Another win to fire Brighton to the heady heights of third in the Premier League table and three more goals to cement their place as the division’s free‑scoring entertainers, but it takes more than that to appease such a demanding character as Roberto De Zerbi.
“Today we played one of the worst games in my time,” the Italian said, bluntly, of his side’s comeback victory against Bournemouth.
“In two, three, four situations we were lucky. Bournemouth played a great first half. In the second half we played better, but not of our best level.”
Another manager might well have seen reason to show leniency towards his players. Coming just three days after their European debut against AEK Athens, it was perhaps no surprise that a much‑changed Brighton side looked bereft of ideas for some time in this game, struggling to threaten a Bournemouth team whose promising performances have largely belied their low position in the league.
That the half-time substitute Kaoru Mitoma’s double secured a fifth win in six matches means it is not inconceivable Brighton’s sights could be set even higher than Europe’s second-tier competition come the end of the season should they remain in the Champions League spots – a remarkable position, even at this embryonic stage of the campaign, given their high-profile departures during the summer. But for De Zerbi, there is only improvement to seek.
“Today was the first time we played after Europe,” he said. “We have to adapt. We are not used, yet, to playing three games in a week. I’m pleased because we won with character and with passion, not with the style or quality of play. But the football is showing the character. It’s a very important part of football – maybe the most important.”
There was an element of fortune about Brighton’s equaliser in first‑half stoppage time, after Dominic Solanke had given Bournemouth a deserved early lead, with Milos Kerkez misjudging his leap and flicking Billy Gilmour’s whipped cross into his own net.
De Zerbi’s bold double substitution at the break then altered the course of the match in astonishingly quick time when Mitoma and Ansu Fati combined to put the hosts in front just 15 seconds after being introduced.
Mitoma drove at pace to the edge of the visitors’ box, played a one‑two with the Barcelona loanee and finished neatly, low into the far corner. Half an hour later, the Japan forward doubled his individual tally, nodding in Pervis Estupiñán’s pinpoint cross from the left.
It all felt a long time since Bournemouth had taken the lead in a manner that had all the hallmarks of a goalkeeping clanger, but was vindication of a Bournemouth tactical masterstroke.
With the visitors refusing to press high up the pitch, Brighton’s goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen frequently resembled a conductor pleading for life from an unresponsive orchestra. Having repeatedly brought the ball out of his penalty area and waited while assessing his nonexistent options, he dawdled for too long in the 25th minute, allowing Ryan Christie to intercept and Solanke to lift over the prostrate Verbruggen into an empty net.
Bournemouth had other encouraging moments, including two strong penalty shouts, the second of which – when Simon Adingra’s flailing arm struck Marcus Tavernier – left the Cherries’ manager, Andoni Iraola, particularly irate.
They also twice went close in the dying stages, but remain without a Premier League win in 10 games, since beating Leeds at the end of April.
“It was a tough one to accept,” Iraola said. “Especially the way we played the first half. We’ve faced really good opponents but we have to compete better.”
