A LATE flurry of goals capped of a chaotic encounter between Cherries and Brentford, with Thomas Frank's Bees ending up 2-1 winners on the south coast.
In a game filled with VAR controversy, Bryan Mbeumo’s 87th minute strike had seemingly separated two sides that were evenly matched throughout the 90 minutes at Vitality Stadium.
But Dominic Solanke had other ideas, rising to head home and level moments later.
However, there was a further twist in the tale, as Brentford substitute Yoane Wissa struck in stoppage time to give Brentford the win.
There was just one change to the Cherries side defeated 3-0 at the Emirates last time out, Lloyd Kelly returning from illness to start at the expense of Alex Scott.
On the bench Tyler Adams and Marcus Tavernier were fit enough to return after recovering from a back issue and hamstring injury respectively.
There was a new face in the middle, with referee Matt Donohue taking charge of a Premier League match for the first time.
The opening stages were all Brentford, the Bees buzzing about Cherries’ box with a succession of set-pieces.
Twice Mark Travers had to stoop low to push efforts away from goal; first getting down to Keane Lewis-Potter’s bobbling effort before pushing away Ivan Toney’s rasping drive.
At the other end Antoine Semenyo saw a strike from distance rise just above the cross bar, Cherries showing signs of life after being contained by Brentford’s attacking pressure.
Semenyo would be involved again shortly after. The winger burst forward, his drive interrupted by a Brentford tackle that sent the ball ricocheting into his arm at close range.
Match official Donohue seemed unmoved by the mass Brentford protests, the away side practically stopping in their tracks as Solanke went up the other end and fired past Mark Flekken in the Bees’ goal.
However, Cherries’ glee was short lived as Donohue was summoned for his first taste of VAR as a Premier League referee, seeing enough from the pitch side screen to overturn his on-field decision.
Iraola’s patience had waned at this point, with the Basque boss remonstrating with any match official in sight.
That earned him the first booking of the game, Iraola’s fourth caution of the campaign.
There would be no VAR check the next time Cherries had the ball in the net, but there would still be no goal.
Solanke’s cool finish to beat a backtracking Flekken was ruled out before it had even rolled over the line for an apparent foul on Nathan Collins, the Brentford defender falling to the ground at the slightest touch whilst turning.
The second half was played at a similar frantic and frenetic pace without much in the way of shots on goal.
Brentford went close as Lewis-Potter’s trickling effort went underneath Travers at the near post; Ryan Christie calmly stopping the ball before it went over the line.
At the other end a Lewis Cook corner was flicked towards the back post by Lloyd Kelly, his header just wide.
Donohue furthered his villain arc by awarding Brentford a penalty with 20 minutes or so remaining.
Ilia Zabarnyi came steaming in from behind, taking out Ivan Toney, leaving the referee to point to the spot.
But after a VAR check the debutant ref decided that there was not enough for the foul to stand, cancelling his decision.
There would be no need for another look at the eventual winner.
A long searching ball found Brentford substitute Yoane Wissa, the winger lifting the ball centrally for Mbeumo.
The Cameroonian kept his cool to slot past Travers and earn the away side all three points.
Or so it seemed. Cherries quickly went in search of an equaliser, and found it minutes later.
Marcos Senesi, well beaten for Brentford’s opener, made immediate amends with a floated cross into the area.
It was perfectly waited for Solanke to arrive and loop a header over Flekken and restore parity.
But scores again would not remain level for long.
With nine minutes of added time awarded, Dean Court sensed the opportunity for a winner.
They were correct, in a sense, but the game's final goal would fall to Brentford.
Goalscorer Mbeumo turned provider, slipping in Wissa to blast past Travers and earn the Bees three points on the road.
Cherries: Travers; Smith (Adams, 80), Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kelly; Cook, Christie (Scott, 80), Kluivert (Unal, 67); Semenyo, Ouattara (Tavernier, 67), Solanke.
Unused subs: Aarons, Hill, Billing, Sadi, Scott, Neto (g/k).
Booked: Iraola, Senesi, Ouattara, Zabarnyi.
Brentford: Flekken (g/k); Ajer (Roerslev, 63), Collins, Pinnock, Reguilon; Damsgaard, Norgaard (Jensen, 63), Janelt (Yarmoliuk, 83); Mbeumo, Toney, Lewis-Potter (Wissa, 63).
Unused subs: Zanka, Ghoddo, Schade, Valdimarsson (g/k), Strakosha (g/k).
Booked: Jensen, Toney, Schade.
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