Ryan Christie delivered a stunning performance, netting three goals to secure Marco Rose’s inaugural victory as Bournemouth’s head coach, as the Cherries comfortably dispatched Sky Bet Championship side Lincoln with a 4-0 scoreline. The Scottish international’s brace came in the 7th, 69th and 88th minutes, marking his second career hat‑trick, while substitute Rayan added a fourth in stoppage‑time to seal the Carabao Cup third‑round triumph.
Rose opted for a wholesale reshuffle, making eight changes to his starting eleven. Among the newcomers were on‑loan Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, who earned his debut, and Uruguayan forward Alvaro Rodriguez, who earned his first start for the club. Lincoln, on the other hand, retained only Ryley Towler from the lineup that had produced a 1‑1 draw against Southampton earlier in the season.
The two teams had not faced each other since 2010, when both were competing in League Two. Lincoln began the match with promise, pressing high and creating a few early chances.
However, Bournemouth broke the deadlock just seven minutes in when Christie latched onto a low cross from Ben Gannon‑Doak and slotted the ball neatly into the near post. The goal set the tone for what would become a dominant display by the visitors.
Gannon‑Doak continued to trouble the Lincoln defence, cutting in from the left wing and unleashing a right‑footed shot that was blocked by Towler. The game’s first real test for Di Gregorio arrived in the 22nd minute when he was called into action, making a crucial save to deny a flick‑on attempt from Dan Oyegoke.
Shortly after, Lincoln goalkeeper Joe Gauci produced a smart reflex save to keep Bafode Diakite’s headed long‑throw attempt out of the net. Bournemouth’s search for a second goal saw James Hill fire a speculative long‑range effort over the bar, while left‑back Julio Soler tried a curling effort from 25 yards after a David Brooks corner was only half‑cleared, but the shot drifted wide. Hill later saw a shot from the edge of the penalty area deflected for a corner, and Christie’s own curling effort from 20 yards was palmed away by Gauci just before the halftime whistle. The first half concluded with Bournemouth leading 1‑0, a result that left Rose slightly frustrated given his recent Premier League form, where his side had managed only two points from three games and had been vulnerable to late goals against Manchester City, Everton and Newcastle.
Nevertheless, the Cherries entered the break with confidence, knowing they could build on their early dominance. The second half opened with Bournemouth almost doubling their advantage within five minutes. Gannon‑Doak’s curling strike glanced off Rodriguez’s head and sailed just over the crossbar. The Scottish winger then attempted another long‑range effort in the 55th minute, which also sailed over.
Hill produced a thunderous 25‑yard drive that struck the post and crossbar, narrowly missing a spectacular equaliser. Rodriguez, the £21 million signing, had a chance to open his Bournemouth account moments later, but slipped while setting up a shot from the edge of the box, sending the ball high into the stands.
He later headed inches wide from a Hill cross, enduring a frustrating debut despite the overall team performance. Christie’s third goal arrived in the 88th minute. After being set up by a Diakite pass, he struck from 14 yards, the effort deflecting before finding the back of the net to complete his hat‑trick.
The goal effectively put the match beyond any doubt. In stoppage time, Rayan capped the night with a tidy finish from the corner of the six‑yard box, making the final scoreline 4‑0. Post‑match, Bournemouth head coach Marco Rose praised his side’s display: “It was a top performance for 94 minutes and we had many shots on and off target. We only gave one chance away, so I am really happy.
Ryan [Christie] is a nice guy. We really love him and he deserved it. He came back from an injury, worked hard and now he's back in shape.
It's good for us because the upcoming time is really busy and we need everyone. In the next few weeks we have European football, cups in England and the Premier League is getting very demanding. I'm new in this club, new in this country, but it's about winning games and winning titles.” Lincoln joint‑head coach Chris Cohen acknowledged the superiority of the visitors: “Certain players had moments in the game, but overall Bournemouth were by far the better team. We were looking for a low‑scoring match and wanted to get to 60 minutes still in the game.
The frustration is we did not implement our in‑possession stuff at all and could not impose ourselves with our set‑pieces as well as we normally do. We had a lot of new players and will learn a lot as a team from the game.” The comprehensive victory not only gave Marco Rose his first win but also highlighted Bournemouth’s depth and adaptability, with several new faces stepping up and contributing positively.
The result will boost the Cherries’ confidence as they juggle domestic cup commitments, a demanding Premier League schedule, and upcoming European fixtures, while Lincoln will need to regroup and address the tactical issues that left them vulnerable against a high‑pressing, well‑organized Bournemouth side.