CHERRIES’ first home game under new ownership ended in defeat as two calamities from corners resulted in a 2-0 loss against Crystal Palace.

Jordan Ayew was allowed to nod in the opener on 19 minutes at Vitality Stadium, before Eberechi Eze had freedom to find the bottom corner from the edge of the box to wrap up the points in the first half.

Defeat meant Cherries have lost six of their past seven games in the Premier League.

New owners Bill Foley and Michael B Jordan were unveiled at Vitality Stadium ahead of kick off – and were given a warm welcome from the home fans.

Boss Gary O’Neil himself overcame illness to take to the dugout for the encounter – and with it, he made one change to his starting XI.

Having impressed in the second half in Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat to Chelsea, Jaidon Anthony replaced Jack Stacey against the Eagles – as Cherries lined up with a back four.

Centre-back Chris Mepham was judged fit to make the bench, having been struggling with the virus going around the squad in recent weeks.

Former Cherries loanees Nathaniel Clyne and Joel Ward lined up for Patrick Vieira’s Eagles.

Elvis Presley’s Viva Las Vegas was played as part of the club’s new pre-match hype video – but it was Palace who almost hit the jackpot with 10 minutes gone.

After the hosts cheaply gave the ball away, Jeffrey Schlupp tried his luck from range with a fierce left-foot effort which sailed wide and into the North Stand.

Palace then had a shout for handball waved away by referee Andre Marriner. After a corner swung in was punched away by home keeper Mark Travers, Cheick Doucoure’s strike flicked up off the knee of Marcos Senesi and onto the Argentinian’s hand.

But having had the better of the opening exchanges, the visitors took the lead on 19 minutes in simplistic fashion.

An outswinging corner from Michael Olise found Ayew unmarked to nod into the corner of the net from close range.

Cherries looked to rally and had their first real opening after 32 minutes. A free-kick swung in by Anthony found the head of Kieffer Moore.

He cushioned the ball back across goal with Palace keeper Vicente Guaita having to cling on under pressure from a leaping Jefferson Lerma.

Moore was then involved in a penalty shout for the hosts shortly after. The Wales international went to ground under the challenge of Doucoure having got goal side – referee Marriner waved play on.

But Cherries were undone from another set-piece on 36 minutes. Eze was given the freedom of Dean Court to run on to a corner played to the edge of the box and fire into the bottom corner.

The hosts made an early change with Philip Billing, who appeared to be struggling with injury, being replaced by Siriki Dembele.

And it was Dembele who created an opening seven minutes into the second half. The winger’s pass found Dominic Solanke inside the box, who worked Guaita at his near post before Moore’s follow-up header was tame.  

Moore continued to provide a presence, nodding wide Anthony’s free-kick just past the hour mark.

O’Neil then looked to the bench and introduced Joe Rothwell in place of Jordan Zemura, as Cherries switched to a three-man defence.

Ironic cheers went up in the latter stages as Dembele worked Guaita from range, as the contest petered out.

Cherries: Travers, Smith, Senesi, Kelly, Zemura (Rothwell, 70), Cook (Lowe, 80), Lerma, Billing (Dembele, 38), Anthony (Christie, 80), Solanke, Moore.

Unused subs: Stephens, Mepham, Christie, Stacey, Lowe, Pearson, Plain (g/k).

Booked: Kelly, Anthony, Solanke.

Palace: Guaita, Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Clyne, Olise (Hughes, 87), Doucoure, Schlupp, Ayew (Mateta, 74), Zaha, Eze (Edouard, 74).

Unused subs: Ebiowei, Richards, Riedewald, Gordon, Ozoh, Butland (g/k).

Booked: Andersen.

Referee: Andre Marriner.