LEWIS Grabban’s finely-taken double helped Cherries mark their return to the Championship with a stirring victory over Charlton today.

Grabban paved the way for the Dean Court win when he headed home the opener after 26 minutes, the striker’s first goal since February.

And although Yann Kermorgant levelled for the Addicks just after half-time, Grabban’s stunning second deservedly won the day for Cherries.

It was Cherries’ first home league victory over the south Londoners in 40 years, with Charlton finishing with 10 men following the dismissal of Bradley Pritchard.

New signings Elliott Ward and Mohamed Coulibaly were both handed their debuts as injuries impacted on boss Eddie Howe’s first selection of the season.

Striker Brett Pitman, who tweaked his hamstring against Real Madrid a fortnight ago, was deemed fit enough only for the bench, while Matt Ritchie was again sidelined.

Ward came in at the heart of the Cherries defence alongside Steve Cook, with skipper Tommy Elphick also named on the bench, while Coulibaly started on the right flank.

Charlton included former Cherries defender Rhoys Wiggins and new loan signing Marvin Sordell from Bolton, a striker who had been rumoured to have been a target for Howe.

Sordell was quickly in the thick of the action, heading a Mark Gower corner over the crossbar before Callum Harriott blazed well wide as the hosts started brightly.

Cherries responded when Coulibaly, signed last month from Grasshoppers, poked a right-foot effort narrowly wide of the upright.

Despite forcing a flurry of corners early on, Cherries were unable to fashion any chances as the Addicks stood firm at the back.

Chances were at a premium during the opening skirmishes with Charlton striker Kermorgant side-footing wide from distance after 20 minutes.

However, Cherries broke the deadlock after 26 minutes when Grabban planted a header past the flat-footed Hamer after being picked out by Harry Arter’s precision cross.

It was Grabban’s first goal since he netted in a 2-0 home win over Portsmouth in February, the 25-year-old Londoner ending a run of 14 games without scoring. Cherries went close to doubling their lead just two minutes later when Wes Thomas nipped in front of Hamer to meet Pugh’s cross, only to prod his shot wide.

Hamer gathered Arter’s speculative 30-yarder before Grabban, buoyed by his goal, tried his luck with a curling effort, the Charlton goalkeeper saving with relative ease.

Grabban forced Hamer into another save after being teed up by Charlie Daniels, the stopper scurrying across his line and diving to his left to smother.

Thomas, who was full of running during the first half, almost capped his hard-working display with a goal, the striker’s venomous 20-yard drive dipping over the crossbar.

Charlton levelled three minutes after the restart when Kermorgant rifled an unstoppable volley past Ryan Allsop, the targetman latching on to a cross from the left by Cherries old boy Wiggins.

Pritchard’s glancing header sailed over the crossbar before Coulibaly made way for Ryan Fraser after taking a knock during a block tackle with Pritchard.

Fraser could have made a name for himself just minutes after coming on but the Scotsman was unable to connect properly at the far post after a Pugh cross had fallen invitingly for him.

However, Fraser got everything behind a fiercely-struck 20-yard drive, with Hamer alert at his near post to snaffle the teenager’s effort.

The visiting goalkeeper was powerless to prevent Grabban restoring Cherries’ lead, the striker plundering his second with a stunning strike from around 25 yards after 66 minutes.

Grabban, who hit 13 goals for Cherries last season, picked his spot and despatched a thunderous right-foot shot past the despairing dive of Hamer.

Daniels went close to making it 3-1 when his free-kick flashed past the upright before Ward cleared off the line from a Pritchard header eight minutes from time.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men when Pritchard received a straight red card for scything down Fraser right in front of referee Andy D’Urso.

As Cherries looked to capitalise, Pugh volleyed into the Steve Fletcher Stand after being found in space by Francis before Dorian Dervite headed over from a Danny Green corner.

Cherries: Allsop, Francis, Ward, Cook, Daniels, Coulibaly (Fraser, 55), Arter, MacDonald, Pugh, Grabban (Pitman, 90), Thomas (Surman, 85). Unused subs: Elphick, O’Kane, Harte, Flahavan (g/k).

Booked: Arter.

Addicks: Hamer, Solly, Morrison, Dervite, Wiggins, Pritchard, Gower (Stephens, 77), Hughes (Green, 77), Harriott, Sordell (Church, 65), Kermorgant. Unused subs: Evina, Cort, Wilson, Pope.

Sent off: Pritchard.

Referee: Andy D’Urso (Essex).

Attendance: 10,108 (including 1,421 away supporters).