CUP specialist Eunan O’Kane again worked his magic to help book Cherries a date in the second round following a 1-0 victory over south coast neighbours Portsmouth tonight.

O’Kane, one of seven changes made by boss Eddie Howe, netted the only goal of an entertaining contest as Cherries managed to negotiate the first hurdle for only the second time in eight years.

The 23-year-old, who scored twice in last season’s FA Cup campaign, including in the 1-1 draw at Wigan, settled the tie with a composed right-foot finish after 53 minutes.

And victory was no more than Cherries deserved against the League Two outfit, with Howe’s team creating a number of other presentable chances over the 90 minutes.

Cherries, whose record in the League Cup is nothing to write home about, will discover their second round opponents when the draw is made on Sky Sports on Thursday around 1.30pm.

As expected, Cherries boss Howe made a host of changes to his starting line-up with no fewer than seven players drafted in following Saturday’s 2-1 win over Charlton.

O’Kane, Tommy Elphick, Ian Harte, Ryan Fraser, Richard Hughes, Andrew Surman and Donal McDermott were all handed starts by Howe.

Pompey boss Guy Whittingham also rung the changes with the visitors starting with six different players from their 4-1 home opening day defeat by Oxford.

Patrick Agyemang’s attempt to draw first blood for Pompey faltered when his snapshot inside the opening 60 seconds trickled well wide.

Pompey’s Phil Smith looked assured under pressure, the goalkeeper claiming a couple of probing crosses as Cherries threatened early on.

Elphick’s timely block prevented Ricky Holmes’s effort reaching Ryan Allsop before Bondz N’Gala nipped in to thwart O’Kane’s bid to get away a shot.

Agyemang’s speculative 25-yard drive fizzed past the post before a Simon Francis centre just eluded Wes Thomas as it flashed across the face of the goalmouth.

Thomas headed over after Fraser had crossed from the left, the Scotsman then feeling the full force of a late challenge by Danny East, with the Pompey man earning the first booking.

East was quickly followed into referee Fred Graham’s notebook by Holmes, the midfielder yellow carded for scything down O’Kane during the same move.

Francis and Surman both had efforts charged down as Harte’s 34th-minute corner caused mayhem in the Pompey 18-yard box before McDermott’s header flew past the upright.

Surman went close to breaking the deadlock as Cherries created a flurry of chances in first-half stoppage time.

The midfielder, on loan from Norwich, saw his curling effort tipped past the post by Smith, the goalkeeper then beating away Fraser’s deflected strike.

And as Cherries continued to lay siege to the visitors’ goal in the closing stages of the opening period, McDermott’s rasping strike was bravely blocked by N’Gala.

O’Kane was on hand to fire Cherries ahead with an emphatic finish from around 12 yards eight minutes into the second half.

The Irishman found himself in the right place at the right time when the loose ball rolled into his path after Fraser’s initial shot had been blocked.

Surman’s raking crossfield pass to Fraser had created the opening, with Pompey defender Butler carelessly allowing it to sail over his head.

As Cherries looked to kill off the tie, Surman twice went close to adding a second, his stinging drive flying narrowly wide before a left-foot strike from 25 yards did likewise.

Surman then traded passes with Charlie Daniels on the edge of the box, the midfielder jinking his way through before clipping another effort wide.

Hughes collected an unwarran-ted booking following a perfectly-timed tackle on Andy Barcham, with referee Graham and one of his assistants combining for a terrible miscarriage of justice.

O’Kane almost added a second eight minutes from time, the midfielder turning sharply before drilling his shot past the upright.

Substitute Harry Arter nearly rounded off a slick passing move by Cherries in the closing stages, the midfielder denied by Smith’s block from point-blank range.

Cherries: Allsop 7.5, Francis 8, Elphick 7, Cook 7.5, Harte 8, Fraser 8 (MacDonald, 88), O’Kane 7.5, Hughes 7.5, Surman 8.5* (Arter, 83), McDermott 7, Thomas 7 (Daniels, 73). Unused subs: Addison, Matthews, Stockley, Flahavan (g/k). Booked: Hughes.

Pompey: Smith, Devera, Bradley (Ferry, 65), N’Gala, Butler, Wallace (Barcham, 72) , Padovani, East, Holmes, Craddock, Agyemang (Bird, 72). Unused subs: Moutaouakil, Connolly, Harris, Sullivan. Booked: East, Holmes, Butler, Wallace.

Attendance: 7,620 (including 1,354 away supporters).

Referee: Fred Graham (Essex).