Evan Ferguson looks destined to play in the Champions League sooner rather than later, but will it be with Brighton? A stunning backheel finish from the 18-year-old Irishman – his fourth league goal of a memorable first full season – and a late strike from another teenager, substitute Julio Enciso, enabled Roberto De Zerbi’s side to overcome a spirited Bournemouth and move to within striking distance of the top four.
Just four points separate Brighton from Tottenham in fourth – who have played two more games – and if Ferguson can produce another goal like this one when they visit north London on Saturday then the Champions League journey that the visiting supporters sang about at the final whistle could be within touching distance despite the abrupt departure of Graham Potter to Chelsea in September.
“Evan is very young – his best quality is to score,” said De Zerbi, who celebrated the win with a passionate fist pump in the direction of Brighton’s fans at the final whistle. “He has the potential to become a great player but only if he can improve in the other parts of the pitch.”
Asked whether Brighton were now real contenders for Champions League qualification, he said: “If we win at Spurs then there is a possibility. We have to believe and today the players gave me a signal that they believe in our target.”
For Gary O’Neil, whose Bournemouth side are back in the bottom three after wasting a hatful of opportunities, it was a harsh lesson. “The game was there for us but we couldn’t take our chances,” he said.
Not since the days of Eddie Howe in February 2018 had Bournemouth won three games in a row here in the Premier League but they never looked like extending that run in this match, even if Brighton never had full control of the points until the Paraguayan 19-year-old, Enciso, came off the bench to score his first goal since joining last summer.
In contrast to the patient approach that became their mantra under Potter, De Zerbi’s side have now racked up 51 league goals in this campaign – the fourth highest in the division – and also have an FA Cup semi-final to look forward to. Yet De Zerbi will be most pleased with the way his side saw off Bournemouth’s considerable threat after the hosts made a strong start to both halves.
Ferguson missed Brighton’s thrilling draw against Brentford at the weekend due to injury but adds so much to their attack when he is on the pitch. The opening goal illustrated just what an exciting prospect the teenager from Bettystown is after Lewis Dunk had set up the move with a brilliant through ball. Mitoma’s cutback was just behind Ferguson but he spun and backheeled the ball in one motion to leave Neto with no chance of stopping it.
Bournemouth responded by piling the pressure on Jason Steele but he proved equal to a fierce drive from close range to deny Dominic Solanke. Hamed Traoré then fluffed a golden opportunity to equalise when he poked wide before Adam Webster blocked the Ivory Coast midfielder’s effort on the line.
Ferguson scored on his full debut for the Republic of Ireland last month and was inches away from doubling his tally at the start of the second half when he curled just wide. But it was Bournemouth who continued to mount the bigger threat as first Solanke failed to hit the target from close range before Steele tipped over a dipping volley from Jefferson Lerma.
Ferguson failed to give his side some breathing space after Solly March picked him out on the edge of the six-yard box and he blazed over. At the other end, Dango Ouattara could not believe his luck after inadvertently diverting Solanke’s goalbound shot over the crossbar.
Only a brilliant save from Neto kept Bournemouth in the game after Pervis Estupiñán’s cut-back found Pascal Gross before Moisés Caicedo had to be withdrawn after receiving lengthy treatment for an ankle injury that De Zerbi insisted was not a concern for Saturday. Another quick break involving the outstanding Mitoma and March could have rounded things off in style had it not been for another excellent save from Neto before Enciso danced his way through Bournemouth’s defence to the delight of the travelling supporters. They could have plenty more trips to plan soon.
