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Cherries ace’s goal-den return
JERMAIN DEFOE sealed Bournemouth’s first win of the season last night.
Eddie Howe’s side looked on course for a fifth straight defeat after Solly March nodded Brighton ahead after 55 minutes.
But sub Jordon Ibe’s cute back heel set up Andrew Surman for the equaliser.
Defoe then got his second spell with the Cherries up and running, slotting home Ibe’s slide-rule pass.
JERMAIN DEFOE scored his first Bournemouth goal in SIXTEEN years as the Cherries fought back to claim their first points of the season.
Eddie Howe’s strugglers looked to be heading for a fifth straight Premier League defeat when Solly March headed Brighton in front 10 minutes into the second half.
But strikes from Andrew Surman and Defoe, who made his name at Dean Court as a teenager on loan from West Ham, at last gave boss Howe reason to smile.
Defoe said: “All week we have gone back to basics, trying to get crosses in and being direct.
“When we went a goal down we didn’t panic, we really dug in. All credit to the lads. We got our reward in the end.”
Both goals were made by substitute Jordon Ibe, who said: “You have to be ready on the bench when your chance comes. When I got my chance, the manager just told me to be direct.”
The Seagulls mustered the first effort on goal as Anthony Knockaert drilled a low shot wide before defender Shane Duffy almost gifted the hosts the lead in the 15th minute. Duffy miscued a clearance straight Joshua King but Lewis Dunk came to his team-mate’s rescue with a heroic block on the edge of the box.
Brighton showed little attacking intent in the opening half an hour but Davy Propper came close to a spectacular opener when he chipped over the bar after a sloppy Arter pass.
The visitors came out all guns blazing after half-time and would have been in front but for a brilliant double goal-line clearance from Surman.
First Surman kept out Shane Duffy’s header from point-blank range before reacting superbly to block Propper’s follow-up effort.
Bournemouth had another narrow escape from the resulting corner when Dale Stephens rattled the crossbar with a header. But Brighton did not have to wait long to delight their fans who had made the 100-mile trip along the coast.
Pascal Gross sent in a superb cross from the right and March rose highest to nod past a helpless Asmir Begovic.
Howe sent on £15m former Liverpool winger Ibe from the bench in a desperate bid to rescue the game.
Ibe made an immediate impact, playing a neat one-two with Surman before the former Southampton midfielder jinked his way into space in the 18-yard box and side-footed home.
Super sub Ibe had a hand in Defoe’s winner six minutes later, picking out the England striker for a delightful first-time finish after Brighton had only half-cleared a corner.
Defoe’s last goal in Bournemouth colours was during a 3-3 draw with Reading in the old Division Two in May 2001. BOURNEMOUTH (4-4-1-1): Begovic; A Smith, Francis, Ake, Daniels; Fraser (Ibe 65), Arter, Surman, Pugh; King (Gosling 90); Defoe (Afobe 78). Subs: Boruc, L Cook, Mings, Mousset. BRIGHTON (4-4-1-1): Ryan; Rosenior, Dunk, Duffy, Suttner; March, Stephens, Propper, Knockaert (Izquierdo 76); Gross (Murray 77); Hemed. Subs: Maenpaa, Hunemeier, Murphy, Goldson, Schelotto. Referee: Craig Pawson.