Phillip Billing scores brace as Andoni Iraola gets off to winning start as Bournemouth coach

Spanish manager Andoni Iraola started his life as Bournemouth’s head coach with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Scottish side Hibernian FC. Andoni Iraola, who was announced as the Cherries new boss in June after the shock sacking of Gary O’Neil, was able to put together his first team as the Cherries played in their first preseason game of this summer against the Scottish side.

The team managed to escape relegation last season after a slow start to life in the Premier League, and they have been looking to avoid a similarly slow start next season; it was no wonder that they got their first goal of the game early in a match that was played in 30 minutes in three different periods.

The opener came from Welsh midfielder David Brooksy who curled one in from 20 yards to break the deadlock after just seven minutes, and eight minutes later, Jaidon Anthony slotted home off the post with a cool finish as the first period ended with Bournemouth two goals up.

The second period didn’t see any goal, but the third period was all about Phillip Billing, who scored a brace in the 68th minute and another cool finish moments before the final whistle.

Bournemouth still has three different pre-season matches to play before their Premier League opener against West Ham at the Vitality Stadium. The Cherries will face Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv on Sunday, then Italian club Atlanta on the 29th of July, and Lorient on the 8th of August.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth has signed Romain Faivre from French Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyon and has also immediately loaned the youngster back to another French League side, Lorient.

The 24-year-old spent the second half of last season at Lorient, and the club was keen to have him on another season-long loan which Bournemouth agreed on.

Faivre joined the Premier League club for around £12 million.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu