THANKS CHERRY MUCH, JERMAIN!
Defoe seals Bournemouth comeback
THAT’S what Jermain Defoe does — give him a chance and he will score. His match-winning, first goal since rejoining Bournemouth meant they picked up their first points of the season and manager Eddie Howe could breathe a huge sigh of relief.
The 34-year-old may not have the legs these days but team-mate Andrew Surman made up for that with headers off the line at one end and an equalising goal at the other after Solly March gave Brighton a surprise lead early in the second half.
But what Defoe does have is a masterful finish, honed over decades, and his 160th Premier League strike against his 36th different Premier League opponent was as fine as they come.
Substitute Jordon Ibe laid on both goals and when he slipped in Defoe in the 73rd minute there was no doubt the ball would end up in the far corner.
‘It’s massive to be honest,’ said Defoe, who last scored for the Cherries while on loan from West Ham in 2001. ‘It was a game that we thought we needed to win. We dug in when we went 1-0 and showed great spirit. On a personal note it was great to score.’
Howe had developed a look of constant concern in recent weeks, perplexed not only by the run of four defeats but by their troubling performances. In seasons past, Bournemouth have lost matches but maintained a buccaneering, free-passing style. That had been non-existent so far this season.
It meant a match against newly promoted Brighton, who recorded their first top-flight win in 34 years against West Brom the week previously, took on vast importance.
Yet for all Bournemouth’s early passing, Brighton had the first chance when Anthony Knockaert nut-megged Charlie Daniels on the right, dribbled inside and shot narrowly wide from 12 yards.
When Bournemouth did get chances, Joshua King saw his shot blocked by Lewis Dunk, Daniels hit straight at Brighton goalkeeper Mathew Ryan from long range, and Marc Pugh fired wildly wide in the box. This was not what Howe had demanded.
Brighton almost took the lead on 29 minutes when Davy Propper dribbled from his own half and chipped from outside area on to the roof of the net. After the break, they got closer. Pascal Gross swung in a corner and Shane Duffy headed across goal and on target, but Surman headed off the line. Propper headed the rebound back at goal and Surman nodded out for a corner. Gross sent it back in, Duffy nodded on and Dale Stephens headed on to the underside of the bar, but the ball stayed out.
Four minutes later Brighton made one count: Gross turned sharply on the right flank, crossed, and March headed past Asmir Begovic. It was getting desperate for Bournemouth but a moment of quality had them level as Surman proved as adept at putting the ball in the net as he was at keeping it out. The Bournemouth midfielder passed to Ibe, introduced two minutes before the equaliser, who back-heeled back into Surman’s path inside the area. He stuck Dunk on his backside to level.
When Defoe struck the winner six minutes later the relief was palpable, as Howe later admitted. ‘A lot of emotions, relief is probably the biggest one,’ said the manager. ‘We have had a tough run of fixtures and today was really important.
‘We have struggled to get the ball into the dangerous areas this season, but when you do you have a chance with Defoe’s finishing ability and he showed that.’
BOURNEMOUTH (4-4-1-1): Begovic 6; A Smith 6, Francis 6, Ake 6, Daniels 6; Fraser 6 (Ibe 65min 6.5), Arter 5, SURMAN 8, Pugh 6; King 6 (Gosling 90); Defoe 7 (Afobe 78).
Subs not used: Boruc, L Cook, Mings, Mousset. Scorers: Surman 67, Defoe 73. Booked: None. Manager: Eddie Howe 7. BRIGHTON (4-4-1-1): Ryan 6; Rosenior 6, Dunk 6, Duffy 6, Suttner 6; Knockaert 6.5 (Izquierdo 77), Stephens 6, Propper 6.5, March 7.5; Gross 7 (Murray 77); Hemed 6. Subs not used: Maenpaa, Hunemeier, Murphy, Goldson, Schelotto. Scorer: March 55. Booked: None. Manager: Chris Hughton 6. Referee: Craig Pawson 6. Attendance: 10,500.