Mitoma double gives Brighton win over Bournemouth and puts them third

Their Europa League debut might not have gone to plan, but keep playing – and, crucially, scoring – like they have been and Brighton might just find themselves in the Champions League next season.

For 45 minutes in this game, Roberto De Zerbi’s side looked bereft of ideas as they struggled to threaten a Bournemouth team whose promising performances this campaign have largely belied their lowly position in the league.

But few sides have been able to halt Brighton’s free-scoring ways this season – with Newcastle and Manchester United among their victims – and their three goals here in the Sunday afternoon sun catapulted them into the top four and they remain the Premier League’s top scorers with 18.

Eager for an improved showing after the break, De Zerbi introduced Kaoru Mitoma and Ansu Fati at half-time. Incredibly, it took just 14 seconds for those two substitutes to combine to put the hosts in front.

Mitoma drove at pace to the edge of the visitors’ box, played a one-two with the Barcelona loanee and finished neatly low into the far corner. Half an hour later, the Japanese forward doubled his individual tally, nodding in Pervis Estupiñán’s pinpoint cross from the left.

It all felt a long time since Bournemouth had taken the lead in a manner that had all the hallmarks of a goalkeeping clanger, but only materialised as the result of what was ostensibly a fascinating footballing chess match.

Aware of the De Zerbi blueprint of passing acutely and expertly through teams from the back, Bournemouth refused to play to the Italian’s tune, resolutely declining to press and frequently leaving Bart Verbruggen resembling a conductor pleading for life from an unresponsive orchestra.