Jaidon Anthony scored a dramatic late winner as Bournemouth came back from 2-0 down to beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 at the City Ground. 

Two new signings combined to give the hosts the lead in the 33rd minute as Cheikhou Kouyate powered a header home following Morgan Gibbs-White's inswinging corner kick. 

Then on the stroke of half-time, Forest went 2-0 up from the spot after Lloyd Kelly blocked Neco Williams' shot in the area with his arm and Brennan Johnson fired the resulting penalty past Neto. 

The Cherries were back on level terms shortly after the hour mark, however, as Philip Billing smashed a long-range effort into the top corner before Dominic Solanke produced an acrobatic strike following a corner. 

And Anthony came off the bench to complete the turnaround with three minutes remaining as Solanke pounced on Scott McKenna's loose back-pass and squared for the substitute to tuck home the winner.

Forest head coach Steve Cooper expressed concern at the difference in his team's performances either side of half-time.

He said: "We were good for the 2-0 lead in the first half, controlled the game, looked like the team to threaten the opponent's goal. We were comfortable but it was a really poor first goal to concede and it set the tone.

"We looked like two different teams. The second goal was a set-piece and Scott McKenna made an error for the third goal. The performance in he second half cost us the game. 

"We certainly didn't manage the second half and conceded three goals at home, that is not good. 

"We don't play for a while now so have to make sure it does not linger too long. For large parts of the second half it was not good enough but we have to take it on the chin."

Bournemouth caretaker manager Gary O'Neil was brimming with pride at the positive result the Cherries came back to secure.

He said: "We just believed. The first-half scoreline was harsh and there were moments that we wasted but we were well in the game. 

"Going in at 2-0 was a real blow for us. The boys still believed, made a few changes and dug in. [I'm] proud of what we achieved. 

"The tactical change gave us control and caused them some problems. Give full credit to the boys, 2-0 down at a tough place, especially where they have ben in the last few weeks. Massive for the boys. 

"They are the best group I have worked with, intensity-wise they are relentless and you saw that today. There is still work to do but the boys put so much in and they deserved that today. 

"I enjoyed the second half. The Wolves game and first half here were tough. It has been a whirlwind the last four, five days and the staff still here have been so good for me. The full support."

Did you know?

This was the first time Bournemouth have won a Premier League away game in which they trailed by two or more goals — the Cherries had lost all 40 such games before today.

This was the first time Forest have lost a Premier League match in which they led by two or more goals at half-time. They have now failed to win four of their last five such games in the competition (three draws, one defeat).

In his 143rd game for Bournemouth in all competitions, Solanke’s equaliser was his 50th goal scored for the Cherries — at least 27 more than any other player at the club since his debut in February 2019.

Anthony’s winner for Bournemouth was his first ever Premier League goal, coming just one minute and 51 seconds after he came off the bench.

Johnson has scored 18 league goals since the start of last season, at least six more than any other player aged 21 or under in England’s top four tiers.