SLOPPY defending proved costly as Cherries squandered a half-time lead to lose 4-3 against Lazio in their first home friendly of pre-season.

Goals from Jefferson Lerma and Dominic Solanke had cancelled out an early Joaquin Correa strike to put the hosts ahead at the break.

But poor play at the back after the restart allowed the Italians to run in three unanswered goals with Correa netting again as well as Luis Alberto and Marco Parolo.

Jack Stacey pulled one back late on with a brilliant strike into the top corner, but it was not enough to prevent a second defeat of the summer for Cherries.

Eddie Howe welcomed back Charlie Daniels for his first appearance since March following kneecap surgery while Andrew Surman also returned after a minor knock kept him out of last weekend’s friendlies.

And Cherries were quickly on the attack at Vitality Stadium, almost taking the lead in comical fashion when goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha cleared straight into his own man Denis Vavro, but the ball bounced just wide.

The clearest early chance arrived on eight minutes when Lerma slipped the ball through to Jordon Ibe, who raced clear from the halfway line but dragged his shot past the post.

Lazio responded with Senad Lulic curling past Mark Travers, but the flag was up for offside.

Solanke then saw an effort charged down before the deadlock was broken on 15 minutes after Ciro Immobile slipped the ball through for Correa, who prodded beneath Travers from a tight angle.

But the lead was short-lived. Moments after Stacey had fired wide after good work by Ibe, the Italians conceded possession through Vavro, allowing Surman to roll the ball to Lerma, who smashed in low from 20 yards.

Travers was quickly called into action at the other end to thwart Immobile before Cherries got their noses in front.

Ryan Fraser was the provider, clipping an inviting cross towards the back post, which was nodded in from close-range by Solanke.

Lazio looked to have equalised just three minutes later as Immobile cut inside Matt Butcher and fired in, but the effort was ruled out for a handball following consultation with VAR.

Immobile looked desperate for a goal before the break and saw an effort turned onto the bar by Travers before also dragging a shot wide as Cherries went into the break ahead.

But Lazio wasted little time in levelling the contest after the restart. Stacey was the culprit, giving the ball away just outside his own box and Alberto gobbled up the opportunity, lashing beyond substitute Asmir Begovic.

And it was more slack defending which handed the visitors the lead on 54 minutes. Stefan Radu was given time and space to deliver a cross, which was met by Parolo, who ghosted in between Simpson and Daniels to head in unmarked.

A fourth goal duly arrived with 15 minutes to play when Simpson lost out inside his own box and Correa took advantage, tucking past Begovic.

Cherries did rally and halved the deficit after Ibe threaded the ball through to Stacey in the box to fire into the top corner.

But the hosts could not find a fourth goal and slipped to a narrow defeat.

Cherries host Lyon tomorrow (3.30pm).

Cherries: Travers (Begovic, h-t); Mepham, Butcher (Surridge, 77), Simpson; Stacey, Lerma, Surman (Dobre, 66), Daniels (Jordan, 80); Ibe, Fraser; Solanke.

Unused subs: Zemura, Sherring, Ofoborh, Dennis (g/k).