19 JANUARY 2026
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1 AFC BOURNEMOUTH 1
PREMIER LEAGUE
at the AMERICAN EXPRESS STADIUM, FALMER.
Matchday 22 saw the Albion entertain AFC Bournemouth at the Amex in a Premier League fixture, "live" in front of the Sky Sports cameras, the match also being covered by Talksport and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
In their last outing the Albion enjoyed an excellent 2-1 win at Manchester United in the Third Round of the FA Cup on the 11 January and for the visit of AFC Bournemouth the Albion made four changes from the United game, with Bart Verbruggen, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Lewis Dunk and Kaoru Mitoma replacing Jason Steele, Diego Coppola, Olivier Boscagli and Georginio Rutter.
Last time out the Cherries had exited the Third Round of the FA Cup at the hands of Newcastle United at St. James' Park on the 10 January after a 6-7 penalty shoot-out loss and for their visit to the Amex Head Coach Andoni Iraola made four changes to his starting line-up from the Newcastle game, with Alex Jimenez, Marcos Senesi, Adrien Truffert and Marcus Tavernier replacing Adam Smith, Bafode Diakite, Julio Soler and David Brooks.
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 (12m, penalty) and Danny Welbeck (75m) netting for the Seagulls and Justin Kluivert (61m) scoring for the Cherries. Earlier this season in the Premier at the Vitality on the 13 September 2025 it was 2-1 to the Cherries, with their goals coming from Alex Scott (18m) and Antoine Semenyo (61m, penalty) whilst Kaoru Mitoma (48m) netted for the Seagulls.
A cagey opening spell ended when Brajan Gruda tried his luck from 20 yards out but his shot was saved by Cherries goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic. On the half-hour a Cherries counter-attack saw a Marcus Tavernier pass over the top find Amine Adli in the clear but as the winger drifted past Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen he fell to the ground and was promptly booked for simulation by Referee Paul Tierney,
There followed a lengthy VAR check after which the Referee changed his decision, awarded the Cherries a penalty and withdrew Adli's yellow card. Tavernier buried the penalty and the visitors were in front. 0-1.
Prior to the break, striker Evanilson went close with a header.
Half-time 0-1.
The Albion started the second-half on the front foot and Kaoru Mitoma was unfortunate to see his curled shot from distance drift narrowly wide of the post. The Seagulls made a triple substitution on 66 minutes, with Carlos Baleba, Yankuba Minteh and Georginio Rutter replacing Jack Hinshelwood, Gruda and Diego Gomez. The changes seemed to spark the Seagulls and Minteh saw his piledriver saved by Petrovic.
With time running out, in the first minute of time added on young Greek striker Charalampos Kostoulas, who had substituted for Danny Welbeck on 77 minutes produced a moment of magic as his brilliant overhead kick ended up in the Bournemouth net for a deserved Albion equaliser. 1-1.
The remaining minutes failed to produce a decider and the match ended all-square.
Final-score 1-1.
Match stats:
Albion had 17 attempts at goal, with 5 on target and won 11 corners, free-kicks conceded - 7.
AFC Bournemouth had 11 attempts at goal, with 2 on target and won 6 corners, free-kicks conceded - 6.
VERDICT - Two major talking points from this one. The first was the questionable penalty awarded to the Cherries. Initially the Referee yellow-carded Adli for simulation but after a VAR check changed his decision. The second was the superb overhead kick by Charalampos Kostoulas for Albion's equaliser - an excellent effort by the young Greek striker.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Joel VELTMAN, Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Lewis DUNK (Capt), Ferdi KADIOGLU (Olivier BOSCAGLI 89); Jack HINSHELWOOD (Carlos BALEBA 66), Pascal GROSS; Brajan GRUDA (Yankuba MINTEH 66), Diego GOMEZ (Georginio RUTTER 66), Kaoru MITOMA; Danny WELBECK (Charalampos KOSTOULAS 77). Subs not used: Jason STEELE (G/K), Diego COPPOLA, James MILNER, Yasin AYARI.
AFC Bournemouth line-up (4-2-3-1):- Djordje PETROVIC; Alex JIMENEZ (Veljko MILOSAVIJEVIC 99), James HILL, Marcos SENESI, Adrien TRUFFERT; Alex SCOTT, Lewis COOK (Capt); Marcus TAVERNIER (Adam SMITH 71), Eli Junior KROUPI (Ryan CHRISTIE 72), Amine ADLI (Bafode DIAKITE 79); EVANILSON. Subs not used: Fraser FORSTER (G/K), Malcom DACOSTA, Remy REES-DOTTIN, Charlie STEVENS, Dominic SADI.
Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire).
Fourth Official: David Webb.
VAR Official: Jarred Gillett.
Yellow Cards:
Albion: 2 - Jan Paul Van Hecke, Danny Welbeck. AFC Bournemouth: 3 - Djordje Petrovic, Marcos Senesi, Adam Smith.
Possession: Albion - 67%. AFC Bournemouth - 33%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Charalampos Kostoulas (Albion).
Attendance: 30172.
NEXT GAME:
24 JANUARY 2026 - FULHAM - AWAY - PREMIER LEAGUE - KICK-OFF 15.00.
Jack Kaye.
22 January 2026.