Bournemouth’s first ever game in the English topflight ended in a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa on Saturday as the newcomers were given a painful introduction to Premier League football.
The much-awaited game at Vitality Stadium was decided by Rudy Gestede’s header in the 72nd minute for last season’s FA Cup finalists.
A seaside club with a stadium capacity of less than 12,000, Bournemouth has made a remarkable rise through the professional ranks after nearly going out of business and just avoiding relegation from the fourth division six years ago.
Bournemouth, whose fortunes were rescued by Russian investor Maxim Demin, had chances in the first half with Marc Pugh being denied by Villa keeper Brad Guzan and Dan Gosling firing high and wide, both opportunities from a dozen meters.