Defoe shows how it’s done in style
JERMAIN Defoe rolled back the years to fire Bournemouth to their first win of the season as the Cherries came from behind to beat Brighton.
The Seagulls are the 36th Premier League team Defoe has scored against but the 35-year-old’s first since rejoining the club in the summer.
A dismal start to the season and a torrential downpour before kick-off threatened to dampen Bournemouth’s spirits ahead of the visit of Chris Hughton’s side.
It is too early in the season to talk of relegation six-pointers but, in reality, retaining top-flight status is the clear target for both these southcoast clubs.
Bournemouth’s first chance fell to Joshua King after Shane Duffy’s careless pass found him in plenty of space. King was unable to exploit it as Lewis Dunk got across to bail out Duffy with an excellent block.
Hughton had everyone except Tomer Hemed behind the ball and Eddie Howe’s men struggled to find a route through the rigid Brighton lines in the early stages.
They were neat and tidy but lacked a cutting edge, even with the wily Defoe partnering King. Charlie Daniels managed to get to the byline and pull back for Marc Pugh but he fired over.
Brighton, for their part, offered next to nothing in the first 45 minutes and seemed content to play for a point. Their sole effort of the first half came after Davy Propper’s weaving run and chip saw the ball roll across the top of the net.
Defoe finally had a chance as Pugh teed him up on the edge of the box. The former Sunderland striker turned brilliantly but fired his low effort just wide of the far post. Howe has said he takes full responsibility for Bournemouth’s start to the season and the club’s former defender remains a hero in Dorset after taking the Cherries to the top flight from League Two.
But there were a few groans from the home stands as referee Craig Pawson drew the curtain on a forgettable first half.
Brighton came out with more intent and were almost in front after five minutes of the second half. Andrew Surman twice headed off the line to deny Duffy and Propper following a corner and then Dale Stephens went even closer, heading Duffy’s knockdown onto the bar.
Hughton’s men took heart and soon took the lead. Pascal Gross, who scored twice in the last week’s defeat of West Brom, exchanged passes with Knockaert before floating a cross to the far post for Solly March to head the ball home.
Howe cut an anxious figure on the touchline, with his team showing few signs of a response against the Premier League newcomers. The Bournemouth manager introduced former Liverpool winger Jordon Ibe and got an immediate response.
A brilliant backheel from the £15million signing found Surman, who showed a sureness of foot to feint past Dunk and stroke home the equaliser.
Ibe has been largely disappointing since moving South but he had a goalbound effort brilliantly deflected over by Dunk. Minutes later he again turned provider, finding Defoe in the penalty area with a clever pass, which the England hitman buried in the far corner.