Nottingham Forest 2-3 Bournemouth: Jaidon Anthony completes Cherries’ comeback at the City Ground

What a difference a week makes. Seven days on from being bruised, humiliated and mentally scarred in a 9-0 thumping at Anfield, this was a triumph in mental fortitude for Bournemouth.

Not only did they win at Nottingham Forest, they showed great resilience and character to come back from two goals down and probably another confidence-knocking loss.

They trailed 2-0 at half-time having barely mustered a meaningful attack but fought back with a 30-yard screamer, an overhead kick and a zapping counter-attacking winner.

Dominic brought the visitors level in the second-half with a brilliant acrobatic goal

Summer signing Cheikhou Kouyate gave the hosts an early lead with a well-taken header

Scott Parker and his swanky cardigan is no more, with Gary O’Neil steering the ship on an interim basis and taking a pleasing four points this week. A keep-it-simple club tracksuit and trainers, if you were wondering.

‘It wasn’t me who turned the game around,’ said 39-year-old O’Neil, the former midfielder who made nearly 500 times for clubs such as Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and West Ham.

‘This is an incredible group of players. They never know when they are beaten, they never stop.’

He clearly delivered a purposeful half-time team talk after they went in perhaps undeservedly two goals behind.

Forest took the lead through Cheikhou Kouyate’s header from a corner after 33 minutes, then added another on the stroke of half-time.

It was after a lengthy VAR review for an alleged Lloyd Kelly handball but, following around four minutes, Michael Oliver broke convention by taking a trip to the monitor and sticking with his original decision of penalty. Brennan Johnson converted well.

Cherries midfielder Philip Billing (R) scored a long-range strike to kick-start the comeback

And so it looked like Forest were heading for an important win after a reality-check of a week which saw them lose to Tottenham and ship six in a defeat at Manchester City.

But Bournemouth came out in the second half completely different from the feeble team which started the game with a lack of ideas in possession.

It took a wonder-strike to get them going, Philip Billing hitting a 30-yard piledriver which flew past Dean Henderson.

Then Dominic Solanke produced heroics of his own as he hung in the air and scored an overhead kick to equalise.

Brennan Johnson doubled Forest’s advantage from the spot after Lloyd Kelly’s handball

The pair can fight among themselves for Bournemouth’s goal of the month competition, though Solanke will hasten to admit his shot was helped on its way by the head of Scott McKenna.

That was Solanke’s 50th goal for Bournemouth and he soon showed he is much more than a goalscorer.

The Englishman robbed possession high up the pitch and played a well-weighted ball to Jadon Anthony to finish for 3-2 and send the away end into bedlam. How they deserved it after seeing their side concede nine times last weekend, then lose the well-liked boss Parker.

‘Let’s not hide away from the fact that we’ve thrown away a win,’ said Forest’s Cooper. ‘We’ve conceded three goals at home, and there’s nothing good about that.’

The gloomy Cooper was soon followed by a grinning O’Neil, who added: ‘To respond at that point after the week they have had says everything about this group is about,’ added O’Neil. ‘Two games on the trot they have literally emptied the tank for me. ‘Everyone at the club deserves it, everyone who has supported me over the last few days.

Gary O’Neil (R) took charge of Bournemouth following Scott Parker’s midweek departure

They are delighted, they need a rest, as do I. They have been on a rollercoaster of a journey since this time last Saturday.’

That’s now seven points from the first six games for the Cherries. They’ve lost to Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool but taken points from every other game. A fantastic return.

Four of those points are thanks to interim boss O’Neil. Asked whether he fancies the full-time role after a stellar audition, he would not budge.

Fair enough, next question: a nice glass of wine to celebrate, Gary? ‘I’m going to have a cup of tea – I do love a cup of tea.’