Kaoru Mitoma has six goals in his past nine appearances across all competitions
Kaoru Mitoma scored a late winner for the second game running as Brighton edged past Bournemouth at Amex Stadium.
Mitoma, whose stoppage-time goal earned victory over Liverpool in the FA Cup last weekend, steered a header past Cherries goalkeeper Neto with three minutes remaining to spark joyous scenes among the home supporters.
Deniz Undav should have put the home side ahead in the first half, shooting against the post from close range after being denied twice in quick succession by blocks from Chris Mepham and Neto.
Jefferson Lerma shot wide from Jaidon Anthony's cross as Bournemouth began to grow into the contest, but the hosts continued to carve out the better openings and twice went close through Danny Welbeck before half-time.
Billy Gilmour fired into the side-netting and Cherries debutant Antoine Semenyo had a shot blocked by the retreating Pervis Estupinan in a delicately poised second half, before Mitoma's late header broke the visitors' hearts.
Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi left Moises Caicedo out of his starting line-up after the Ecuadorian midfielder's attempts to force a move away from the club during the January transfer window.
The Seagulls climb to sixth, while Bournemouth are 19th after Everton's victory over Arsenal in Saturday's early game.
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Mitoma the hero again
Caicedo's omission meant Brighton started a league game without either the Ecuadorian or the suspended Alexis Mac Allister for only the second time this season, the other occasion being the 4-2 defeat at home to Arsenal on 31 December.
The Seagulls, who were also without in-form teenager Evan Ferguson through injury, looked set to draw a blank for the first time in a Premier League game since October until Mitoma's late effort.
They controlled possession early on as Bournemouth set up camp inside their own half, but Undav somehow failed to put the hosts ahead with a quarter of an hour played.
The German striker, making only his second league start this season, intercepted Neto's misplaced pass but after Mepham blocked his initial effort, Undav proceeded to fire straight at the Bournemouth goalkeeper before shooting against the post with his second follow-up shot.
Bournemouth improved as the half wore on but Welbeck headed straight at Neto from Solly March's delivery, then steered a low Undav cross wide of the far post shortly before half-time.
Caicedo was given a rousing reception by the Brighton supporters when he entered the fray just before the hour mark, but it was the midfielder's compatriot Estupinan who came to the home side's rescue midway through the second period by throwing himself in front of Semenyo's shot.
Brighton's late pressure eventually told, though - Mitoma netting his sixth goal in nine appearances across all competitions to consolidate Brighton's place in the top six.
More to follow.
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Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection
- BrightonBrighton & Hove AlbionBrighton & Hove AlbionBournemouthAFC BournemouthAFC Bournemouth
Brighton & Hove AlbionStarting XIAvgSquad number1Player nameSánchezAverage rating
6.85
12345678910Squad number34Player nameVeltmanAverage rating
7.10
12345678910Squad number5Player nameDunkAverage rating
7.41
12345678910Squad number30Player nameEstupiñánAverage rating
7.35
12345678910Squad number2Player nameLampteyAverage rating
7.26
12345678910Squad number13Player nameGroßAverage rating
7.18
12345678910Squad number27Player nameGilmourAverage rating
7.68
12345678910Squad number22Player nameMitomaAverage rating
8.12
12345678910Squad number7Player nameMarchAverage rating
7.32
12345678910Squad number21Player nameUndavAverage rating
6.94
12345678910Squad number18Player nameWelbeckAverage rating
6.92
12345678910SubstitutesAvgSquad number4Player nameWebsterAverage rating
6.92
12345678910Squad number19Player nameSarmientoAverage rating
7.18
12345678910Squad number20Player nameEncisoAverage rating
6.87
12345678910Squad number25Player nameCaicedoAverage rating
6.56
12345678910Squad number40Player nameBuonanotteAverage rating
7.15
12345678910Share your Brighton player ratings withFacebookTwitterWhatsAppCopy and share linkAFC BournemouthStarting XIAvgSquad number13Player nameNetoAverage rating
5.73
12345678910Squad number15Player nameA SmithAverage rating
5.50
12345678910Squad number6Player nameMephamAverage rating
5.69
12345678910Squad number25Player nameSenesiAverage rating
5.53
12345678910Squad number33Player nameZemuraAverage rating
5.59
12345678910Squad number11Player nameOuattaraAverage rating
5.48
12345678910Squad number8Player nameLermaAverage rating
5.58
12345678910Squad number29Player nameBillingAverage rating
5.49
12345678910Squad number32Player nameAnthonyAverage rating
5.56
12345678910Squad number22Player nameTraorèAverage rating
5.69
12345678910Squad number24Player nameSemenyoAverage rating
6.80
12345678910SubstitutesAvgSquad number10Player nameChristieAverage rating
5.87
12345678910Squad number14Player nameRothwellAverage rating
4.99
12345678910Squad number18Player nameViñaAverage rating
4.25
12345678910Share your Bournemouth player ratings withFacebookTwitterWhatsAppCopy and share link
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsBrighton
Formation 3-4-2-1
1Sánchez34Veltman5Dunk30Estupiñán2Lamptey13Groß27Gilmour22Mitoma7March21Undav18Welbeck
- 1Sánchez34VeltmanBooked at 9mins5DunkBooked at 70mins30Estupiñán2LampteySubstituted forBuonanotteat 75'minutes13Groß27GilmourSubstituted forCaicedoat 57'minutesBooked at 79mins22Mitoma7MarchSubstituted forWebsterat 89'minutes21UndavSubstituted forEncisoat 75'minutes18WelbeckSubstituted forSarmientoat 57'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Webster19Sarmiento20Enciso23Steele25Caicedo29van Hecke40Buonanotte42Offiah49Moran
Bournemouth
Formation 4-4-1-1
13Neto15A Smith6Mepham25Senesi33Zemura11Ouattara8Lerma29Billing32Anthony22Traorè24Semenyo
- 13Neto15A SmithBooked at 84mins6Mepham25Senesi33Zemura11Ouattara8Lerma29BillingSubstituted forRothwellat 66'minutes32AnthonySubstituted forViñaat 81'minutes22TraorèSubstituted forChristieat 61'minutes24Semenyo
Substitutes
- 1Travers10Christie14Rothwell17Stacey18Viña21Moore41Pollock43Greenwood53Kinsey-Wellings
Referee:Craig PawsonAttendance:31,600Match StatsHome TeamBrightonAway TeamBournemouthPossessionHome71%Away29%ShotsHome20Away12Shots on TargetHome6Away2CornersHome7Away3FoulsHome14Away7Live Text Post update
Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Bournemouth 0.
90'+5'Full Time
Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Bournemouth 0.
90'+3'Post update
Attempt missed. Julio Enciso (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Facundo Buonanotte.
90'+2'Post update
Foul by Facundo Buonanotte (Brighton and Hove Albion).
90'+2'Post update
Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89'Post update
Joël Veltman (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.
89'Post update
Foul by Ryan Christie (Bournemouth).
89'Substitution
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Adam Webster replaces Solly March.
87'goalGoal!
Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Bournemouth 0. Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Jeremy Sarmiento with a cross.
86'Post update
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Neto.
86'Post update
Attempt saved. Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jeremy Sarmiento.
86'Post update
Attempt blocked. Jeremy Sarmiento (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Moisés Caicedo.
84'Booking
Adam Smith (Bournemouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
84'Post update
Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
84'Post update
Foul by Adam Smith (Bournemouth).
82'Post update
Attempt missed. Dango Ouattara (Bournemouth) header from very close range misses to the left. Assisted by Ryan Christie with a cross following a corner.
82'Post update
Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Solly March.
81'Substitution
Substitution, Bournemouth. Matías Viña replaces Jaidon Anthony.
81'Post update
Foul by Pervis Estupiñán (Brighton and Hove Albion).
81'Post update
Joe Rothwell (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Source: bbc.com