SET PIECES again proved difficult for Cherries as they eventually came out 3-2 winners over Championship neighbours Saints.

A first-half double from Dango Ouattara and Ryan Christie was well deserved for Cherries, but last season’s inability to defend from dead balls again proved costly, Saints scoring in each half from free-kicks.

Despite failing to be clinical with their chances, Cherries substitute David Brooks would find a winner with minutes to spare.

Saints attacker Moussa Djenepo’s smart flick early on saw him simultaneously win possession back and set up a move, playing the ball out wide to Sam Amo-Ameyaw.

The winger returned the favour, slipping to Djenepo to allow him to test Neto with a driving shot.

However, the Brazilian was equal to it, holding onto the ball to allow Cherries to break up the field.

That move culminated with an effort from new signing Milos Kerkez, who forced Alex McCarthy to tip over his powerful effort from the edge of the area.

Saints’ maxim of building from the back left Cherries with plenty of encouragement to press high up the field, constantly winning the ball in their hosts’ half.

This intensity eventually told, with Christie floating in a cross to the centre of the box. Ouattara seemed to hang an age in the air to meet the ball, heading it past a stranded McCarthy to hand Cherries the lead.

Minutes later, it was two, Christie turning from provider to goalscorer.

Jaidon Anthony was nipping at the heels of multiple Saints throughout the opening 20 minutes, this time sliding in to win the ball in his opponents’ box.

He squeezed the ball to Dominic Solanke, who fed an unmarked Christie at the back post to tap home Cherries’ second.

Saints would eventually settle. A misplaced Lewis Cook pass on the edge of the area quickly turned into a dangerous Saints attack, Neto poking away Che Adams’ effort from inside the box.

But Cherries would enjoy the lion share of chances. Anthony must have thought he had beaten McCarthy, the keeper diving early, only to recover and get a strong wrist to a close-range effort.

Before the break Saints would halve the deficit. A Ryan Manning free-kick flew to the back stick, where winger Shea Charles found it easy to nod home.

The second half took a while to spark to life.

Cherries should have made it three when McCarthy passed the ball to Ouattara inside the box, the winger squaring up Solanke who could not find the finishing touch with the goal agape.

However, Cherries’ set-piece fragilities reared its head yet again. Saints substitute Jayden Meghoma took a free-kick quickly, catching the Cherries defence napping to allow Stuart Armstrong the opportunity to fire home from the edge of the box nearly unopposed.

In the closing stages, Saints came close through Nathan Tella, two last-ditch blocks denying the winger, before Cherries went up the other end and found a winner.

David Brooks found himself with space and time one-on-one with McCarthy, the Welshman keeping his cool to slot underneath the goalie and restore Cherries’ lead.

Cherries: Neto; Smith (Hill, 77), Mepham (Zabarnyi, 68), Senesi, Kerkez (Greenwood, 77); Ouattara (Kluivert, 68), Cook (Kilkenny, 77), Billing (Traore, 68), Anthony (Brooks, 68); Christie (Rothwell, 77), Solanke (Moore, 68).

Unused sub: Randolph (g/k).

Saints: McCarthy; Bree (Walker-Peters, h-t), Lyanco (Stephens, 62), Charles (Doyle, 69), Manning (Meghoma, 62); Lavia (Smallbone, h-t), Alcaraz (S Armstrong, 62), Amo-Ameyaw (Livramento, 62), Djenepo (Tella, 69), Adams (A Armstrong, 69), Edozie (Caleta-Car, 62).