CHERRIES’ pre-season schedule began with a 1-1 draw against League One Wrexham in Santa Barbara.
Wrexham, who have achieved back-to-back promotions, snatched the lead on the brink of half-time, James Hill the unfortunate man to head the ball into his own net.
But Cherries equalised early in the second period through Marcos Senesi, which proved to be the end of the scoring.
Iraola used the game against lower-league opposition to give some opportunities from the start to players who did not feature much for the first team last season.
They included young defenders Hill and Owen Bevan, as well as Gavin Kilkenny, Jaidon Anthony and goalkeeper Will Dennis, who all ended last season out on loan.
Striker Daniel Jebbison made his first appearance for the club, having joined this summer. The only player who started Cherries’ last game, at Chelsea in the Premier League in May, as well as this fixture was Antoine Semenyo.
There was a sprinkling of Hollywood stardust on the fixture, Wrexham’s co-owner Rob McElhenney watching on, while Cherries played in a special kit designed by Michael B Jordan. It was a far cry from the last time the two clubs met, in the third tier back in 2005, with more than 13,000 fans watching on at Harder Stadium.
Cherries almost got off to a nightmare start. In the opening minute, the pitch conditions caught out Hill, whose attempted backpass to Dennis was intercepted by Jack Marriott.
The game then settled into a pattern of dominant Cherries possession, seeking a diagonal pass to open up the Wrexham defence, but chances were at a premium.
Cherries were forced into their first change on 29 minutes. Bevan, playing at left-back, was forced off through injury and replaced by Milos Kerkez.
