Ryan Christie delivered a standout performance, netting three goals to secure Marco Rose’s inaugural victory as Bournemouth’s manager, as the Cherries comfortably dispatched Sky Bet Championship side Lincoln 4-0. The Scottish international, who has now recorded his second career hat‑trick, found the back of the net in the 7th, 69th and 88th minutes, while substitute Rayan added a fourth during stoppage time to seal the Carabao Cup third‑round triumph.
Rose opted for a radical overhaul, making eight changes to the starting XI. Among the newcomers were on‑loan Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, who made his debut, and Uruguayan striker Álvaro Rodríguez, who earned his first start for the club. Only Ryley Towler retained his place from Lincoln’s recent 1-1 draw with Southampton, marking the first meeting between the two sides since 2010 when both were competing in League Two.
Lincoln began the encounter brightly, but Bournemouth struck first after just seven minutes. Christie timed his run perfectly and finished neatly at the near post from a cross delivered by Ben Gannon‑Doak.
The young winger, who had been a constant threat on the left, saw his own effort later blocked by Towler after cutting inside and unleashing a right‑footed shot. Di Gregorio was called into action for the first time in the 22nd minute, making a crucial save to deny Dan Oyegoke’s flick, only for Towler to blast over from the rebound. Lincoln’s goalkeeper, Joe Gauci, also produced a sharp reflex save to keep out Bafode Diakité after the defender headed a long throw towards goal.
Bournemouth continued to press for a second goal. James Hill fired a long‑range effort that sailed over the bar, while left‑back Julio Soler curled a wide shot from 25 yards after a David Brooks corner was only half‑cleared. Hill later saw a shot from the edge of the penalty area deflected for a corner, and Christie’s curling 20‑yard strike was palmed away by Gauci just before the halftime whistle.
The result was a mixed bag for Rose, who had only collected two points from his first three Premier League fixtures, having conceded late goals against Manchester City, Everton and Newcastle. Nevertheless, the dominant display against Lincoln offered a morale boost ahead of a congested schedule featuring European competition, domestic cups and a demanding Premier League run.
The second half began with Bournemouth nearly doubling their lead five minutes in when Gannon‑Doak’s curling effort glanced off Rodríguez’s head and sailed just over the crossbar. The Scottish winger then missed another long‑range chance in the 55th minute, his shot sailing high above the bar. Hill came close to a spectacular strike from 25 yards, hammering a piledriver that struck the angle of the post and crossbar.
Rodríguez, eager to open his Bournemouth account, slipped while attempting a shot from the edge of the box, sending the ball high into the stands. Later, the £21 million signing headed inches wide from a Hill cross, enduring a frustrating debut.
Christie, however, continued to torment the Lincoln defence. He headed home Brooks’ corner at the far post 21 minutes from time, extending the lead to 3-0. His third goal arrived in the 88th minute when he tapped in a deflected 14‑yard shot after a well‑timed pass from Diakité. In stoppage time, Rayan capped the rout with a tidy finish from the corner of the six‑yard box, confirming a 4-0 victory.
After the match, Bournemouth head coach Marco Rose praised his side’s performance: “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 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 period 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 gap in quality: “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 match also highlighted Bournemouth’s depth, with the loan signing Di Gregorio providing a reliable option between the sticks and Rodríguez beginning to adapt to the pace of English football.
The victory not only gave Rose his first win but also signalled that Bournemouth can compete on multiple fronts, balancing league ambitions with cup commitments while integrating new talent into a cohesive unit. Overall, the comprehensive win served as a statement of intent from the Cherries, showcasing attacking flair, defensive solidity and a willingness to rotate the squad without sacrificing quality. The performance should give both Rose and his players confidence as they navigate a challenging calendar ahead.