Talking points from AFC Bournemouth’s win over Rayo Vallecano

It was the first time fans were able to see their side in action in England since May, Cherries’ other pre-season fixtures this summer taking place in America.

Luis Sinisterra scored the only goal of the game, but there were plenty of other talking points from the fixture.

First look at Huijsen

Fans got their first chance to look at new signing Dean Huijsen.

The teenage centre-back arrived from Juventus earlier in the week and played around 70 minutes of the contest.

He started the game alongside Illia Zabarnyi, before Marcos Senesi replaced the Ukrainian at half-time.

It looks set to be an exciting battle between the three for a starting spot, with Chris Mepham and James Hill still also options.

Huijsen played on both the left and right of the central defensive pairing and earned big applause from the crowd for a few of his individual actions during the game.

Dean Huijsen made his first Cherries appearance (Image: Richard Crease)

Looking confident with his socks down low, the 19-year-old got the crowd going in the ninth minute, stepping in to win the ball and progressing upfield.

Not tested a great deal defensively, Huijsen slid in to make a challenge and stop a shot from Alvaro Garcia on 17 minutes, before the crowd again enjoyed his skill on the ball.

The Spain under-21 international brought down a high ball out of the sky on the wing as part of his composed opening display.

He earned rapturous applause from the fans when he was replaced by Hill in the second half.

Sunday also marked a first chance to see Daniel Jebbison in action at Vitality Stadium.

In the absence of both Dominic Solanke and Enes Unal due to injury, Jebbison led the line and also lasted around 70 minutes.

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His hard-working pressing game was evident from the off, pushing up towards goalkeeper Daniel Cardenas in the opening stages.

Jebbison then played a key role in the only goal of the game on 32 minutes, battling to win the ball on the halfway line, before Sinisterra broke clear to score.

Tactical experiments

Cherries currently have a worryingly lengthy list of injuries for this stage of pre-season.

Andoni Iraola insists he expects most to recover in time for the start of the Premier League campaign on August 17.

Unal, David Brooks and Tyler Adams will not recover in time, but fellow absentees Solanke, Lewis Cook, Chris Mepham, Philip Billing and Justin Kluivert are expected to return.

But the absences saw some players thrust into unfamiliar roles against Rayo Vallecano.

Hamed Traore came on in a deeper central midfield role, getting around the pitch well and putting in a couple of good challenges.

Dango Ouattara had a good battle with Alfonso Espino (Image: Richard Crease)

Versatile Dango Ouattara ended the game at centre-forward, while Marcus Tavernier, predominantly a winger, played most of the contest in the advanced central midfield role.

“We tried things,” Iraola told the Daily Echo.

“We tried with Tav as a number 10, to see how he can play in that position.

“We’ve tried Dango at the end as a number nine. Obviously without Dom and without Enes, we don’t have now a lot of options there.

“After Jebbo was I think really tired, I decided to go with Dango.

“We have players that can do it, like Antoine (Semenyo), Justin and even Sini, maybe one day we will see him there.

“But Dango has done it with his national team and it was the more familiar we had in that moment probably.”

Last summer saw similar experiments, Ryan Christie needed in a deeper midfield role and eventually making that spot his own.

Feisty first half

There were some big challenges thrown around in the first half in particular, perhaps not a familiar sight for such a pre-season contest.

Two yellow cards were dished out, one to Christie for a late tackle on Oscar Valentin. The Rayo skipper then went into the book himself after a scuffle with Alex Scott, who had become frustrated with the fouls he was on the receiving end of.

Aggressive full-back Alfonso Espino was fortunate not to join them in the book for a blatant pull on the shirt of Luis Sinisterra.

Alex Scott battles with Isi Palazon (Image: Richard Crease)

Asked how he felt about the feisty nature of the contest for a friendly, Iraola said: “It’s a good thing!

“I talked to Alex Scott and to Isi (Palazon), I know them both very well.

“I love when they go competitive and they try to fight.

“In the end we are training here obviously, don’t want injuries. Alvaro (Garcia) got injured, but it was alone.

“It was in a good spirit, you have to be tough in the duels.

“I think both are very good players, but also they are tough players and it is good for us.”

What caught your eye from the contest? Let us know in the comments below.