RYAN Longman’s second-half strike proved enough to send Cherries spiralling to back-to-back Championship defeats.

The midfielder, on loan from Brighton, slotted home after 77 minutes to grab a 1-0 victory for Hull City at Vitality Stadium.

Cherries had numerous opportunities to break the deadlock before the pivotal goal, Emiliano Marcondes came closest by striking the post in the opening period.

But defeat left Scott Parker’s side eight points behind league leaders Fulham, who sealed victory at Stoke City.

Boss Parker made three changes to his starting XI for the clash with the Tigers.

Gary Cahill and Jaidon Anthony dropped to the bench with Lewis Cook out of the hosts’ squad altogether.

In came Chris Mepham, Jamal Lowe and Philip Billing – the latter making his return from injury.

Hull came into the contest having beaten promotion-chasing Blackburn last time out, with boss Grant McCann naming an unchanged side.

But it was Cherries who almost fashioned an opener out of nowhere, inside the opening minute.

A ball played back to keeper Nathan Baxter was charged down by Dominic Solanke. As the visiting stopper attempted to clear, it could have gone anywhere after ricocheting off the striker and soaring over the bar.

Solanke found himself battling with Baxter once again 11 minutes later. The Cherries top scorer latched on to a measured ball from Leif Davis and, after bringing the ball down, the Tigers stopper was out thwart the frontman.

Another chance then came the way of Solanke moments later. Ryan Christie’s jinking run allowed him to lift into the box where the hosts’ number nine headed wide from close range.

Baxter, on loan from Chelsea, was busy in the opening exchanges. After the ball was pulled back and deflected inside his area, he made himself big to thwart a driving effort from Marcondes.

Former Brentford man Marcondes then came within inches of opening the scoring. After good work from Davis to find Billing, the Dane found his fellow countryman to fire a strike against the post.

But for all their dominance, Cherries were dealt an injury blow shortly before the interval. Mepham went down with what appeared to be a hamstring problem and was replaced by Cahill.

Hull mustered their first shot on target just before the break. Mark Travers dived to his left to parry away Longman’s shot.

And it was the visitors who started the second half stronger.

After Jefferson Lerma miscontrolled, the ball fell to Keane Lewis-Potter to turn on the edge of the box and worked Travers with a stinging low effort.

The Irish keeper was then in full flight to deny Tom Eaves from range.

Parker then looked to the bench to find some impetus. Anthony was brought on in place of Lowe.

But the visitors grabbed their winner with 13 minutes remaining.

Eaves found the run of Longman with the midfielder allowed to cut inside and bend the ball into the top corner from inside the box.

Referee Matthew Donohue played a considerable nine minutes of added time but Cherries were left to ponder another league defeat, with a smattering of boos from fans at full time.

Cherries: Travers; Stacey, Mepham (Cahill, 39), Kelly, Davis (Rogers, 84); Lerma, Marcondes, Billing; Christie, Lowe (Anthony, 65), Solanke.

Unused subs: Hill, Kilkenny, Pearson, Nyland (g/k).

Booked: Stacey, Lerma.

Tigers: Baxter, Bernard, McLoughlin, Greaves, Williams (Fleming, 90+1), Smallwood, Docherty, Longman (Smith, 87), Honeyman, Eaves, Lewis-Potter.

Unused subs: Moncur, Huddlestone, Arthur, Jones, Ingram.

Booked: Longman, Smith

Referee: Matthew Donohue.