Enes Unal marked his first Premier League start for Bournemouth with a goal as the Cherries surpassed their highest top-flight points total by defeating an underwhelming Brighton.
Marcos Senesi opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a close-range header after Brighton failed to clear a corner, giving Andoni Iraola’s team an early lead.
Turkey striker Unal, who had missed a chance earlier, found the net after halftime by smartly heading Dango Ouattara’s cross into the far corner. This was his second goal since arriving on loan from Getafe in January.
Justin Kluivert added to the scoreline with a dynamic late run and a left-footed strike past Bart Verbruggen, marking his third goal in three home matches.
Brighton struggled to create significant opportunities, with Simon Adingra’s shot, which was tipped over the bar by Mark Travers, being one of their few chances.
A late injury concern for Bournemouth saw winger Antoine Semenyo stretchered off with what appeared to be a knee injury.
The win elevates Bournemouth to 48 points, two points beyond their previous best in the 2016-17 season.
Iraola expressed his satisfaction to BBC Match of the Day, saying, “We are really, really happy. The players deserve these points. They have performed really well.” He praised the team’s early-season effort and expressed a desire to earn more points moving forward.
He also confirmed that Unal’s loan move would be made permanent, noting his positive attitude and successful integration both on and off the pitch as key factors in the decision.
Meanwhile, Brighton remains in 12th place, with just six wins from their last 28 league games, indicating a potential falloff from their recent upward trajectory.
Two sides continue on opposite trajectories
When Bournemouth began the Premier League season without a win in their first nine games, the decision to replace Gary O’Neil with Iraola, who lacked experience in England, raised eyebrows. However, as the season progressed, those doubts have been emphatically dispelled.
The team was in fine form again on Sunday, displaying speed and creativity, and could have ended the game with a wider margin of victory. Unal missed a significant chance in the first half, and Kluivert opted to shoot, hitting the side netting early in the second half when passing might have been a better option.
Since Iraola’s appointment, Bournemouth has amassed 45 points from their last 26 games. Maintaining this rate for a whole season could see them contending for a spot in European competitions.
While Bournemouth shone, Brighton was notably lackluster. Speculation about Roberto de Zerbi’s future is mounting, and his demeanor was noticeably despondent on the sidelines, especially after Bournemouth’s first goal.
Brighton made seven changes from their 4-0 loss to Manchester City earlier in the week, benching experienced players like Danny Welbeck and Adam Lallana and giving Premier League debuts to 21-year-old defender Odel Offiah and 19-year-old striker Mark O’Mahony.
De Zerbi’s team managed 13 shots, but only one was on target. Despite being plagued by injuries, their performance has been declining since September, with only Burnley, Nottingham Forest, and Sheffield United having worse records.
Looking ahead to next season, resolving whether De Zerbi will stay on as manager is among Brighton’s most pressing issues.
De Zerbi told BBC Match of the Day: “We have to play much better than we are playing. We would like to give more and more but maybe in this moment it is tough for us.
“We prepared the game well but our best at the moment is not enough.
“I have big confidence in my players. I know how they feel when we lose a game. We lose together and we have keep going together.”
Player of the match
Mark Travers