CHERRIES returned to the top of the Championship table with a completely dominant 2-0 win over hapless Bristol City.

Jamal Lowe opened from close range on his first start for Cherries, unfurling a shirt in support of his teammate David Brooks during the celebration, before a Jordan Zemura super solo run deep into first-half injury time sealed all three points for Cherries.

Cherries arrived at Ashton Gate an unbeaten side but the midweek news was dominated by the sad announcement of star Brooks’ Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis – with the thoughts of everyone displayed as every squad member emerged for the warm-ups in ‘Brooks 7’ shirts.

West Brom had ousted Cherries from the top of the table on goal difference with a 1-0 win over Birmingham on Friday, with any result returning Scott Parker’s side to the summit.

But opposition manager Nigel Pearson has steadied what was a bit of a sinking ship at Bristol City, after they had sacked Lee Johnson and then his successor and former no.2, Dean Holden, in the last two seasons.

To take on his side, Parker named three changes with the first start of Jamal Lowe, Jack Stacey replacing Adam Smith at right-back and Gavin Kilkenny given another chance in central midfield over Ben Pearson. Jefferson Lerma’s international involvement saw him rested for the start, leaving quite an attacking trio and an opportunity for a key battle in the game to emerge.

However, the complexion of that battle changed within the first quarter-of an-hour when the hosts lost one of their most combative midfielders in Joe Williams to injury, replaced by forward Nahki Wells.

The added firepower didn’t swing in their favour, after a bundled ball into the area was turned home from close range by Lowe to put Cherries ahead after just 20 minutes of action – but it was all about the celebration.

The Jamaican international, celebrating his first goal for the club, lifted a Brooks shirt high and received applause even from the South Stand-seated Bristol City fans he was showing it too.

The hosts should have been level through substitute Wells, but he could only turn a ball that was fizzed in to him from close range wide and over. Gary Cahill then found himself in the book before half-time for a sliding foul on Callum O’Dowda.

But he’d be going into half-time with a big smile on his face, watching Zemura latch onto a raking pass from Ryan Christie and dribble into the area, smashing the two-goal cushion right into the roof of Dan Bentley’s net deep into two minutes of additional time.

The second half was glum for any supporter of the home side. Christie, Philip Billing, Dominic Solanke – everyone took turns to pepper the City goal and there was seemingly nothing they could do to stop it.

Parker was active on the touchline encouraging his side to not give up on a single ball, paying off with total control for 15 minutes after the whistle.

There was a mini-resurgence from the hosts then, though, twice coming close to reaching open balls fizzed across Mark Travers’ goal before left-back Dasilva had a vicious shot blocked behind for a corner – Cherries had to be careful with the home side getting their tails back up.

Lerma was called upon to settle down the affair, replacing goalscorer Lowe on the 63rd minute.

Lloyd Kelly was booked for pulling down countering Chris Martin on the halfway line, on his return to the club where he spent nearly a decade after being unearthed as a schoolboy in the local area, showing the dirty side to the game that Parker also requires.

The hosts played the final 15 with a man short after injury to Andy King. Solanke had one cleared off the line late, before a scramble to clear inside the area then saw shots blocked again by diving defenders – it’s almost impossible to believe it ended with Cherries just the two goals to the good.

Cherries XI: Travers; Stacey, Cahill, Kelly ©, Zemura; Kilkenny, Billing (Stanislas 80’), Christie (Rogers 87’); Lowe (Lerma 63’), Solanke, Anthony

Unused subs: Mepham, Davis, Marcondes, Nyland (g/k)

Booked: Cahill, Kelly

Bristol City XI: Bentley ©; Tanner, Kalas, Baker, Pring (Bakinson 65’), King, Williams (Wells 13’), James, O’Dowda (Dasilva (46’), Weimann, Martin

Subs: Simpson, Scott, Palmer, O’Leary (g/k)