Bournemouth 1 Bristol Rovers 0: Bristol Rovers' money-spinning passage to last season's FA Cup quarter-finals owed much to the exploits of keeper Steve Phillips – not least in the penalty shoot-out victories over Leyton Orient and Fulham.

But Dean Court has become something of a graveyard for the Pirates' ambitions in knock-out cups over the last two campaigns.

And although Phillips did more than anyone to try and keep the visitors in this season's tournament, their Cherries hoodoo was to strike again.

Those not of a superstitious bent could, with some justification, point to a below-par performance and the costly first-half dismissal of defender Byron Anthony as more rational reasons behind another disappointing result against the League Two strugglers.

While they had 11 men on the pitch, the Pirates looked the more composed of the two sides and likely to emerge with a replay at the very least, even if they hadn't exactly peppered the home side's goal.

But in the 38th minute, Anthony – up in support of the attack – was booked for diving just outside Bournemouth's penalty area.

Three minutes later at the other end, he was Rovers' last man but unwisely attempting to dribble his way out from the back. A heavy touch took the ball away from him and as former team-mate Sammy Igoe raced in to try and capitalise, the Welshman lunged in with a bad tackle.

An instant red looked a possibility, a second yellow was inevitable, and for the second time this season Anthony found himself making an enforced early exit.

That, at least, was one of the decisions referee Clive Penton got right on an afternoon when he did neither of the two teams any favours with an erratic performance.

It contributed to things getting a little feisty with the Sussex official brandishing nine yellow cards and two reds during the course of the afternoon.

Bournemouth were also to go down to 10 men later in the game, although by then they had just got their noses in front despite a string of heroic saves by Phillips.

Somewhat ironically, it came from a set piece – central defender Jason Pearce allowed space to nod home Warren Cummings' corner.

"I'm there to save the ball and I got in the way of as much as I could – but we weren't particularly good and Byron's sending off was significant," said Phillips.

"We said at half-time that it was important we didn't get done from a corner or a free header – and in the end it was both. It was very disappointing because I thought we were going to hang on."

Bournemouth's dismissal came after striker Lee Bradbury had collected a needless first caution for shoving Phillips in the back as the ball ran out to play for a goal kick.

The keeper was lucky to escape injury as the force of the push sent him over the advertising hoardings and into the Bournemouth fans, stewards having to react to keep one or two spectators at bay.

"There were a few naughty tackles and that was one of them," said Phillips. "There was a step down from the pitch and I went over on my ankle, although luckily it's okay. But I could have been killed by the Bournemouth supporters – anything could have happened.

"The advertising boards are close to the pitch and I can't see the point of him shoving me in the back when the ball was already out of play."

When Bradbury and Ryan Green then went head-to-head in a flare-up near the touchline 12 minutes from time, more early baths looked imminent.

Bradbury was the one to depart after another yellow – although once more an instant red looked more fitting for violent conduct – and Green appeared somewhat fortunate to escape any punishment.

Despite all the nonsense, there were outbreaks of football too. Bournemouth were denied an early lead when Phillips dived to his right to make a good stop from a Bradbury header, while Rickie Lambert sent a curled effort a couple of yards wide from outside the box.

Rovers looked to have a valid penalty appeal rejected just before the break when Craig Disley appeared to be upended by Scott Guyett. If it wasn't a spot kick, you had to ask why the Rovers midfielder wasn't also booked for diving.

To their credit, the visitors still attempted to take the game to the home side when they could in the second half, but Bournemouth had by far the better chances.

Phillips was busy, racing out to deny Brett Pitman from an under-hit Craig Hinton back-pass before making a marvellous save to divert away a low strike by Igoe.

Pitman was guilty of a shocking miss from six yards before Phillips again came to the rescue, making another good save when Joel Ward's shot had flown through a crowded box.

Rovers did attempt a late rally with substitute Darryl Duffy denied from seven yards by Cherries keeper Shawn Jalal, who then rode his luck by managing to gather a long-range Lambert shot at the second attempt.

But at the death, Phillips was in action again as the Cherries broke, foiling Danny Hollands with a stoppage-time save.