JEFF Hughes gave Notts County a dream start against Bournemouth in League One today.
The Northern Ireland midfielder scored after less than two minutes at Dean Court, but the Magpies could not hold onto their lead and they trailed 2-1 at half-time on the south coast.
Former Notts loanee Matt Ritchie equalised on 17 minutes and Brett Pitman fired the home side in front midway through the first half.
Joss Labadie made his first start for the Magpies under new boss Chris Kiwomya, after being recalled from a loan spell at Torquay United.
The 22-year-old joined captain Neal Bishop, Andre Boucaud, Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Hughes in midfield.
Notts were also boosted by the return of their no.1 goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski from a virus, while Julian Kelly, Dean Leacock, Gary Liddle and Alan Sheehan started in defence.
Striker Enoch Showunmi was named in attack.
Labadie made the goal for Hughes with a brilliant cross into the penalty area from the right wing that he headed past Cherries' goalkeeper Ryan Allsop from close range.
Allsop got a hand to the ball, but could not stop it hitting the back of the net.
Simon Francis then tested Bialkowski with a powerful low shot from the edge of the penalty area and Pitman dragged a shot wide of the Pole's left-hand post from 20 yards on eight minutes.
Bialkowski tipped over a stinging shot from Ritchie on 11 minutes.
But he could not stop him equalising for the home side on 17 minutes as Ritchie seized onto Charlie Daniels' low left-wing cross and swept the ball under him and into the net.
Bournemouth then completed a quick fight-back with a second goal on 26 minutes as Tubbs set up Pitman to fire the ball past Bialkowski from just inside the box, but Notts complained Tubbs handled the ball.
Pitman was looking dangerous and he rifled a shot just wide of Bialkowski's right-hand post from 20 yards on 38 minutes.
Losing 2-1, the day got worse for the Magpies in injury time at the end of the first half when Boucaud was booked for the second time and sent off.