13 SEPTEMBER 2025
AFC BOURNEMOUTH 2 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1
PREMIER LEAGUE
at the VITALITYSTADIUM, BOURNEMOUTH.
Following the first international break, Matchday 4 saw the Albion journey westwards along the coast to meet AFC Bournemouth in the Premier at the Vitality Stadium, the game being covered by BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
In their previous Premier League outing, the Albion had achieved an excellent 2-1 win over former Champions Manchester City at the Amex on the 31 August and for their visit to the Vitality Stadium the Albion made two changes to their starting line-up from the City game,with James Milner and Georginio Rutter coming in for Carlos Baleba and Diego Gomez.
Last time out the Cherries had enjoyed a 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur on the 30 August and for Albion's visit Head Coach Andoni Iraola made two changes to his starting line-up from that game, with James Hill and Veljko Milosavijovic replacing Adam Smith and Bafode Diakite.
Last season the Albion did the double over the Cherries, winning 2-1 at the Vitality on the 23 November 2024, with the goals coming from Joao Pedro (4m) and Kaoru Mitoma (49m) whilst the Cherries consolation came from David Brooks (90+3m). In the return fixture at the Amex on the 25 February 2025 it was again 2-1 to the Albion with Joao Pedro penalty (12m) and Danny Welbeck (75m) netting for the Seagulls and Justin Kluivert (61m) scoring for the Cherries.
The Seagulls got off to a bad start as with just 16 seconds on the clock midfielder Jack Hinshelwood fell awkwardly on his right ankle and that was it for him, Yasin Ayari substituting.
Albion fell behind on 18 minutes when a poor header out of defence was picked up by Antoine Semenyo who fed Alex Scott and the midfielder lashed a fine left-foot shot past Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen from the edge of the box. 0-1.
The Seagulls were unfortunate to suffer a second injury on 24 minutes after Maxim De Cuyper had collided with some advertising boards. Ferdi Kadioglu replaced the unlucky De Cuyper. Evanilson then headed over the bar following a cross from the left by Adrien Truffert and on a counter Yankuba Minteh eluded the Cherries back-line but his right-foot shot was beaten away by Cherries keeper Dorde Petrovic at the expense of a corner.
Half-time 0-1.
Albion started the second-half on the front foot and on 48 minutes the equaliser arrived when Minteh's superb cross from the right was headed home by Kaoru Mitoma at the far post.
1-1.
The lively Minteh then had a fine run which ended with a left-foot shot which was deflected for a corner. Danny Welbeck was then unlucky to see his right-foot shot drift narrowly wide of the target. On the hour, Lewis Dunk's awful misplaced pass went straight to Marcus Tavernier in the Albion half, the midfielder ran on and passed the ball to Evanilson who was tripped by Jan Paul Van Hecke in the box for a clear-cut penalty. Semenyo converted the resultant penalty-kick. Two bad errors and the Cherries were ahead again. 1-2.
Head Coach Fabian Hurzeler made a triple substitution on 67 minutes, with Carlos Baleba, Brajan Gruda and Stefanos Tzimas replacing James Milner, Georginio Rutter and Welbeck. It was Tzimas Premier League debut for the Albion. There was still time for Van Hecke to block a goal-bound Justin Kluivert volley with his head and at the other end Minteh's shot was deflected by the head of Marcos Senesi.
A rare win for the Cherries over the Seagulls. Final-score 1-2.
Match stats:
Albion had 6 attempts at goal, with 2 on target and won 4 corners, free-kicks conceded - 10.
AFC Bournemouth had 13 attempts at goal, with 5 on target and won 4 corners, free-kicks conceded - 16.
VERDICT - After the euphoria of the win over Manchester City, the Albion produced a lack-lustre display at the Vitality. The Seagulls scored an excellent goal through Kaoru Mitoma but gifted the Cherries two goals to concede the points. The second goal Albion gave away was laughable as Lewis Dunk and then Jan Paul Van Hecke committed basic errors which lead to the Cherries being awarded a penalty, which was converted for the winning goal. Another bad day at the office for the Albion.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Joel VELTMAN, Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Lewis DUNK (Capt), Maxim DE CUYPER (Ferdi KADIOGLU 24); James MILNER (Carlos BALEBA 67), Jack HINSHELWOOD (Yasin AYARI 3); Yankuba MINTEH, Georginio RUTTER (Brajan GRUDA 67), Kaoru MITOMA; Danny WELBECK (Stefanos TZIMAS 67). Subs not used: Jason STEELE (G/K), Olivier BOSCAGLI, Diego COPPOLA, Tommy WATSON.
AFC Bournemouth line-up (4-2-3-1):- Dorde PETROVIC; James HILL (Alex JIMENEZ 87), Veljko MILOSAVIJOVIC, Marcos SENESI, Adrien TRUFFERT; Tyler ADAMS, Alex SCOTT (Justin KLUIVERT 67); David BROOKS (Capt) (Amine ADLI 67), Marcus TAVERNIER (Lewis COOK 86), Antoine SEMENYO; EVANILSON (Julio SOLER 92).
Subs not used: Will DENNIS (G/K), Julian ARAUJO, Ben GANNON-DOAK, Junior KROUPI.
Referee: Peter Bankes (Lancashire).
Fourth Official: Steve Martin.
VAR Official: Paul Howard.
Yellow Cards: Albion: 4 - Lewis Dunk, James Milner, Carlos Baleba, Georginio Rutter.
AFC Bournemouth: 4 - Alex Jimenez, Marcos Senesi, Tyler Adams, David Brooks.
Possession: Albion - 48%. AFC Bournemouth - 52%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Antoine Semenyo (AFC Bournemouth).
Attendance: 11167.