Exeter City’s hopes of pulling away from npower League One’s bottom four were dented by Bournemouth last night as the Grecians crashed to a 2-0 defeat on the chilly south coast.

For long spells of the game, Exeter competed well, but the game told an all too familiar story as the Grecians failed to take chances that came their way and were left to rue some soft defending, which was ruthlessly capitalised on by Bournemouth.

The Cherries’ £1million record signing Matt Tubbs marked his debut with the first before Scott Malone scored a superb second. The game was the fourth in succession in which Exeter failed to score.

The Grecians made three changes to the side that lost 1-0 at home to Charlton last time out. Billy Jones replaced the departed Scott Golbourne at left wing-back. The other two changes were in attack, with Richard Logan and Daniel Nardiello coming in for John O’Flynn and Jake Taylor, who dropped to the bench.

Bournemouth handed a debut to record signing Tubbs. He was joined in the Cherries’ line-up by Donal McDermott, who had been signed from Huddersfield Town in the January transfer window by manager Lee Bradbury.

City had the first chance, with Nardiello forcing Darryl Flahavan into a save from 25 yards before Shaun MacDonald fired high at the other end for Bournemouth.

The opening exchanges were all rather timid, though, and did little to warm the cockles of the freezing crowd. The temperature could not have been above zero and even the players seemed a little frozen.

Bournemouth were looking to attack down the flanks with Marc Pugh and McDermott looking lively but, with 20 minutes gone, City had repelled the home side’s threat with relative ease.

The Grecians were looking to hit Bournemouth on the counter-attack and Nardiello almost got in on two occasions. Both times, he was denied by the assistant referee flagging for offside.

Tubbs had his first sight of goal when he headed a blocked cross goalwards, but Artur Krysiak saved with ease. McDermott then fired high from 25 yards after a slip in the Exeter defence by Jones.

Bournemouth were beginning to crank it up and from a corner kick, Tubbs, Pugh and two other players shot goal wards. On each occasion, they were denied by some superb Exeter defending as the Grecians threw themselves in the way of everything fired at their net.

Exeter, without a goal in their previous three matches, extended that run to five hours when the match approached half-time and, apart from Nardiello’s early chance, they had not looked like ending that barren run.

Stephane Zubar’s long ball out of defence sent Wes Thomas scampering clear and he crossed dangerously into the penalty box. Tubbs was just too late in arriving, as the ball drifted out of play.

Exeter responded with a long-range shot from David Noble from distance, which took a huge deflection and went behind for a corner. Nothing came from Jones’ delivery and the referee blew for half-time to allow the crowd the chance to try and thaw.

Warmed by half-time Bovril, soup, tea and coffee, the players took to the field and the fans to their seats for the second half. Thomas went close in the opening minutes, but Jones cleared well when under pressure and, from the resulting corner, Krysiak saved superbly from Thomas.

Tubbs came close when a free-kick was rolled to him on the edge of the penalty box, but he placed his shot wide of the upright. City’s goal was leading a charmed life, though.

The Grecians strung their best move of the match together five minutes after half-time and it ended with Steve Cook clearing a wicked Jones cross behind for a corner, with Logan lurking dangerously.

Troy Archibald-Henville bundled the ball home, but the goal was ruled out as he had taken Flahavan into the net as well.

It was certainly more encouraging from Exeter, though, and they came within inches of scoring when Joe Dunne’s cross was brilliantly headed goalwards by Logan. The ball seemed destined for the far corner, but Flahavan stuck out a hand and flicked the ball away from goal.

Bournemouth responded with a shot from MacDonald that flew high over the crossbar and, moments later, Thomas found himself through on goal. Krysiak was quickly off his line, though, and made a superb catch as the Bournemouth striker failed to get a shot away.

Guillem Bauza came on for Logan with 25 minutes remaining, but it was the home side looking more likely to score. Tubbs and Thomas linked up superbly and, with Thomas about to shoot for goal, Archibald-Henville made a superb saving tackle.

With 18 minutes remaining, Bournemouth broke the deadlock. Noble lost possession to Malone, who had just come on, and he out-muscled Steve Tully before crossing for Tubbs to score from close range. It was harsh on City, who had competed well, but, ultimately, it was a soft goal to give away, with Noble and Tully both at fault.

O’Flynn was summoned from the bench at the expense of Duffy, but soon it was 2-0. The goal came from an Exeter corner, which fell kindly for Malone on the edge of the box and he led a fine counter-attack before feeding the ball wide to Tubbs. He crossed to the back post, where Malone had continued his run and smashed the ball into the net.

Thomas forced Krysiak into a good save with a shot from distance and it was comfortable for Bournemouth by then. Exeter continued to battle until the end, but their lack of quality on the ball and in delivery and a lack of presence in attack was all too evident.

Bournemouth (4-4-2): Flahavan; Francis, Zubar, Cook, Daniels; McDermott (Malone 68), MacDonald, Gregory (Purches 89), Pugh;

W Thomas, Tubbs (Fletcher 89). Substitutes (not used): D Thomas (gk), Arter.

Goal: Tubbs 72, Malone 77.

Exeter City (3-5-2): Krysiak; Duffy, Archibald-Henville, Coles; Tully, Dunne, Bennett (Taylor 79), Noble, Jones; Logan (Bauza 66), Nardiello. Substitutes (not used): Pidgeley (gk), McNish.

Booking: Nardiello.

Referee: O Langford (West Midlands).

Attendance: 5,497.