Having written a new chapter in the Premier League (PL) history books after registering 33 shots on goal in their pulsating 3-3 draw with Brentford, Brighton had the first sight on goal in the contest as Alexis Mac Allister’s effort flew wide in the opening minutes.
Seeking their maiden appearance in a UEFA competition, the Seagulls were ahead shortly before the half-hour mark as Brighton wonderkid Evan Ferguson marked his return to the starting XI with an exquisite back-heeled finish.
Undefeated in over a decade at the Vitality Stadium across the top three tiers of English football against Brighton, Gary O’Neil’s relegation-threatened side should have been level heading into the HT interval.
Hamed Traorè should have been wheeling away in celebration with his new teammates, however, the Ivorian international fired Jefferson Lerma’s defence-splitting pass wide of the mark.
Bournemouth were in desperate need of an improvement in front of goal to stand a chance of registering a hat-trick of home PL victories for the first time since February 2018.
Despite coming close, the Cherries were denied by Jason Steele, who sublimely rerouted Lerma’s speculative long-range strike over the top of the crossbar.
With only league-leaders Arsenal scoring more away goals than Brighton (25) across the 2022/23 PL campaign, the Seagulls surprisingly struggled to replicate their goalscoring threat after the restart, convincing Roberto De Zerbi to respond with the introductions of Danny Welbeck and Julio Enciso.
The Italian’s gamble paid dividends in stoppage time as Enciso slotted his strike into the corner for his first-ever PL goal for Brighton.
Brighton’s hard-fought victory on the south coast will look even more significant if they can emerge victorious from the match they still have in hand over the teams around them.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth remain firmly in the heavily-congested relegation zone, staring at the possibility of an immediate return to the second tier of English football, despite only losing one of their last four matches.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Evan Ferguson (Brighton & Hove Albion)
