WHAT goes around, comes around. For Lee Bradbury, this result was his way of silencing those who had last week suggested it was time for change.

With potential new investors set to join forces with chairman Eddie Mitchell in the not too distant future, there is enough change going on at AFC Bournemouth without putting the manager’s head on the chopping block.

Indeed, if there is one place where a little routine and settled harmony is required, it is in a changing room that has been torn apart by player sales and a manager’s office that has metaphorically had its windows smashed in by fans calling for Bradbury to be sacked.

The Cherries boss, often questioned by a section of the Seward Stadium support over his tactical know-how and timing of key decisions, put two fingers up by getting his selection spot on at Deepdale.

In a starting line-up packed with attacking intent, only Stephen Purches in central midfield could have been considered a safety net. It was a brave selection for the second game on the bounce away from home.

For the first half-an-hour, however, neither side did much to justify the entrance fee.

Cherries were solid at the back, debutant Steve Cook shining alongside Adam Barrett during an insomnia-shattering opening. The hosts, meanwhile, probably had the best of the dour start, with Juvhel Tsoumou threatening and Danny Mayor creative in the North End midfield.

And it was Tsoumou who handed Phil Brown’s side the lead just before the half-hour mark.

The striker tapped home from close range after Mayor’s corner had been headed across the face of goal by Scott Malone and the ball had ricocheted into his path off the legs of defender Jaime Peters.

It looked as if the ‘rub of the green’ cliché would be rearing its ugly head again.

But Bradbury, despite being forced to replace injured Purches with Steven Gregory before half-time, kept faith with his other 10 starters when the two sides came out for the restart.

And what a start it was for the visitors.

Less than three minutes into the second period, Marc Pugh’s incisive through ball was picked up by Wes Thomas who proceeded to round North End keeper Iain Turner and slot home from a tight angle.

That goal alone left Brown’s side without a home clean sheet since August 27 and they proceeded to fold like a deck of cards.

With all the pressure coming from the visitors, Malone all but put the game beyond North End when he made it 2-1 just before the hour mark.

Cutting inside from the left flank, Malone’s initial shot from just inside the box was blocked, but the Wolves loanee was handed a massive slice of good fortune when the ball rebounded back into his path.

The Black Country-born star didn’t need asking twice and buried a fierce right-foot shot past Turner from inside the six-yard box.

Cherries were in the ascendancy and Bradbury resisted the urge to settle for what he had – urging his players forward once more.

Harry Arter’s curling free kick on 65 minutes was well saved by Turner, but things were about to go from bad to worse for Brown’s men.

Clarke Carlisle, on loan from Eddie Howe’s Burnley, failed to control Turner’s quick pass from the goalmouth and Pugh, loitering behind the defender, accepted his gift and simply passed the ball into the empty net to make it 3-1.

The goal was too much for some of the Deepdale faithful to bear, with many walking out of the ground as cries of “You’re not fit to wear the shirt” rung out from the stands.

Substitute Barry Nicholson did his best to reduce the arrears, but found Darryl Flahavan in inspired form, the Cherries keeper diving in bravely as Nicholson shaped to shoot 10 minutes from time.

And Flahavan, who in the first half had expertly tipped over Tsoumou’s rasping drive from distance, performed the same feat again in the 83rd minute as Paul Coutts let fly from outside the penalty area.

Despite those chances, though, Cherries never really looked in any danger during a second half performance that promised much ahead of Saturday’s clash against Scunthorpe – but don’t mention the ‘H’ word.

Indeed, a win on the road is hardly a surprise for Cherries these days, even at venues like Deepdale, and Bradbury won’t feel the dissenters have been nullified fully until Cherries’ shocking Seward Stadium form is put right.