Doncaster Rovers were rocked on their visit to the seaside with a 5-0 defeat at Bournemouth with Kermorgant scoring a hat-trick.
Rovers gave their promotion bid a shot in the arm with a dramatic victory at Bournemouth last season.
But 51 weeks later they were just looking for a kick up the backside to their bid to ensure their Championship stay is not a brief one.
In the first half though, they were only heading in one direction as the vibrant hosts gave them a real headache.Bournemouth had the game’s first chance after just four minutes.
Although the ball appeared to cross the byline, play was allowed to continue as Fraser crossed and Kermorgant rose well to head down but straight at Johnstone.
Rovers found it difficult to get out of their own half but did have a chance to go in front when Furman met Bowery’s neat lay-off but lashed well wide.
Defensive play was particularly panicky from Rovers in the first half as they struggled to cope with the pace and one-touch football of the hosts.
Fraser darted into the box on 14 minutes and although tackled by Furman, he drilled a shot at the second attempt which drew a superb stop from Johnstone.
It sparked a strong period from the on-loan keeper who superbly tipped over after a Harte corner was headed out to Surman who drilled a shot from 20 yards.
Khumalo did do well to deny a certain chance for the diminutive and nippy Fraser who was sent clear by a through ball but the South Africa international got back well to tackle.
Rovers struggled to deal with a varied array of corners and almost got caught out when Harte sent in a low effort which was left for the unmarked Kermorgant who failed to get his shot on target.
The hosts continued to knock on the door and it took a deflection off Brown to deny Ritchie after he drilled a volley on target following a flick-on from another Harte corner.
But the Cherries made their pressure count on 26 minutes. A cross from the left was flicked on and KERMORGANT pounced at the back post, marking his full debut for Bournemouth by drilling a shot through the legs of Johnstone.
They had the ball in the back of the net again but a header from Grabban was ruled out after he was flagged offside when meeting a deflected shot from Fraser.
Rovers managed to produce a chance late in the half when Furman met a cross from Husband from deep but could only flick his header wide.
Johnstone produced another excellent stop three minutes from half-time. Fraser was sent scarpering clear once again and tried to place a shot from 15 yards but Johnstone got down well to tip wide.
It only delayed the inevitable however as Bournemouth grabbed a second.
Ritchie crossed from the right and KERMORGANT rose well to head home his second, leaving Rovers with a mountain to climb in the second half.
Robinson and Cotterill came off the bench at the break as Dickov switched to 4-4-2 in an attempt to get Rovers back into thee game.
But Bournemouth made the task even harder five minutes into the second half.
ARTER popped up on the edge of the area and drilled a shot into the bottom corner which gave Johnstone no chance.
Bournemouth were happy to take their off the gas, confident of catching on the break a Rovers side who continued to struggle to string anything together.
The hosts only increased their comfort on 73 minutes.
A deep cross from the right found KERMORGANT who powered a header into the bottom corner to seal his hat trick.
Rovers saved their first shot on target for the 75th minute when Robinson hit a tame effort on the angle which was easily dealt with by Camp.
On 82 minutes a miserable afternoon was made even worse for Rovers.
Johnstone’s first real mistake saw him fluff a punch from a Harter corner and the ball was only half cleared out to ARTER who drilled into a gaping goal.
Ritchie and substitute Rantie both missed decent chances to add to Bournemouth’s tally in the late stages.
If the same fixture a year ago provided inspiration for what was to come, this one only gave a harsh warning of what could be approaching.