Bournemouth vs Brighton and Hove Albion. Premier League.
Vitality StadiumAttendance10,266.
Match report and free match highlights as goals from teenagers Evan Ferguson and Julio Enciso moved Brighton to within four points of Tottenham in fourth; Roberto De Zerbi's side play Spurs on Saturday
Wednesday 5 April 2023 06:38, UK
Brighton continued their march towards European qualification with a 2-0 win at Bournemouth - a result that moves them within four points of the top four.
Evan Ferguson sent Roberto De Zerbi's side on their way to maximum points with a classy flicked finish before substitute and fellow teenager Julio Enciso wrapped up the points in injury time.
The victory keeps Brighton in sixth but moves them to within four points of Manchester United in fifth and Tottenham in fourth and crucially De Zerbi's side have two games in hand on Spurs ahead of their meeting in north London on Saturday.
The only negative on another fantastic night for Brighton was player of the match Moises Caicedo limping off in the second half with a lower leg injury although De Zerbi played down fears of a spell on the sidelines, calling the issue "not a big problem" and was confident the Ecuador international will play on Saturday.
Bournemouth, who kept Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele busy, drop back into the bottom three but it remains very tight in the battle for survival.
Following a lack of goalmouth action in an end-to-end opening period delayed by referee Darren Bond requiring assistance with his communication equipment, the visitors showed their class with their 18-year-old striker Ferguson finishing like he had been playing in the Champions League for years.
Kaoru Mitoma sent in the cross and the Republic of Ireland striker produced a nonchalant finish into them bottom-right corner from around seven yards.
Yet Bournemouth responded well to the setback and should have levelled.
Dominic Solanke stung the palms of Seagulls goalkeeper Steele before on-loan Sassuolo midfielder Hamed Traore wastefully poked wide after being slipped clear by Jefferson Lerma and was then denied by a superb block from Adam Webster.
Brighton captain Lewis Dunk came close to turning the ball into his own net under pressure from Solanke early in the second period before Lerma's dipping effort from the edge of the box was tipped over by the fingertips of Steele.
David Brooks was later introduced for his first home appearance since being diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin's lymphoma in October 2021.
However, the longer the game went on, Brighton, aided by De Zerbi's smart substitutions, looked the more likely.
Cherries 'keeper Neto produced a fine stop to deny Pascal Gross before Caicedo then departed in distress following a collision with Philip Billing.
Danny Welbeck, on in place of Ferguson, almost put the result beyond doubt seven minutes from time when he was denied by Neto following fine work from Mitoma and Solly March.
It was left up to 19-year-old Paraguay striker Enciso to seal the points. He collected a pass from Gross and coolly stroked home his first goal for the club.
It's a big weekend for both sides as Bournemouth travel to relegation rivals Leicester on Saturday; kick-off 3pm.
Meanwhile, Brighton host Tottenham, also on Saturday, in a match that could have a huge bearing on the race for the top four; kick-off 3pm.
Roberto De Zerbi said: "His [Ferguson] best quality is to score and it's a very important quality but I think he has potential to improve in other parts of the pitch, to play with the other players, to play more for the team.
"In my work I have to make results but I have to help my players to improve, to progress. But I think we can achieve our target with Evan.
"I'm proud for him, I think the same for our scouting in our club. He can become a great player."
Cherries boss Gary O'Neil said: "We missed some big chances. They converted one very difficult one in the first half.
"Brighton are a good side when you open up spaces. We had a real good go at it.
"We were aggressive against a very good side.
"As a whole, I thought the game was there for us but we didn't manage to take some really good chances."
However, if Man City, Man Utd or Brighton win the FA Cup and finish in the top five their Europa League qualifying spot for winning the competition will be passed down to the next highest Premier League finisher who does not qualify for Europe, so sixth place.
Similarly, because Man Utd won the Carabao Cup and will likely finish in the top five, their Europa Conference League qualifying spot from that competition will go to the next highest Premier League finisher without European football, so seventh place.
April 8: Leicester (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
April 15: Tottenham (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
April 23: West Ham (H) - Premier League, kick-off 2pm
April 27: Southampton (A) - Premier League, kick-off 7.45pm
April 30: Leeds (H) - Premier League, kick-off 2pm
May 6: Chelsea (H) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 13: Crystal Palace (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 20: Manchester United (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 28: Everton (A) - Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm
April 8: Tottenham (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
April 15: Chelsea (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
April 22: Man Utd (N) - FA Cup semi-final, kick-off 3pm
April 26: Nottingham Forest (A) - Premier League, kick-off 7.30pm
April 29: Wolves (H) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 4: Man Utd (H) - Premier League, kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports
May 8: Everton (H) - Premier League, kick-off 5.30pm
May 13: Arsenal (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 20: Southampton (H) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 28: Aston Villa (A) - Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm
TBA: Man City (H) - Premier League
