AFC Bournemouth must have thought Christmas had come a day late as Yeovil Town gifted them a 3-0 victory in npower League One.
Having started brightly, the Glovers again wilted with barely a whimper in Dorset, conceding a trio of goals characterised by defensive frailty.
Visiting manager Gary Johnson accepted his team had to do better but admitted he was fielding players that might not necessarily have a future with the club.
"The first half was pretty evens-Stevens but I thought they looked a Championship side in the second half and we didn't," he said.
"I know what we have got to do and look at. You're crossing your fingers a little bit at this time of the season because you know the ones that are good enough and the ones that are not good enough, yet we have to keep them involved because of our injuries, etc."
Sam Foley's hamstring injury sustained against Oldham Athletic and Joe Edwards' return to Bristol City following the conclusion of his loan forced Yeovil into two changes.
Dominic Blizzard partnered Ed Upson in the centre of midfield and Fulham youngster Dan Burn returned at left back as captain Jamie McAllister pushed up to the wing.
Byron Webster denied Bournemouth's Wes Fogden a sight of goal on four minutes, sliding in to cut out Lewis Grabban's cross on the counterattack.
Three minutes later Burn's ball forward bounced up and appeared to strike Steve Cook's arm. With no penalty given, Cherries hacked clear but found the ball come straight back at them, the same defender's awful touch releasing Paddy Madden and the Irishman screwing wide when he should have done better.
On 16 minutes - moments after Grabban was unable to meet Charlie Daniels' centre - the Bournemouth left back again whipped in a delivery, Webster heading away and Burn charging down Fogden's shot having failed to clear himself.
Grabban left Richard Hinds trailing on 22 minutes and getting to the byline he pulled back for the unmarked Brett Pitman but the striker wastefully sidefooted tamely at Marek Stech.
On 25 minutes former England keeper David James spilled McAllister's long-range drive and Cook nipped in to clear the loose ball with Madden and James Hayter haring in.
Cherries deservedly broke the deadlock seven minutes later, profiting on woeful defending. Another incisive move breezed through the static visitors, Marc Pugh crossing for Grabban to easily finish in space.
Bournemouth extinguished danger on 34 minutes when Madden beat his man to cross and James slipped again. Launching another counterattack, Burn's mistake allowed Grabban to burst through but he fired across goal.
After 53 minutes Bournemouth did not deal with McAllister's deep free kick, Blizzard eventually leaving James rooted to the spot from 18 yards.
Stech saved Hinds' blushes on 57 minutes when the stopper's fine block prevented Grabban from doubling his tally after the centre half's awful back pass.
On 60 minutes Burn hooked away Daniels' drilled cross whilst facing his own goal, Fogden bringing a superb diving save from Stech.
Ten minutes later, Ayling burst forward, laid off for Hayter to centre and Blizzard's header landed on the roof of the net.
But once again Yeovil proved their own worst enemies on 72 minutes as time and time again they shunned the chance to clear, Harry Arter punishing in emphatic fashion from the edge of the box.
Brett Pitman then missed when sliding in at the far post before Daniels inexplicably skipped past three Glovers only for Stech to save.
Ayling's handball in the area five minutes before time compounded the travellers' misery as Pitman sent Stech the wrong way from the spot.
There was still time for substitute Josh McQuoid to somehow head wide as Bournemouth ended continued to overpower Yeovil.MATCH STATS
AFC Bournemouth (4-4-2) - James; Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels; Fogden (McQuoid, 65), Arter, O'Kane, Pugh; Grabban (McDermott, 88), Pitman (Hughes, 88). Unused subs: Jalal, Tubbs, Fletcher, Partington.
Goals: Grabban 32, Arter 72, Pitman (pen) 85.
Bookings: Arter (foul), Elphick (foul).
Yeovil Town (4-4-2) - Stech; Ayling, Webster (Ugwu, 86), Hinds (Marsh-Brown, 65), Burn; Williams (Reid, 50), Upson, Blizzard, McAllister; Hayter, Madden. Unused subs: Stewart, Brundle.
Bookings: Burn (foul).
Ref: Graham Scott.
Att: 8,016.AFC BOURNEMOUTH 3-0 YEOVIL TOWN - IN PICTURESPhotos: AFC Bournemouth 3-0 Yeovil Town
