Watch highlights as Cherries run riot at the AMEX; Brighton to host Cardiff on Tuesday night
Saturday 13 April 2019 18:39, UK
Brighton’s relegation fears intensified after a dismal 5-0 defeat to Bournemouth as Anthony Knockaert saw red on Saturday.
Bournemouth were booed off by their home supporters in their recent 3-1 defeat by Burnley, but were already 2-0 up courtesy of Dan Gosling (33) and Ryan Fraser (54) when Knockaert was given his marching orders for a wild lunge on Adam Smith.
From then on, Eddie Howe's men were rampant on the break, and David Brooks (74), Callum Wilson (82) and Junior Stanislas (90+2) made it an embarrassing day for Chris Hughton.
Brighton remain five points above the drop zone, but welcome Cardiff City to the AMEX on Tuesday night and still have to play Tottenham, Arsenal, and Manchester City this season.
Steve Cook - returning from two months off for the Cherries with a serious groin infection that almost cost him his career - made a sensational headed clearance to deny Shane Duffy at the back post in a nervy opening quarter. That was as good as it got for Brighton.
The first goal was always going to be key in terms of confidence, and Bournemouth got it on 33 minutes when Gosling linked with Brooks and Wilson before sliding home - unchallenged - from 10 yards.
Brighton struggled to find any attacking flow, but the same couldn't be said for the visitors, who were classy and clinical on the break. It was 2-0 on 54 minutes. King raced clear and his pass was lobbed over Mat Ryan by Fraser.
Any hope of a comeback - that didn't look likely anyway - was dealt a huge blow when Knockaert lost his head. The Brighton winger, who cut a frustrated figure all afternoon, decided to lunge in as Smith knocked the ball away from his own box. It was high, late and completely reckless. A red card followed.
From that moment on, Bournemouth became devastating on the attack as Brighton were pinned back. Brooks made it 3-0 after liking with King and finishing into the bottom corner before Fraser then fed Wilson, who put another one past the helpless Ryan.
A fifth looked on the cards, and Stanislas delivered the final nail in Brighton's coffin in injury time.
This was a tough one as all of Bournemouth's attacking players were on their game, especially when Brighton went down to 10-men. Fraser made four key passes and two of those ended with goals.
Of course, he netted a brilliant one of his own, too. This was a masterclass of how to attack with pace, power, and precision on the break.
Chris Hughton: "We started OK but a lack of confidence and quality in the final third is stopping us getting ahead in games. Then from our possession, they scored - that was the story of the game. Four of the goals they scored were from our possession. We wasn't able to handle their pace on the counter attack."
Eddie Howe: "It has been a difficult run for us recently, so we knew the importance of this game, we were desperate to win. It has been a frustrating second half of the season. We started so well that we felt we could really go on and achieve special things and it hasn't really materialised.
Brighton are back at the AMEX on Tuesday night for a critical clash with Cardiff while Bournemouth host relegated Fulham next Saturday afternoon.
