4th April Bournemouth v Brighton & Hove Albion
A L B I O N R E P O R T - ( 23 )
4 APRIL 2023 -
AFC BOURNEMOUTH 0 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 2 ( Evan Ferguson 1 Julio Enciso 1 - -
PREMIER LEAGUE - at the VITALITY STADIUM, BOURNEMOUTH.
Buoyant Albion were on their travels again, this time journeying west along the coast to meet AFC Bournemouth in the Premier at the Vitality Stadium, the match being covered "live" by BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
Following their 3-3 home draw with Brentford in the Premier on the 1 April, Albion Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi made two changes to his starting line-up from that game, with Adam Webster and Evan Ferguson coming in for Levi Colwill and Danny Welbeck, the latter two dropping down to the substitutes bench.
Bournemouth gained promotion to the Premier last season after finishing as runners-up to Fulham. Following a 0-9 defeat at Liverpool earlier this season, Head Coach Scott Parker was replaced by Gary O'Neil. A few months back the Cherries became yet another Premier club to come under American ownership and they were the biggest spenders in the January 2023 transfer window.
Last time out in the Premier, Bournemouth beat Fulham 2-1 at home on the 1 April and for the visit of the Albion Gary O'Neil made two changes to his starting line-up from the Fulham game, with Ryan Christie and Hamed Traore replacing Joe Rothwell and Jaidon Anthony.
The Seagulls were unbeaten on the road since October 2022, having lost 1-3 at Manchester City on the 22 October 2022. The first opportunity in the game fell to the home side when defender Jack Stephens sent a header wide from a corner. The Albion took the lead on 28 minutes when a move involving Pervis Estupinan and Kaoru Mitoma ended with a cross to Evan Ferguson who finished with a neat backheel flick for a superb goal by the 18 year-old Irishman. 1-0.
The Cherries bounced back well after this setback forcing Albion keeper Jason Steele to make two fine saves to keep out efforts from Dominic Solanke. Ferguson then went close with a shot from distance which went narrowly wide and the last action of the half saw keeper Steele tip a Jefferson Lerma shot over the crossbar.
Half-time 1-0.
The first action of the second-half saw Ferguson receive a cross from Solly March but his shot from twelve yards out missed the target, when he should have done better. A surging run by Joel Veltman ended with him blazing over when a pass to Alexis MacAllister would have been a better option.
Desperately in need of points, Bournemouth were denied when Lewis Dunk made two excellent defensive blocks to deflect efforts from Solanke and Dango Quattara. Neto in the Bournemouth goal was then called into action as he made three fine saves in quick succession to keep out goal-bound shots from Pascal Gross, substitute Danny Welbeck and Mitoma.
In time added on, substitute Julio Enciso clinched the three points for the Seagulls when March and Gross set-up the 19 year-old Paraguayan, who calmly slipped past defender Illia Zabarnyi before slotting the ball home. It was Enciso's first Premier League goal. 2-0.
Albion's long unbeaten Premier League record away from home continues.
Final-score 2-0.
Albion had 16 shots at goal, with 6 on target and won 5 corners, free-kicks conceded - 5.
Bournemouth had 14 shots at goal, with 3 on target and won 5 corners, free-kicks conceded - 11.
SUMMARY - A professional performance by the Seagulls. It was also good to see the goalscorers for the Albion were Evan Ferguson (18) and Julio Enciso (19). Albion's long unbeaten away run will be put to the test on the 8 April when they visit Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jason Steele; Joel Veltman, Adam Webster, Lewis Dunk (Capt), Pervis Estupinan; Pascal Gross, Moises Caicedo (Yasin Ayari 80); Solly March, Alexis Mac Allister (Julio Enciso 73), Kaoru Mitoma (Deniz Undav 90+3); Evan Ferguson (Danny Welbeck 73).
Subs not used: Robert Sanchez (G/K), Levi Colwill, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Billy Gilmour, Facundo Buonanotte.
AFC Bournemoiuth line-up (4-4-1-1):- Neto; Adam Smith, Jack Stephens, Marcos Senesi (Illia Zabarnyi 85), Lloyd Kelly; Ryan Christie (Marcus Tavernier 58), Philip Billing (Antoine Semenyo 85), Jefferson Lerma, Dango Quattara (Lewis Cook 85); Hamed Traore (David Brooks 72); Dominic Solanke.
Subs not used: Mark Travers (G/K), Joe Rothwell, Matias Vina, Jaidon Anthony.
Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire).
Yellow Cards: Albion: 1 - Jason Steele. AFC Bournemouth: 1 - Lewis Cook.
Possession: Albion - 63%. AFC Bournemouth - 37%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Evan Ferguson (Albion).
Attendance: 10266.