BOSS Eddie Howe insists there was “positives” for strikers Benik Afobe and Lys Mousset, as the duo both found the net in the 3-1 friendly win at Yeovil.

A double from Afobe either side of the interval added to Mousset’s leveller, which ensured Howe’s side recorded their fourth victory of pre-season.

Asked about his attacking threats, Cherries boss Howe told the Daily Echo: “Benik I think has always had that ability and it’s good to see Lys score again, it was important for him to follow up on his early season work.

“There’s positives for those guys and I think it’s great to see your strikers score.”

Cherries named Adam Federici in goal for the encounter, with Baily Cargill, Andrew Surman, Mousset and Afobe all included in the starting XI as changes from Sunday’s home friendly against Valencia.

Asmir Begovic, Steve Cook, Connor Mahoney, Dan Gosling and Jermain Defoe were the players to make way.

In difficult conditions, it only took the visitors five minutes to force the first shot on goal.

Harry Arter headed into the path of Marc Pugh, whose effort from 25 yards forced keeper Artur Krysiak into making a fine save diving to his right. Brad Smith then advanced forward from left-back and his cross was tipped away by the Polish stopper.

Mousset then had an opportunity to open the scoring for Cherries. After breaking free inside the area, he could not quite lift the ball over the onrushing Krysiak, who smothered well after racing off his line.

With Cherries well on top, it was the home side who took a surprise lead on 15 minutes. A corner from Otis Khan, which drifted on the breeze, was nodded in by Keston Davies.

Cherries then tried to respond and it was midfielder Andrew Surman who came close to levelling on 29 minutes. After some neat build-up, he was teed up on the edge of the box and struck a curling effort which was palmed away.

But it was Mousset who made the game level just one minute later. He latched on to a well-played reverse ball from Fraser, chipped the ball over Krysiak and into the net.

And, after restoring parity, the Dorset club made it 2-1 in their favour on 35 minutes. After Ake’s header from Fraser’s corner was spilled by the goalkeeper, Afobe pounced on the loose ball to fire into the roof of the net.

Mousset continued to look lively and he came within inches of notching his second two minutes before the break. Turning his man inside and out, the Frenchman rattled the woodwork with a fierce right-footed effort.

It was Afobe who sealed his brace however, as Cherries started the second half in cruise control. A clinical move on 54 minutes allowed the former Arsenal man to tuck home Pugh’s cutback.

As the half wore on, Cherries continued to move the ball around nicely on the slick surface. Afobe did not quite connect with a volley on the angle, while Fraser forced a sharp stop when racing through on the angle.

Cherries: Federici (Ramsdale, 72); A Smith (Worthington, 72), Cargill (Simpson, h-t), Ake, B Smith (Butcher, 72); Fraser, Arter, Surman, Pugh; Mousset, Afobe. Unused subs: Dobre, Whitfield, Cornick, Taylor, Surridge

Referee: John Busby

Attendance: 3,473 (including 1,013 away supporters)