AFC Bournemouth
To mark AFC Bournemouth playing 200 games in the Premier League, afcb.co.uk is looking back at some of the most memorable matches in the top flight.
The third game of our mini-series recounts the events of a resounding 5-0 win for the Cherries against Brighton in April 2019, the club’s biggest away victory in the Premier League.
HOW IT HAPPENED
AFC Bournemouth headed to Sussex bidding to record a league double following their 2-0 victory over the Seagulls in December 2018 when David Brooks netted both goals.
Eddie Howe’s team were also hoping to avenge defeat in the third round of the FA Cup, Marc Pugh grabbing their consolation in a 3-1 reverse at Vitality Stadium in January 2019.
Howe made two changes to his starting line-up following a disappointing defeat against Burnley with Artur Boruc replacing Asmir Begovic in goal and Steve Cook coming in for Nathaniel Clyne.
Joshua King twice went close to opening the scoring in the early stages, the Norway international seeing a volley go wide and a header flash past the upright.
As the Seagulls grew into the contest, Cook and Chris Mepham made crucial interceptions to prevent crosses from Anthony Knockaert and Yves Bissouma causing problems.
Having soaked up what pressure Brighton put on them, the visitors drew first blood following a free-flowing attacking move, finished emphatically by Dan Gosling.
David Brooks linked well with Jefferson Lerma before firing the ball into the feet of Gosling who cleverly traded passes with Callum Wilson.
And after receiving the ball from Wilson eight yards out, Gosling kept his composure and found the bottom corner of the net to notch his first goal for 14 months.
Brighton goalkeeper Maty Ryan got down smartly to smother Cook’s dipping effort from 25 yards but was powerless to prevent the Cherries doubling their lead ten minutes into the second half.
A sweeping counter saw Wilson feed Ryan Fraser, the Scotsman applying a superb curling finish from 20 yards into the top corner for his seventh Premier League goal of the campaign.
Brighton were reduced to ten men midway through the second half when Knockaert received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Cherries defender Adam Smith.
The Cherries made their numerical advantage pay when they carved through an overworked Seagulls defence to add a third goal in the 74th minute.
Some lovely footwork by Brooks on the edge of the box created the opening before he played a neat one-two with Fraser and clipped the ball past Ryan as Lewis Dunk slid in to try to save the day.
Wilson was rewarded for his tireless efforts with a 13th goal of the season, the striker turning sharply and beating Ryan with a left foot shot into the bottom corner eight minutes from time.
With Fraser supplying the assist, it was the 11th time the pair had combined for a Premier League goal this season, the most by a duo since Alan Shearer and Mike Newell in 1995/96.
Substitute Dominic Solanke was foiled by Ryan as he looked to open his goal account for the Cherries but there was no reprieve for the hosts in injury time.
Jefferson Lerma won possession near the halfway line before bombing forward into enemy territory where Shane Duffy’s tackle on the Colombian resulted in the ball falling for Brooks.
The Wales international took a touch before unselfishly passing to Junior Stanislas, the substitute picking his spot and curling the ball past the outstretched arm of Ryan.
Defeat condemned Brighton to their heaviest reverse on home soil since they were beaten 8-2 by Bristol Rovers in the third tier in December 1973.
A second away win in 12 outings moved the Cherries up to 12th place, 13 points clear of the relegation zone with four games remaining. They went on to finish 14th.
WHAT THEY SAID
David Brooks told the Daily Echo: “Confidence has always been high, but I think in the performances over the past couple of weeks, we’ve not had that click and fluidity throughout the team.
“I think that was back against Brighton and I thought we showed really good glimpses throughout the game and thankfully we could put it away.
“As soon as Dan Gosling scored the first goal, I think it just calmed the nerves and the good play started to follow.
“We know that the quality is within the team. We’re just looking forward to finishing the season strongly.
“We’ve been saying over the past couple of weeks that the performances haven’t been there and I think this should kick-start the last bit of the season.”
Brighton boss Chris Hughton told the BBC: “We came up against a very dynamic Bournemouth side and couldn’t handle them.
“We are in a fight at the moment. Our form is very up and down. This was on the back of a very good performance last week. We have to show our character on Tuesday. Once the players cross that line it’s only them who can do that.”
On Knockaert’s red card, he added: “It was a reckless challenge. It was the right decision. I’ve spoken to the team and I think it was one of the poorest performances since I’ve been here. Especially knowing the qualities of the team we were playing against.
“In the end, it was about keeping the score down. The fear is it could have been worse.”
MATCH FACTS
Brighton & Hove Albion 0 AFC Bournemouth 5 (Gosling, 33, Fraser, 55, Brooks, 74, Wilson, 82, Stanislas, 90+2)
Brighton & Hove Albion: Ryan, Montoya, Duffy, Dunk, Bernardo, Bissouma, Stephens, Propper (Izquierdo, 63), Knockaert, Locadia, Andone (Murray, 58). Unused subs: Burn, Bong, Kayal, Jahanbakhsh, Button (g/k).
Booked: Andone.
Sent off: Knockaert.
AFC Bournemouth: Boruc, Smith, Mepham, S Cook (Simpson, 87), Ake, Brooks, Gosling, Lerma, Fraser, Brooks, King (Solanke, 76), Wilson (Stanislas, 83). Unused subs: Clyne, Ibe, Mousset, Begovic (g/k).
Booked: Ake, Mepham, Gosling, Boruc.
Referee: Kevin Friend.
Attendance: 30,460.
