Bournemouth won their third game on the bounce against a lacklustre Brighton side, thanks to goals from Alex Scott and Antoine Semenyo either side of half-time.
Scott struck a sweet strike from outside the box past Bart Verbruggen in the Seagulls’ goal, giving the hosts the lead.
Brighton levelled the scoreline early in the second half asKaoru Mitoma latched onto a teasing cross at the back post, but it was only a blip for the Cherries, who regained the lead through a Semenyo penalty, won by Evanilson, which delivered the club’s third win of the season with only four games played.
The win lifts Bournemouth up into the top four, level on points with Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
It was another solid, determined performance with plenty of talking points.
Cherries' midfield duo dominate
With injuries sidelining first-choice midfielders Lewis Cook and Ryan Christie, the opportunity fell to Tyler Adams and Alex Scott to stake their claim in the centre of the pitch.
And they have seized it, forming a partnership that looks increasingly assured, with Saturday’s win over Brighton being the clearest evidence yet.
Adams set the tone with his relentless pressing, snapping at **Brighton**’s heels and breaking up their rhythm, whilst Scott used that platform to carry the ball forward and link play in advanced areas.
Yet their strength lies not just in sticking to those roles but in their fluidity.
If it was not Adams harrying Brighton midfielders, it was Scott; if it was not Scott driving into space, it was Adams scanning for options.
The statistics underline their influence.
Between them, they registered nine tackles and interceptions, more than **Brighton**’s opposite numbers.
Adams also recorded the second-highest number of completed passes on the pitch with 47, whilst both players chipped in with a key pass apiece.
It was, in short, a textbook display of balance and cohesion, a midfield pairing that could shape **Bournemouth**’s season.
Antoine more than goals
Antoine Semenyo shone yesterday setting up the first goal and scoring his own through a second half penalty, proving himself, again, to be a key goal-scoring asset within the side.
However, the Ghanaian offers so much more to the team beyond goal contributions.
Saturday’s game was a clear showing of how Semenyo operates in the team beyond the goals.
In order to bypass Brighton’s press, Iraola instructed Djordje Petrovic to launch the ball up the pitch, namely to Semenyo, who constantly won knock-ons against his defensive opponent.
This then allowed the Cherries to move up the pitch efficiently and set up a five-on-four towards the Brighton goal after just two touches.
Semenyo won all four of his knock-ons, which would be picked up by Scott or Adams, who, in turn, swept the ball out wide to willing runners.
But it does not end there.
Since **Bournemouth**’s famous win at the Emirates last season, they have deployed the long throw at any opportunity, often taken by Semenyo.
As a not-so-secret weapon anymore, the former Bristol City man is able to launch the ball into the near post of the goal, creating chaos within the box.
The game was the perfect example of his diverse ability within the squad and what he can deliver with key contributions in goals, assists, throw-ins, and knock-ons.
Under Iraola, Semenyo is blossoming into a more well-rounded player each season, with plenty in his arsenal.
Milosavljevic shines in Diakite's absence
Bournemouth fans will have been shocked to see their new star defender, Bafode Diakite, not featured on the team sheet, instead replaced by 18-year-old Serb Veljko Milosavljevic for his first start in red and black.
And fans will have been even more shocked to witness such a solid performance from a teenager, who seemed to slot into the team effortlessly.
After the game, Bournemouth Head Coach, Iraola, praised the Serbian defender, who only had three days to train with the squad since arriving from Red Star Belgrade.
Iraola said to the media: “He has the rhythm and he comes in good form. Everything went well with him”, as the teenager also picked up the Bournemouth "player of the match".
As for the game, Milosavljevic did not have it easy, with some formidable opposition to contend with, like Danny Welbeck, Georgino Rutter, and Kaoru Mitoma.
Despite that, he still put up impressive numbers: one key pass, nine clearances, three recoveries, six headed clearances, and not a single foul conceded.
The defender showed knowledge of the game far beyond his years, proving why the Cherries were interested in signing him.
His positioning and anticipation was superb, and he displayed a calmness on the ball reminiscent of former Cherries Dean Huijsen and Illia Zarbarnyi.
It is unknown how long Diakite will be out for, but with such a solid debut, Cherries fans may be wondering whether the young Serb will turn into another one-season-wonder for the club like a certain current Real Madrid defender.
Resilience key in victory again
For the fourth Premier League game in a row, Bournemouth showed true grit to squeeze out a victory over Brighton.
Their Sussex opponents were largely uninspiring and toothless going forward but stepped during a few periods in the game, particularly after their equaliser and in the final ten minutes.
Despite piling on the pressure and forcing their way in and around the box, the Cherries stood firm and held out for another win.
It is becoming somewhat of a feature this season for Bournemouth, who have shown various styles of resilience during their first four games, seeing the Cherries grind out a couple of 1-0 wins against tough and awkward opposition too.
It was an unwanted aspect of the last campaign that they could not break down stubborn sides or take their chances in games they dominated.
Only being four games into a 38-game season, it seems a little premature to declare the side is over this naive style of play but it certainly helps set the tone for the rest of the campaign.
Having finished ninth last season, Bournemouth almost grabbed European football, but fine margins proved to be the difference in them finishing any higher.
So far, the 2025/26 season looks promising.
Bournemouth managed to win their first ever home game against Wolves, dominate and hold onto a famous win away against Tottenham Hotspur, and grab victory over a tricky Brighton side.
Even in the Cherries’ opening day defeat to Liverpool, they managed to equal the scores, only to succumb to two late goals.
Going forward, fans should feel hopeful with the first few performances in what could turn out to be another amazing campaign.