BRIGHTON IT’S FEVER PINCH Eddie nipped in to snatch sidelined Brooks... and it’s paying off for Cherries
EDDIE HOWE was at fever pitch after two-goal David Brooks turned on the magic.
Bournemouth boss Howe admitted the Cherries would probably have missed out on Wales’ rising star if Brooks had not contracted glandular fever last winter.
When Brooks was ruled out for two months, big clubs circling in the January window were forced to look elsewhere.
Howe nipped in to seal a bargain £ 10.6 million deal with Sheffield United in the summer – and it was like finding a Van Gogh masterpiece at a boot sale.
Howe said: “They were two great goals, very different in execution, but David showed his quality.
“We’ve been pleasantly surprised by his progress – he is certainly ahead of schedule. We knew we were getting an intelligent player, but we didn’t know how good he was going to be.
“I was pleased with the way we got our rhythm back today. We’ve been on a tough run, and when the game was in the balance, the players stood firm.”
Brooks’ accomplished finishing, and Cherries keeper Asmir Begovic’s catalogue of saves, proved the difference for a Cherries side needing a lift after six defeats in their previous seven league games.
They were indebted to Begovic for thwarting Yves Bissouma (twice) and Jurgen Locadia in the opening 20 minutes before Brooks settled the home side’s nerves.
In fairness, the Seagulls showed Brooks on to his favoured left foot and the Wales international picked his spot expertly from 20 yards.
Yet Bournemouth’s pulses of confidence were only fitful, and they needed another splendid intervention from Begovic to deny Lewis Dunk’s header an Albion equaliser on the stroke of half-time.
But Dunk’s afternoon was tarnished as the Seagulls skipper was sent off for two yellow cards in the space of nine minutes.
He walked like a batsman who doesn’t wait for the umpire’s raised finger when he hacked down Callum Wilson.
Four minutes later, Brooks, twisting in mid- air to meet sub Ryan Fraser’s near-post cross, cushioned his header superbly over Mat Ryan.
Brighton boss Chris Hughton had no complaints about the result, although he insisted Dunk’s first caution was attributed to the wrong player.
“Bissouma makes the first contact, so it’s incredibly harsh on Lewis,” said Hughton.