CHERRIES continued their Premier League preparations with a 1-0 win over Spanish side Rayo Vallecano.

AFC Bournemouth led at the break thanks to Luis Sinisterra’s goal on 32 minutes, after the Colombian rounded the keeper and slotted home.

The home side had the better of the lively friendly, with promising signs for the south coast side ahead of the start of the new Premier League season on August 17.

Dean Huijsen made his first appearance for the club after he was signed last week, with Daniel Jebbison making his first bow on home soil.

Dominic Solanke wasn’t included in the side after reportedly picking up an injury earlier in the week, joining Justin Kluivert, Lewis Cook and Chris Mepham as those with knocks ahead of the start of the season.

The La Liga side’s lineup featured former Newcastle centre-back Florian Lejeune, and son of Samuel Eto’o Etienne on the bench.

(Image: Richard Crease)

Cherries were wearing the Michael B. Jordan-designed special edition red kit as the Spanish side got the friendly underway.

The home side had an early penalty shout waved away after Milos Kerkez went down in the box, but neither side registered a shot on goal in the early exchanges.

The first chance of the game fell to Cherries on 17 minutes, after Ryan Christie won a free kick in a dangerous area on the right.

Christie’s ball in came to Sinisterra at the back post, with his effort across goal falling into the hands of Rayo ‘keeper Daniel Cardenas.

The away side registered their first effort on goal shortly afterwards, with Alfonso Espino’s low drive fired straight at Mark Travers in goal.

Christie was the first to go into the referee’s book, after a challenge in the build-up on Rayo captain Oscar Valentin.

(Image: Richard Crease)

Cherries opened the scoring after 32 minutes, with Jebbison doing well to win a bouncing ball on halfway, which ricocheted into the path of Sinisterra.

The winger did the rest, rounding Cardenas and slotting the ball home.

Five minutes later, Dango Outtara did well to win a corner down the right, which was played short to Alex Scott, with his effort curled just wide from 20 yards.

Rayo’s Valentin was the Spanish side’s first to go into the book, after a challenge on Scott.

Outtarra struck the woodwork moments later, after being played in following a driving run from midfield from Sinisterra.

Travers saved well from a shot from Jorge de Frutos on 40 minutes, with Cherries entering the break with the one-goal lead.

Iraola made three substitutions at halftime, bringing Marcos Senesi, Neto and Antoine Semenyo on to replace Illia Zabarnyi, Travers and Sinisterra.

The visitors fashioned the first chance of the half, with some good buildup leading to a backheel flick from Unai Lopez going off target, a couple of minutes after the resumption.

Cherries’ first chance of the half fell to Semenyo, who was found on the left after a fantastic run from Jebbison, but his powerful effort was straight at the keeper and the flag went up for offside.

The visitors made four substitutions shortly after the hour mark, bringing on Josep Chavarria, Pathe Ciss, Oscar Trejo and Randy Nteka, following a crucial block from Kerkez to deny de Frutos at the back post.

The home side made their own changes on 71 minutes, bringing James Hill, Hamed Traore and Jaidon Anthony on for Huijsen, Christie and Jebbison.

Moments later, Marcus Tavernier saw his swerving shot beaten away by Cardenas.

Captain Adam Smith was brought off for Max Aarons after 82 minutes, with Tavernier also making way for Romain Faivre.

Bournemouth saw the game out, clinching their first home win of pre-season and a clean sheet.

Cherries will face Girona at home next Saturday in their final pre-season friendly before the season opener against Nottingham Forest.