Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler hailed Danny Welbeck as a “leader” after the striker’s late winner against Bournemouth extended the Seagulls’ winning run in all competitions to four matches.
Welbeck, who had replaced Joao Pedro only three minutes earlier, raced on to Georginio Rutter’s pass before sliding a left-footed shot past Kepa Arrizabalaga via the inside of the far post.
It was Welbeck’s first goal since finding the net in a 2-2 draw with Wolves on 26 October and moves him on to 30 Premier League goals for Brighton – the joint-most for the club in the top flight along with Pascal Gross.
“If you have Danny Welbeck, you think every second when to bring him on [from the bench],” said Hurzeler.
“He got what he deserved today. The most important thing for me is that he is there as a leader. [He is] so important for the young players.”
Both teams had opportunities to go in front in an entertaining opening, but it was Brighton who struck first when Pedro stroked home from the penalty spot after being upended by Arrizabalaga.
Kaoru Mitoma hit the post with a first-time effort from Tariq Lamptey’s cross before the interval, but Bournemouth restored parity in the second half when Justin Kluivert collected a Milos Kerkez pass on the left before cutting inside and rifling a magnificent drive past Bart Verbruggen.
The Brighton goalkeeper was forced into a point-blank save from Dango Ouattara as the Cherries sought to complete the turnaround, but Welbeck’s finish ultimately proved decisive.
The victory lifts Brighton to eighth, level on points with the Cherries in seventh.
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Welbeck keeps Seagulls so
Since being thrashed 7-0 by Nottingham Forest at the beginning of February, Brighton have beaten Chelsea – in the Premier League and FA Cup – Southampton and now Bournemouth to reignite their hopes of qualifying for Europe next season.
Hurzeler made two changes to the team that began the 4-0 win at St Mary’s on Saturday, restoring fit-again Pervis Estupinan to the XI and handing a first start to January signing Diego Gomez.
Paraguay midfielder Gomez was at the heart of Brighton’s best attacking moves in the early stages, releasing Mitoma with a perfectly weighted through ball after nine minutes but the Japanese winger was unable to steer his effort on target.
Another fine Gomez pass led to the penalty from which Brighton took the lead, Pedro collecting the ball in his stride before being fouled by Arrizabalaga.
The visitors had the better of the chances in the second half and Brighton had Verbruggen to thank for keeping out Ouattara with the score at 1-1, before Welbeck’s composed finish earned the Seagulls a narrow victory.
The 34-year-old started the season with six goals in nine league matches had gone 13 appearances without finding the net before his strike against the Cherries.
“He’s a cool man,” Hurzeler said of Welbeck’s finish. “The public and media always judge strikers by scoring goals.
“It’s important we have strikers who can score, but we know the quality of Danny Welbeck.”
Cherries pay for missed chances
Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth came into Tuesday’s game on an eight-match unbeaten run on their travels, and they will be frustrated not to have made it nine away games without defeat.
Ryan Christie forced Verbruggen into action after just two minutes, his left-footed strike tipped wide of the post by the Brighton goalkeeper in a bright start by the Cherries.
Bournemouth lost Christie to an apparent groin injury midway through the first half but continued to cause Brighton problems in the final third, Semenyo shooting straight at Verbruggen in their best chance before the break.
Kluivert’s stunning strike was his 12th league goal of the campaign and makes him the first Cherries player to score 10 away goals in a Premier League season – only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has more in the competition (16) this term.
It appeared to have given the visitors a platform to go on and win the game, and Ouattara almost completed the turnaround when he poked straight at Verbruggen from close range, but Iraola’s side paid the price for their profligacy when Welbeck struck.
Bournemouth remain just two points off the top five but have now picked up only three points from their past four matches in the top flight – their worst run since October.
“It’s difficult [to accept the result], because we played well,” said Iraola. “We played as good as, if not better than, Brighton.
“They were better in the two boxes – this is what counts in football.”
