Middlesbrough secured their first home league win of the season with goals from Gaston Ramirez and Stewart Downing either side of the interval.
The Teessiders went in front courtesy of a tremendous solo effort from Ramirez with six minutes of the opening half remaining.
Downing then added their second from close-range after Alvaro Negredo headed on Adam Traore’s early second-half delivery.
There was later a welcome return to action for skipper Grant Leabitter following hernia surgery over the summer.
However, it was the visitors first going close when Adam Clayton was forced to head off the line from Joshua King, whose angled finish next came back off the crossbar after being set up by on loan Jack Wilshere.
Home defender George Friend struck narrowly wide in reply after Traore had already seen penalty claims denied when going down inside the area.
But their side were still to strike first as Ramirez collected inside his own half and raced on before superbly curling beyond Artur Boruc.
That was added to following the break with Downing turning in from close in when Negredo headed down Traore’s cross.
Goalkeeper Victor Valdes and on loan Calum Chambers both produced important reactions for the hosts while Negredo failed to really trouble Boruc in reply.
The Cherries were then reduced to ten-men when having already made all three substitutions, Andrew Surman was forced to the sidelines, before a couple of late breaks from Traore threatened their opponents further reward.
Middlesbrough: Valdes, Barragan, Chambers, Gibson, Friend, Forshaw, Clayton, Traore, Ramirez (Leadbitter 63), Downing, Negredo
subs (unused): Fabio, Bernardo, Rhodes, Fischer, Guzan, Nugent
Goals: Ramirez (39), Downing (56)
AFC Bournemouth: Boruc, Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Arter (Gosling 73), Surman, King, Wilshere, Ibe (Fraser 60), Wilson (Afobe 60)
subs (unused): Ake, Gradel, Federici, Mings
Ref: S. Attwell
Att: 29,600
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