HALF-TIME substitutes Marcus Tavernier and Ryan Christie helped turn Cherries’ fortunes around as Gary O’Neil’s men came from behind to defeat Fulham 2-1.

Fulham had taken a first-half lead via Andreas Pereira after a comfortable 45 minutes that could have seen them further ahead.

The introduction of Tavernier and Christie at the break proved instrumental, the former curling home a beauty to restore parity five minutes into the second half.

Scottish international Christie then inadvertently provided the assist for the winner, his parried shot forced over the line by Dominic Solanke, although a Fulham defender might have had the final touch.

Gary O’Neil named an unchanged side for the third game in a row, hoping that the side defeated 3-0 at Aston Villa prior to the international break would bounce back.

Neither side were generating much of note during the opening stages, both attacks probing without success.

There were appeals for a foul when Dango Ouattara was bundled over one-on-one after 14 minutes, match official Peter Bankes deeming the coming together a tangle of legs outside the box.

It would be the away side that took the lead with the game’s first shot on target, Andreas Pereira finishing a passing move that tore Cherries’ right flank apart.

Manor Solomon was slipped in behind by Carlos Vinicius, the Israeli winger flashing by Adam Smith and passing the ball into the box for the awaiting Harrison Reed.

The midfielder laid it off for Pereira, who sent the ball into the bottom left corner to give his side the lead.

It could have been two quite easily when left-back Antonee Robinson was allowed to wind up his shot from range, the American smacking the crossbar.

The away side found frequent joy down the right-side of defence, Dango Ouattara constantly finding himself caught out between two Fulham players, meaning the Cottagers seemingly always had a free man.

Although his blushes would be spared by the offside flag, Ouattara fluffed his lines inside the box with the goal agape, the winger panicking and blasting the ball into the bar rather than placing it in the open corner.

After enduring a torrid time trying to follow O’Neil’s marking instructions, his head coach bellowing his name on multiple occasions, the Burkinabe’s afternoon was cut short at the break, being hauled off for Tavernier.

On the other flank Jaidon Anthony was replaced by Christie, and Cherries looked a better side for the changes immediately after the break.

The hosts took the game to Fulham, getting the ball out wide and hustling with intensity.

It produced their best chance of the game so far, but neither Billing, Solanke or Marcos Senesi could sort their feet out to tap home inside the six-yard box.

However, Cherries would restore parity moments later. A cleared corner fell to half-time sub Tavernier, the winger cooly slipping the ball onto his left before wrapping his foot around it and sending it into the top left corner.

Galvanised by the equaliser, Cherries looked for another. Solanke’s mazy run eventually ended in a shot, but by the time he had pulled the trigger, Fulham defender Issa Diop was well-positioned to block.

Tavernier drew a near-post save out of Leno, the German goalkeeper deflecting away the powerful drive.

After one half-time substitute had found a leveller, the other played a pivotal role in Cherries’ second 11 minutes from time.

Slipped in, Christie still had work to do as he drove into the box, the Scot forced out wide. He still forced Leno into a low save, the subsequent loose ball bundled over the line by a combination of Solanke and Robinson.

Cherries: Neto; Smith, Stephens, Senesi, Kelly; Lerma, Rothwell (Traore, 72), Billing; Ouattara (Christie, h-t), Anthony (Tavernier, h-t), Solanke (Semenyo, 90).

Subs: Travers (g/k), Cook, Brooks, Vina, Zabarnyi.

Booked: Lerma.

Fulham: Leno; Tete (Soares, 82), Ream, Diop, Robinson; Pereira (Lukic, , Reed (Cairney, 68), Palhinha (Wilson, 88); Solomon, Decordova-Reid (James, 68), Vinicius.

Unused subs: Rodak (g/k), Adarabioyo, Duffy, Francois.

Booked: Tete, Cairney, Robinson.