CHERRIES missed the chance to return to the top of the Championship after they were shocked in a 3-2 defeat by bottom side Derby at Pride Park.

Jason Knight’s header had put Wayne Rooney’s Rams ahead before goals from Jaidon Anthony and Dominic Solanke sent Cherries in ahead at the break.

But a Tom Lawrence double, the second coming from the penalty spot, meant the Dorset club were beaten in the league for just the second time this season.

Defeat left Scott Parker’s side a point behind Fulham, who beat Barnsley on Saturday.

The big team news for Cherries was Lloyd Kelly missing out of the squad through injury, meaning Gary Cahill captained the side.

Steve Cook was also recalled to the bench for the first time in the league this season.

Lewis Cook was making his first Championship start for 261 days since suffering a serious knee injury against Preston in March. He came in for Gavin Kilkenny, who dropped to the bench.

There was no place for Junior Stanislas, Robbie Brady or Ben Pearson in Scott Parker’s squad. Youngster Nathan Moriah-Welsh was among the substitutes.

Derby went into the contest still on negative points for the campaign, having been docked nine more for breaching the EFL’s profitability and sustainability rules.

Cherries had not conceded in the league away from home since August 14, but they were behind on 13 minutes at Pride Park.

After Leif Davis had blocked the ball out for a corner, the delivery was swung in perfectly by Max Bird for the head of Knight to head in unchallenged from inside the box.

But a real unforced error from the hosts put Cherries back level at 1-1 six minutes later.

After a heavy touch from keeper Kelle Roos trying to play out from a goal-kick, Anthony won the ball back for Cherries inside the box.

And following strikes from Ryan Christie and Anthony which were charged down, the latter slotted home after the ball came off Bird in the area, to level up the contest.

The Rams were then forced into a change midway through the first half. Sam Baldock was forced off with an injury meaning Colin Kazim-Richards was brought on.

After a foul from Philip Billing, Derby again tried to threaten with a set-piece. A dangerous free-kick sent in towards veteran centre-back Curtis Davies was gathered by visiting keeper Mark Travers.

But Cherries took the lead with an impressive team move on 38 minutes. Leif Davis’s neat give-and-go with Anthony allowed him to maraud forward from left back.

Driving at the Derby defence, the Leeds loanee’s pass allowed Jefferson Lerma to pick out the run of Solanke, who applied a cool finish to make it 2-1 to the visitors at the interval.

Philip Billing then picked up a caution for hoofing the ball away after it had gone out of play early in the second period. The yellow card meant he would miss Wednesday’s clash at Millwall.

The Rams then grabbed an equaliser just after the hour mark.

Skipper Lawrence, who was linked with Cherries last week, found space on the right to cut inside and bend the ball into the far corner.

And it was Lawrence who made it 3-2 to the Rams seven minutes later. After Jack Stacey brought down Graeme Shinnie in the box, referee Gavin Ward immediately pointed to the spot.

Up stepped Lawrence to convert past Travers and give the hosts the advantage.

Visiting boss Parker then looked to the bench and brought on Jamal Lowe and Morgan Rogers in place of Davis and Lerma.

Kazim-Richards almost added a fourth for Derby with a diving header which was sent wide, before Solanke’s neat turn and shot was wide of the post at the other end.

Cherries carved out a huge chance in the latter stages. Anthony’s cross for Billing left the Dane unchallenged at the back post – but he failed to get his header on target.

Cherries: Travers, Stacey, Cahill, Mepham, Davis (Lowe, 75), L Cook (Kilkenny, 61), Lerma (Rogers, 75), Billing, Christie, Solanke, Anthony.

Unused subs: S Cook, Marcondes, Moriah-Welsh, Nyland (g/k).

Booked: Billing.

Derby: Roos, Shinnie, Jagielka, Bird, Baldock (Kazim-Richards, 22), Lawrence, Buchanan (Forsyth, 90+4), Davies, Ebosele (Stearman, 84), Knight, Thompson.

Unused subs: Jozwiak, Morrison, Kellyman, Allsop (g/k).

Booked: None.

Referee: Gavin Ward.