Full Time After Extra Time This is a live match. Extra Time Half Time

Bournemouth vs Brighton and Hove Albion. Premier League.

7:45pm, Tuesday 4th April 2023.

Vitality StadiumAttendance10,266.

Brighton and Hove Albion 2

E Ferguson (27th minute)
J Enciso (91st minute)

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Bournemouth 0-2 Brighton: Roberto De Zerbi side close gap on Manchester United and Tottenham in race for fourth

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.

How Brighton maintained top-four charge...

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.

Team news: Ferguson was back for Brighton

Gary O’Neill resisted the urge to start Marcus Tavernier despite his wonder goal from the bench against Fulham but still made two changes. Hamed Traore and Ryan Christie replaced Joe Rothwell and Jaidon Anthony.
Two changes were made by Roberto De Zerbi from the 3-3 draw with Brentford as Evan Ferguson who was missing from the matchday squad at the weekend replaced Danny Welbeck in attack and Adam Webster got the nod ahead of Levi Colwill.

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.

What's next?

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.

De Zerbi: Ferguson can be become a great

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."

Where do Brighton need to finish to qualify for Europe?

The top four in the Premier League qualify for the Champions League group stage
Fifth place and the FA Cup winners qualify for the Europa League group stage
The Carabao Cup winners qualify for the Europa Conference League playoff

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.