Ryan Christie Hat-Trick Fires Bournemouth Past Lincoln in Carabao Cup

Bournemouth are through to the Carabao Cup fourth round after their first competitive victory under Rose, sweeping aside Lincoln City 4-0 at the Vitality Stadium as Christie struck a hat-trick and substitute Rayan added a stoppage-time fourth.

Christie turns control into a decisive scoreline

Lincoln, the Championship visitors, made the brighter opening on the south coast, but Bournemouth quickly imposed themselves. Christie put the Premier League side ahead in the seventh minute, meeting Ben Gannon-Doak’s delivery from the left with a controlled volley.

The midfielder was Bournemouth’s most dangerous player throughout. Joe Gauci denied him shortly before the interval, but Christie doubled the lead after the restart when he headed home a David Brooks corner. His third arrived after Lincoln failed to deal with another set piece, with the Scotland international keeping his composure to finish and complete the treble.

1. Christie opened the scoring seven minutes in from Gannon-Doak’s cross.
2. Lincoln passed up a major chance when Ryley Towler fired over after Michele Di Gregorio lost control of the ball.
3. Christie headed in Brooks’ corner to make it 2-0 after half-time.
4. The midfielder completed his hat-trick following another poorly cleared corner.
5. Rayan finished a fast break in added time to seal the 4-0 result.

Rotation tested Bournemouth’s depth

Rose made eight alterations to the XI that drew 2-2 with Newcastle on Saturday, using the tie to assess his options while still securing a comfortable passage.

Di Gregorio made his Bournemouth debut in goal, while Alvaro Rodriguez was handed his first start since arriving from Elche in the summer. Rodriguez went close with a header before Christie’s second, while Bafode Diakite saw a flicked header pushed away by Gauci.

James Hill nearly produced the standout goal of the evening early in the second half, his long-range effort crashing against the top of the crossbar.

Lincoln miss their moment

Lincoln’s clearest route back into the contest came from Di Gregorio’s error. The goalkeeper spilled the ball and left an open goal, but Towler could not punish Bournemouth, lifting his effort over the bar.

That miss proved costly. Bournemouth took command thereafter, controlled the territory and converted their set-piece pressure into a scoreline that reflected their superiority.

Key takeaways

• Bournemouth have recorded Rose’s first win as manager and progressed into the fourth round.
• Christie’s three goals supplied the difference after an initially competitive Lincoln start.
• Rose’s heavily changed side included a debut for Di Gregorio and a first Bournemouth start for Rodriguez.
• Lincoln had an opportunity to level the match but failed to take it before Bournemouth pulled away.
• Rayan’s injury-time counter-attack finish completed an emphatic cup win.