CHERRIES stopped the rot with an improved performance against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, but it was not enough to seal all three points.

The hosts took a first-half lead via Jaidon Anthony, but they were unable to build on it, wasting gilt-edged chances before the break.

That allowed former Cherry Sam Surridge to come off the bench and convert Forest’s overwhelming second-half pressure, dragging Cherries into the relegation zone for the first time this campaign.

Here are four things we noticed from yesterday’s fixture:

Dango Debut

Bournemouth Echo:

All eyes were on Dango Ouattara after he was thrust into the starting line-up following his transfer from FC Lorient on Thursday.

With just one day of training and a language barrier to contest with, perhaps expectations were subdued, but the Burkinabè proved to be a livewire throughout the contest.

Unfazed by the Premier League, the winger constantly looked to beat his man with pace and try his luck – even if there were better options than shooting.

He clearly learnt as the game progressed, working out how he fits into the team and the demands of the English top flight.

Take for example his decision to shoot from a tight angle with Jaidon Anthony awaiting in the box.

The next time the pair found themselves in a similar position, he picked out his fellow winger, teeing up Anthony for the opener.

There were question marks over the relatively unproven 20-year-old and his capability for a relegation dog fight, but it appears the Burkina Faso international has no fear and a X-factor about him – commodities in short supply in a Cherries squad hampered by injury and low confidence.

Zemura-Anthony combo back on form

Bournemouth Echo:

Whilst Anthony and Ouattara appear to be building a decent rapport on either flank, the best bromance in Bournemouth continued to flourish.

There had been questions to whether the pairing of Jordan Zemura and Anthony could trouble Premier League defences in the same way they ripped apart Championship teams, the duo in and out of the starting line-up throughout the season.

Zemura and Anthony again proved to be a tricky combination for defenders, the pair drawing on their special connection to prove a handful for the Forest backline.

The overlapping run of the wing-back allows Anthony greater freedom to hesitate before picking his plan of attack, the winger using the run of Zemura to create space centrally.

When Anthony does supply Zemura the ball the Zimbabwean international can certainly do some damage with it himself – Kieffer Moore and Ryan Christie both provided with pin-point crosses that should have been converted.

Missed chances

Bournemouth Echo:

That is where Cherries came undone in the second-half – their lead too slender to defend for another 45 minutes.

They had brief forays going forward in the second period, but most of their efforts were on defending their goal from immense Forest pressure.

As mentioned, Zemura looked dangerous going forward in the first half, but the left-back was found out a few times defensively. However, in the second period he was much improved, chipping in with important interventions via a tackle and a block.

Cherries’ last-ditch defending needn’t have been the case if they had taken their early chances.

For all the praise he deservedly received above, Ouattara really should have teed up Anthony for a simple tap-in rather than try his luck at an audacious angle, whilst Moore should have at least hit the target with his unmarked header from the aforementioned Zemura cross.

Christie was also guilty of missing a decent headed chance, but in mild defence of the diminutive Scot, he is not the towering presence like his Welsh teammate Moore, and the cross was slightly behind the midfielder.

An increased effectiveness going forward hints at signs of recovery, but there is still plenty for Cherries to improve in order to start picking up wins again.

Still shaky at set-pieces

Bournemouth Echo:

Taking their chances is one of them, but defending set-pieces is another. There was a familiar groan when it seemed Ryan Yates had headed Forest into the lead in the first half at a free-kick.

A VAR check spared Cherries’ blushes, and whilst credit can be given for catching the attacking team offside, the fact is that Yates had free roam to nod home, a worrying thought.

A few other dead ball scenarios caused Cherries to panic in the first half, with the hosts just about dealing with the Tricky Trees at corners and free-kicks.

After shipping 13 goals from set plays in the Prem this season, Cherries fans will continue to have hearts in mouths when opposing teams have the opportunity to whip a dead ball into the box.

(All pictures: Richard Crease)