Bournemouth fell back into the relegation zone after a 2-0 loss to Brighton on Tuesday night.
Bournemouth's lack of finishing proved costly, with the Cherries creating multiple good chances that lacked the final touch as they played European contenders Brighton, but the Seagulls proved their quality with two good finishes proving the difference at the Vitality Stadium. Results elsewhere means that Gary O'Neil's side are back in the bottom three on goal difference with nine games to go.
Gary O’Neil made two changes to the side that beat Fulham at the weekend, with Traore and Christie coming in for Rothwell and Anthony.
The visitors made two changes to their team from their draw at home to Brentford, with Levi Colwill and Danny Welbeck making way for Adam Webster and Evan Ferguson, who returned to the side after missing the Brentford game through injury.
The first shot on goal came for the visitors from Alexis Mac Allister, with the World Cup winner dribbling past Jefferson Lerma and firing the ball over the bar two minutes in.
Bournemouth’s first chance of the evening was in the 14th minute as Jack Stephens met a Hamed Traore corner, but the ball flashed past the far post and out for a goal kick.
The opening 20 minutes didn’t provide an entertaining spectacle for the fans in attendance at the Vitality Stadium, with Brighton dominating possession but struggling to create any clear-cut chances.
And it would be the visitors that took the lead in the 28th minute as Mitoma played the ball into the Evan Ferguson just outside of the six-yard box, and the Irishman skilfully flicked the ball past Neto and into the bottom corner to give Brighton a deserved lead.
After the goal it was Bournemouth who dominated the ball, and the next chance would come to the Cherries as Solanke dribbled into the box but fired his shot straight at Jason Steele.
Bournemouth created the best chance of the first half in the 38th minute as Lerma cut Brighton’s defence open putting Hamed Traore through on goal, but the Ivorian couldn’t convert his chance that looked easier to miss, with Steele pulling off another good save.
Gary O’Neil’s side nearly equalised on the brink of half time, with Dango Ouattara’s across flashing across the face of goal and just past an onrushing Solanke.
Both sides had their fair share of the ball in the first half, but Ferguson’s clinical finish meant that the visitors were ahead at the break. Bournemouth had created plenty of chances, Traore’s one-on-one being the biggest highlight, but their lack of finishing proved costly.
At half-time Chris Billiam Smith and Lawrence Okolie were interviewed ahead of their world title fight at the Vitality Stadium on May 27th. Hometown hero Billiam-Smith received the biggest cheer of the evening as he walked out, whereas his opponent received boos from the Vitality Stadium.
Bournemouth started the second half as they ended the first, with Solanke unable to finish as a deflected cross fell to the Englishman on the six-yard box.
Solanke came close again a couple of minutes later with his cross-come-shot beating Steele but just dropping past the far post.
Steele made a fantastic save seconds later, tipping Lerma’s dipping shot from the edge of the box over the bar.
Brighton created their first chance of the second half in the 56th minute when Solly March played the ball to Ferguson on the penalty spot, but the goal scorer couldn’t convert as he put is shot over the bar.
Bournemouth made their first change of the game in the 58th minute, with Christie making way for last weekend's man of the match Marcus Tavernier.
And the Englishman looked to recreate his heroics instantly, dribbling past Groβ and firing from range, but his shot troubled the corner flag more than it troubled Steele as it sailed wide.
Bournemouth wasted another chance with twenty minutes to play when the ball fell to Solanke in the box, but his shot deflected off Ouattara and went over.
Lewis Dunk made a great block after Traore cut into the box and looked to shoot, and that would be the Ivorian’s last action as he made way for David Brooks. Brighton also decided to make changes with Welbeck and Enciso coming on for Ferguson and Mac Allister.
Neto made a good save to keep Bournemouth in the game with 15 minutes to go after the ball fell to Groβ inside the penalty area.
Caicedo was in tears as he left the pitch injured after he went up for a challenge with Phillip Billing which left both players injured, but with Brighton’s star man much worse for wear. He made way for Yasin Asari.
The final minutes saw the visitor's dominate possession, passing their way through Bournemouth's midfield and creating a wonderfully worked Danny Welbeck chance that was saved well by Neto.
Bournemouth made their final changes with five minutes remaining when Billing, Ouattara and Senesi made way for Semenyo, Cook and a debuting Ilya Zabarnyi, marking the Ukrainian's first competitive game since November.
Brighton sealed their victory in the final minutes of the game when the ball fell to Enciso inside the penalty area, with the Bournemouth defence giving the substitute too much time as he slotted the ball past Neto to score his first Premier League goal and give the visitors their first win at the Vitality Stadium since 2007.