of the frontman – who nodded wide of the near post unchallenged.
Tindall then looked to the bench and introduced Rodrigo Riquelme for his Cherries debut. Surridge then replaced Solanke up front.
A final chance then came for the visitors in stoppage time. Surridge’s miskick saw Smith fly into a challenge with keeper Smithies in the box. The defender limped off late on despite giving away a free-kick, as the game ended level.
Cherries: Begovic; Mepham, S Cook, Rico; Stacey, Lerma, Gosling, Smith (Simpson, 90+2); Stanislas, Solanke (Surridge, 87), Danjuma (Riquelme, 84).
Subs: Ofoborh, Billing, L Cook, Travers (g/k).
Booked: None
Cardiff: Smithies, Bacuna, Morrison, Nelson, Bagan; Pack (Ralls, 69), Vaulks; Ojo (Murphy, 79), Wilson, Hoilett; Glatzel (Moore, 72).
Unused subs: Benkovic, Whyte, Bamba, Phillips (g/k).
Booked: Morrison, Ralls.
Referee: Simon Hooper.
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