George Bowerman's late winner gave in-form Walsall three points and spoiled David James' debut for Bournemouth.

Visiting skipper Andy Butler headed past James, who signed for the Cherries earlier this week, to open the scoring.

Bournemouth levelled with nine minutes left, Charlie Daniels driving home a loose ball to make it 1-1.

But Bowerman's close-range effort, his sixth goal of the season, was enough to seal a fourth win in five League One matches for improving Walsall.

Dean Smith's Saddlers, who have been involved in tense relegation battles in each of the last two seasons, have climbed to sixth in the table, two points behind leaders Tranmere.

A section of the home crowd, meanwhile, called for the dismissal of Cherries boss Paul Groves, having again failed to register a first home win of the campaign.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Bournemouth manager Paul Groves told BBC Radio Solent:

"People have had opportunities and it's not quite gone our way.

"The crowd voiced their opinion, which they are entitled to do. They tried to get behind us from the off, and obviously once things go against us, then the crowd show their opinion. That is natural.

"My job is to try and continue to work with the players and address the issues that we might have in terms of trying to win some football matches."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (5)

Bournemouth

  • 34 James
  • 03 Cook Booked
  • 04 Zubar
  • 24 Addison
  • 06 Partington (Fogden - 79' Booked )
  • 11 Daniels
  • 17 McQuoid (Carmichael - 59' )
  • 30 Davids
  • 32 O'Kane (Tubbs - 85' )
  • 14 Demouge
  • 28 Barnard

Substitutes

  • 01 Jalal
  • 13 Elphick
  • 12 Fogden
  • 36 Carmichael
  • 38 Wakefield
  • 18 Tubbs
  • 22 Grabban

Walsall

  • 27 Darlow
  • 04 Butler
  • 05 Holden
  • 14 Purkiss
  • 26 Taylor
  • 06 Featherstone
  • 08 Cuvelier
  • 24 Baxendale (Taundry - 75' )
  • 09 Grigg (Brandy - 88' )
  • 10 Paterson
  • 17 Bowerman

Substitutes

  • 01 Grof
  • 02 Taundry
  • 22 Downing
  • 11 Hemmings
  • 16 Jones
  • 12 Brandy
  • 15 Taylor
Ref: Bates
Att: 4,951

Match Stats

Shots

7 13

On target

3 4

Corners

5 6

Fouls

10 5

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +2:41

Free kick awarded for a foul by Frank Demouge on Andy Butler. Indirect free kick taken by Karl Darlow.

90:00 +0:40

Corner taken by Wes Fogden from the right by-line.

90:00 +0:40

Corner taken by Febian Brandy.

90:00 +0:24

Wes Fogden takes a shot. Karl Darlow makes a save.

89:15 Goal scored

Goal - George Bowerman - Bournem'th 1 - 2 Walsall George Bowerman grabs a goal from inside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Bournemouth 1-2 Walsall.

89:00

Outswinging corner taken by Jamie Paterson from the right by-line,

87:55

Corner taken right-footed by Jamie Paterson from the right by-line, Febian Brandy takes a shot.

87:55 Substitution

Substitution Febian Brandy is brought on as a substitute for Will Grigg.

87:32

Jamie Paterson takes a shot.

86:34

Unfair challenge on Jamie Paterson by Steve Cook results in a free kick. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Andy Taylor from left wing, Charlie Daniels makes a clearance.

84:51 Substitution

Substitution Matt Tubbs replaces Eunan O'Kane.

84:02

Karl Darlow restarts play with the free kick.

84:02 Booking

Booking Caution for Wes Fogden.

83:34

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nicky Featherstone by Wes Fogden.

83:11

Andy Taylor takes a shot. Blocked by Eunan O'Kane.

81:30

Assist on the goal came from Wes Fogden.

81:30 Goal scored

Goal - Charlie Daniels - Bournem'th 1 - 1 Walsall Charlie Daniels finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. Bournemouth 1-1 Walsall.

81:00 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

80:29

Florent Cuvelier is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by David James.

80:01

Corner taken by Charlie Daniels from the right by-line.

78:39 Substitution

Substitution Joe Partington goes off and Wes Fogden comes on.

78:15

Close range shot by Will Grigg clears the bar.

77:10

Corner taken by Eunan O'Kane.

76:14

Foul by Miles Addison on Will Grigg, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Karl Darlow.

74:52

David James takes the indirect free kick.

74:52 Substitution

Substitution Richard Taundry on for James Baxendale.

74:52

The assistant referee flags for offside against Jamie Paterson.

73:49

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ben Purkiss by Frank Demouge. Free kick taken by Karl Darlow.

70:47

Effort on goal by Josh Carmichael from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

70:35

Lee Barnard takes a shot. Blocked by Dean Holden.

67:52

George Bowerman fouled by Stephane Zubar, the ref awards a free kick. Andy Taylor restarts play with the free kick.

58:30

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Jamie Paterson from the right by-line, Andy Taylor produces a right-footed shot from close in that goes over the bar.

61:24

Strike comes in from Jamie Paterson from the free kick, blocked by Joe Partington.

61:24 Booking

Booking Steve Cook receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

61:19

Steve Cook concedes a free kick for a foul on Will Grigg.

58:50 Substitution

Substitution Josh Carmichael on for Josh McQuoid.

56:09

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Jamie Paterson.

58:30

Outswinging corner taken by Jamie Paterson from the right by-line, Close range shot by Andy Taylor clears the bar.

56:09

Corner taken by Jamie Paterson.

46:20

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Eunan O'Kane, clearance by Andy Butler.

45:01 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

40:34

James Baxendale provided the assist for the goal.

40:34 Goal scored

Goal - Andy Butler - Bournem'th 0 - 1 Walsall Andy Butler finds the net with a headed goal from close range. Bournemouth 0-1 Walsall.

40:26

The ball is crossed by James Baxendale,

39:11

Foul by Lee Barnard on Andy Taylor, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Andy Taylor.

38:42

The referee blows for offside. Dean Holden takes the indirect free kick.

37:11

A cross is delivered by Will Grigg.

35:47

Jamie Paterson produces a right-footed shot from close range which goes wide of the right-hand post.

35:05

The ball is delivered by Ben Purkiss, George Bowerman produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the target.

33:46

Effort on goal by Eunan O'Kane from inside the box misses to the right of the target.

33:12

Unfair challenge on Eunan O'Kane by Nicky Featherstone results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Lorenzo Davids.

32:11

George Bowerman gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Stephane Zubar. David James takes the free kick.

30:53

Centre by Will Grigg, Header from close in by George Bowerman misses to the left of the target.

30:43

Andy Taylor crosses the ball.

28:11

Charlie Daniels produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the right-hand post.

26:43

Charlie Daniels fouled by James Baxendale, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by David James.

25:52

The ball is crossed by Steve Cook, Andy Butler makes a clearance.

25:15

Nicky Featherstone concedes a free kick for a foul on Lee Barnard. Lorenzo Davids takes the free kick.

23:13

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Frank Demouge by Andy Butler. Free kick taken by Charlie Daniels.

20:48

Stephane Zubar concedes a free kick for a foul on Will Grigg. Florent Cuvelier takes the indirect free kick.

18:31

Frank Demouge gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Dean Holden. Andy Taylor restarts play with the free kick.

17:00

Jamie Paterson takes a shot. Save by David James.

14:51

Jamie Paterson takes the outswinging corner, Header from close in by Andy Butler misses to the left of the target.

13:05

Right-footed shot by Josh McQuoid.

10:33

George Bowerman sends in a cross.

7:02

Lorenzo Davids delivers the ball.

6:39

Josh McQuoid crosses the ball, Andy Taylor makes a clearance.

6:28

Centre by Charlie Daniels, Ben Purkiss makes a clearance.

6:03

Short corner taken by Charlie Daniels.

0:10

George Bowerman is caught offside. Free kick taken by David James.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

The match restarts for the second half.

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