Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 Bournemouth: Kaoru Mitoma strikes late to earn victory

Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi described Kaoru Mitoma as a "great player" you can "never substitute" after the Japanese winger scored a late winner for the second game running to hand Brighton victory over Bournemouth.

Mitoma, whose stoppage-time goal knocked holders Liverpool out of the FA Cup last weekend, steered a header past Cherries goalkeeper Neto with three minutes remaining to spark joyous scenes among the home supporters.

This latest effort was Mitoma's sixth in his past nine appearances across all competitions and his seventh overall in 2022-23, making him the club's joint-top scorer alongside Alexis Mac Allister, Pascal Gross and Leandro Trossard.

"He has a natural quality," De Zerbi said of the 25-year-old.

"Today he didn't play a fantastic game, but when you have Mitoma on the pitch you can never substitute him because you always expect one goal."

Deniz Undav should have put the home side ahead in the first half, shooting against the post from close range after being denied twice in quick succession by blocks from Chris Mepham and Neto.

Jefferson Lerma shot wide from Jaidon Anthony's cross as Bournemouth began to grow into the contest, but the hosts continued to carve out the better openings and twice went close through Danny Welbeck before half-time.

Billy Gilmour fired into the side-netting and Cherries debutant Antoine Semenyo had a shot blocked by the retreating Pervis Estupinan in a delicately poised second half, before Mitoma's late header broke the visitors' hearts.

De Zerbi left Moises Caicedo out of his starting line-up after the Ecuadorian midfielder's attempts to force a move away from the club during the January transfer window.

The Seagulls climb to sixth, while Bournemouth are 19th after Everton's victory over Arsenal in Saturday's early game.

Caicedo's omission meant Brighton started a league game without either the Ecuadorian or the suspended Mac Allister for only the second time this season, the other occasion being the 4-2 defeat at home by Arsenal on 31 December.

The Seagulls, who were also without in-form teenager Evan Ferguson through injury, looked set to draw a blank for the first time in a Premier League game since October until Mitoma's late effort.

They controlled possession early on as Bournemouth set up camp inside their own half, but Undav somehow failed to put the hosts ahead with a quarter of an hour played.

The German striker, making only his second league start this season, intercepted Neto's misplaced pass but after Mepham blocked his initial effort, Undav proceeded to fire straight at the Bournemouth goalkeeper before shooting against the post with his second follow-up shot.

Bournemouth improved as the half wore on but Welbeck headed straight at Neto from Solly March's delivery, then steered a low Undav cross wide of the far post shortly before half-time.

Caicedo was given a rousing reception by the Brighton supporters when he entered the fray just before the hour mark, but it was the midfielder's compatriot Estupinan who came to the home side's rescue midway through the second period by throwing himself in front of Semenyo's shot.

Brighton's late pressure eventually told, though - Neto getting a hand to Mitoma's header but failing to stop the ball crossing the goal-line.

Bournemouth manager Gary O'Neil handed debuts to January signings Semenyo and Hamed Traore, while Dango Ouattara made his second appearance following an eye-catching Premier League introduction against Nottingham Forest a fortnight ago.

The trio failed to make the scoresheet but their pace, direct running and energy could prove a major asset as Bournemouth look to avoid an immediate return to the Championship this season.

Semenyo's tremendous solo run midway through the second period deserved a better outcome - but the former Bristol City player was thwarted by Estupinan's block.

Lerma should have done better from Anthony's cross in the first half, while O'Neil will feel his team should have been awarded a penalty either side of half-time.

Estupinan's robust challenge on Ouattara went unpunished in the first half, before Ryan Christie's cross appeared to strike the full-back on the hand in the second.

Victories for fellow strugglers Everton, Wolves and Leicester compounded a miserable afternoon for the visitors, whose next five league games include encounters with Newcastle, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.