Ten-man Bournemouth miss the chance to keep pressure on top two with defeat at hands to Luton.

Bournemouth missed out on the opportunity to move back into the top two for a few hours at least as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Luton Town after being reduced to ten men in the first half.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored the all important winner midway through the second half to consign the Cherries, who had Jefferson Lerma sent off, to their fourth defeat of the season and have now won just one of their last four in the league.

The first chance of the afternoon came for Josh King who was nearly able to take advantage of a massive error by Luke Berry who tried to head back to Simon Sluga but he didn’t get enough on it and it fell into the path of the Norwegian but he couldn’t quite get enough power on the shot to allow Sluga to make a save.

Bournemouth’s early dominance continued and they had another chance after Dan Potts cleared a corner, it fell to Lewis Cook just outside the box but the midfielder was unable to connect properly with his effort going over the bar and out of the stadium.

The turning point of the first half came when Bournemouth midfielder Jefferson Lerma was shown a straight red after going for a header with Tom Lockyer, who he caught with an elbow and was shown his marching orders just before the half hour mark.

Despite being down to ten men, it was the home side who had the better chances as the half grew. Steve Cook won a flick on from a David Brooks’ corner which found King but his effort was straight at Sluga.

The home side continued to look the more likely to break through as the sides went to the break with the score goalless.

The Hatters were toothless in the first half, failing to have a single shot on goal but their message was clear after the break with the away side holding the player advantage.

Berry had two efforts in quick succession from close range but he found Bournemouth’ goalkeeper Amir Begovic in fine form to make two fantastic saves to keep the home side level just five minutes into the second half.

Former Luton man Jack Stacey worked himself into space down the right before sending a cross into the box, it was cleared but only as far as Brooks who sent his header well off target.

The home side continued to try and find a way through and nearly had it when King fed Solanke through and past the keeper, the former Liverpool man sent his strike goal-bound but Potts was able to make it back to make a brilliant block.

Jones’ side came back into it after a spell of Bournemouth’ pressure. Harry Cornick was played through on goal with a great chance but he fired his effort over the crossbar.

Dewsbury-Hall put the away side in front with 23 minutes remaining after working some space in the box and sending a left footed strike beyond a diving Begovic.

Tindall made a triple change with 20 minutes remaining, introducing Sam Surridge, Lloyd Kelly and Philip Billing in search of finding a way back into the game.

The Cherries threw everything at the Hatters but with ten men really struggled to find anyway through as they lost more ground in their quest for an instant return to the Premier League.

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