Mousset miss proves costly for ‘wobbly’ Bournemouth

THERE are occasions in football when matches really do flip on single moments.

So it was here for Bournemouth and their unfortunate forward Lys Mousset. In the 28th minute, the Frenchman had the direction of this tie in his grasp.

Jordon Ibe scuttled into the Brighton penalty area before striking towards goal. His effort was blocked by Shane Duffy but the ball dropped to Mousset eight yards out with the goal unguarded. Bournemouth fans were ready to celebrate, only for Mousset to lean back and wildly strike over the top.

In that moment, the momentum inexorably shifted. Within six minutes, Brighton were two goals ahead and a fightback simply did not seem likely.

Brighton’s squad has real depth in the attacking positions and, despite eight changes, Chris Hughton was able to field expensive recruits such as Yves Bissouma and Jurgen Locadia, while an adventurous team also included goalscorers Anthony Knockaert and Florin Andone.

Locadia created the first, backheeling the ball into the path of Knockaert, who set himself before arrowing a shot low and hard into the corner. Three minutes later, the advantage was doubled. Bissouma has demonstrated glimpses of talent since the midfielder’s summer transfer from Lille but this was a wonderful goal, drilling into the corner from 25 yards.

Hughton said: ‘This is a great competition. It’s very important to me and the club.’

For Bournemouth manager, Eddie Howe, it is a worrying slump. Not only was this a third consecutive FA Cup third-round exit but it also represented a 10th defeat in 13 games.

Bournemouth have conceded two or more goals on nine of those 13 occasions and Brighton’s third goal — so simple for Andone to convert from a corner routine — spoke for the struggles that endure at the heart of Howe’s defence.

Howe did make nine changes to the team that drew 3-3 against Watford on Wednesday but the concession of soft goals and the sluggish start to the game mirrored their previous fixture.

Howe said: ‘It follows the pattern of recent weeks. The first shot on target they score and then we wobbled.’

Reinforcements are arriving and Nathaniel Clyne made a promising impact on his debut at right back. It was the 27-yearold’s first appearance since joining on loan from Liverpool.

At the interval, Howe took action, replacing young Kyle Taylor with David Brooks and instantly injected more speed and wit into Bournemouth’s play.

The deficit was halved on 55 minutes when Marc Pugh jinked inside just outside the penalty and drove a shot that whizzed past keeper Jason Steele.

But Bournemouth selfdestructed once again as Brighton’s corner in the 64th minute yielded that decisive third goal for Andone.