CHERRIES’ ED-ACHES

Bournemouth..1 Brighton..3

BOSS Eddie Howe saw the Cherries’ three-year wait for an FA Cup win continue.

And he then admitted £19million new signing Dominic Solanke will be crocked until February.

Howe paid the price for making

changes as goals from Anthony Knockaert and Florin Andone and a cracker from Yves Bissouma sent Bournemouth crashing.

England Under-21s striker Solanke had completed a move from Liverpool on the eve of the game after a loan switch to Crystal Palace fell through due to concerns over his fitness.

But Howe said: “He has got a hamstring injury at the moment so he will probably miss most of January and we are probably looking at February until he is ready to play.”

Bournemouth were looking for their first FA Cup win over a top-flight team since the then-third division Cherries famously humbled holders Manchester United in 1984.

Howe handed a debut to England right-back Nathaniel Clyne following his loan move from Liverpool.

Brighton rested England defender Lewis Dunk and top-scorer Glenn Murray as they made eight changes.

The game turned in the Seagulls’ favour after a glaring miss from Bournemouth striker Lys Mousset 17 minutes before half-time.

Jordon Ibe danced his way into the penalty area and his effort was blocked into the path of Frenchman Mousset but he blazed over from eight yards.

Mousset was made to pay for that miss three minutes later as fellow countryman Knockaert fired Brighton in front.

Jurgen Locadia raced in behind the Bournemouth defence before pulling the ball back for Knockaert to fire past Artur Boruc from eight yards.

Bissouma doubled the Seagulls lead just three minutes later with a superb solo goal, firing home off the inside of the post from 25 yards.

Howe threw on Wales winger David Brooks as a half-time substitute at the expense of youngster Kyle Taylor in a desperate bid to get back in the tie.

Marc Pugh handed the Cherries a lifeline 11 minutes after the restart, curling in his first goal since August 2017 from 20 yards after being teed-up by Andrew Surman.

Bournemouth were close to grabbing an equaliser three minutes later as Ryan Fraser drilled a cross-cum-shot across the face of goal, which Mousset narrowly failed to get on the end of.

Brighton’s two-goal advantage was restored in the 64th minute when Andone headed in after Shane Duffy had nodded Knockaert’s corner back across the six-yard box.

Howe, whose side have now won just two of their last 12 games, said: “We are in a bad run and we need to get out of it very quickly.”

Brighton manager Chris Hughton said: “It was a difficult game as we all know it would be so I’m really delighted to go through.

“We have got a tough period coming up but I would rather be in the next round than not.”