Bournemouth score their first goals of decade as poor Brighton continue to spiral
You wait all year for one Wilson to score and then two come along at once. Goals from Harry and Callum Wilson and an own goal from Pascal Gross, the first time Bournemouth have troubled the scorers in 2020, provided beleaguered Eddie Howe will some well overdue good cheer.
A dismal run in which the Cherries have collected only four points from a possible 36 sent Howe’s side plummeting into the bottom three with a squad ravaged by injury.
But at 90 minutes, Howe punched the air and the crowd sang his name, as they have so many times during his time as manager, and a look of relief washed over his face.
“I think there’s a lot of clubs up and down the country that I think wouldn’t have been given the time that they’ve given us,” said Howe of his supporters. “It’s what you’re in it for – the highs and the lows. We’re desperate to retain our Premier League status. I love the league, I love everything about it and I know how important it is to the club to stay in it.”
Despite dominating possession for long spells, Brighton were largely toothless, particularly in the first half when two late goals swung the match in Bournemouth’s favour.
“I thought we were in control of the game. I thought the home crowd was just about to turn on the team. Five minutes of a bit of madness from us means it’s 2-0 pretty quickly and the environment changes,” said Graham Potter, the Brighton manager.
The first goal came as the excellent Dominic Solanke collected Lewis Dunk’s unconvincing headed clearance and played a carefully weighted pass to Harry Wilson which the on-loan Liverpool winger dispatched past Mat Ryan.
Five minutes later, the home side extended their lead as Diego Rico’s corner was not cleared and Gross directed the ball into his own net under heavy pressure from Callum Wilson.
After an uneventful and cagey opening half hour, the atmosphere lifted inside the Vitality and it was little surprise when Bournemouth got a third, with not much sign of a Brighton fightback. Solanke was again influential, this time feeding Callum Wilson who skipped past Ryan and slid home his first goal since September.
Aaron Mooy was by far Brighton’s best player and his marauding runs from midfield will be the only source of solace for Potter.
“It’s going to be a long, tortuous few days for me, that’s for sure,” said Potter of his side’s predicament. Late on, Australian midfielder Mooy expertly controlled the ball and smashed it in off the post to bring the faintest of cheers from the small band of travelling support that had remained until the end.
Maupay and Mooy again went close with efforts from the edge of the area, but finally Howe’s luck had turned.
