A warm, breezy day on the South Coast, a perfect pitch, the Goldsands Stadium is a four sided arena again and Bournemouth marked their return to the second tier of English football with a win.

Charlton were without talismanic skipper, Johnnie Jackson, who succumbed to a calf strain. Chris Powell covered Jackson’s absence by playing with a 4-4-2 formation, with Marvin Sordell partnering Yann Kermorgant up front. Bradley Pritchard and Callum Harriott flanked the veteran  central midfield duo of Andy Hughes and Mark Gower.

The Addicks were strangely lacklustre in the opening period with the Cherries being much brighter in midfield. Harry Arter was having a fine game and Arter was instrumental in the Cherries first goal.

He came short to collect left wing corners from Marc Pugh on numerous occasions and when he did so in the 26th minute, he stood a peach of a ball up for Lewis Grabban to head home.

Two minutes later, the hosts nearly doubled their advantage when Wes Thomas nipped in but failed to beat Hamer from an acute angle.

Powell worked his usual magic at half-time and his team looked more purposeful after the restart. Just four minutes in, Kermorgant equalised with one of his trademark volleys from a Harriott cross.

Two minutes later, the Frenchman delivered a good cross from the right but Pritchard headed over.

Sordell is a technically gifted player, and he had a good debut, but he faded and was replaced by Simon Church midway through the second period.

Moments later, Lewis Grabban settled the match with a stunning strike from the edge of the box.

Hughes and Gower made way for Green and Stephens, with Pritchard moving inside.

Nine minutes from the end, Green delivered a free-kick from the right but Pritchard’s header cleared the crossbar. Two minutes later, Pritchard’s afternoon came to a premature end when he received a straight red card from Andy D’Urso for a rash challenge on Ryan Fraser.

D’Urso played six minutes of stoppage time but Charlton failed to restore parity.

Powell will be disappointed with the number of his players who had an off day. The Cherries deserved their three points and Powell will be keen to put some points on the board against Middlesbrough next week.

Before that though, the Addicks face a potential banana skin against Oxford in the Capital One Cup.

Charlton: Hamer; Solly,  Morrison, Dervite, Wiggins; Pritchard, Gower (Stephens 77), Hughes (Green 77), Harriott; Kermorgant, Sordell (Church 65).

Subs (not used): Pope, Wilson, Evina, Cort.

Goal: Kermorgant 49.

Booked: Kermorgant 26 (dissent).

Sent off: Pritchard 83 (serious foul play).

Bournemouth: Allsop; Francis, Cook, Ward, Daniels; Coulibaly (Fraser 55), MacDonald, Arter, Pugh; Grabban (Pitman 90), Thomas (Surman 85).

Subs (not used): Flahavan, Elphick, Harte, O’Kane.

Goals: Grabban 26, 66.

Booked: Arter 90 (dissent).

Referee: Andy D’Urso  (Billericay).

Attn: 10,108 (1,421 Charlton).