Jermain Defoe strikes to earn Bournemouth first win

Jermain Defoe celebrates his goal against Brighton & Hove Albion

Jermain Defoe's first Bournemouth goal in 16 years sealed the Cherries' first Premier League win of the season as they came from behind to beat south-coast rivals Brighton 2-1 on Friday Night Football.

The Cherries were staring a fifth-straight league defeat in the face when Solly March headed Brighton into the lead on 55 minutes at the Vitality Stadium.

But substitute Jordon Ibe changed the game with two assists as Andrew Surman and Defoe struck in the space of six minutes to clinch a morale-boosting victory which eased the pressure on manager Eddie Howe.

Bournemouth remain second from bottom despite claiming their first three points, but move to within a point of the Seagulls, who remain in 14th position.

Bournemouth started brightly but it was the visitors who had the first shot in anger as Anthony Knockaert flashed an effort wide on 11 minutes, before Marc Pugh followed suit with an effort of his own nine minutes later.

Both sides saw plenty of the ball in midfield but chances were at a premium. They exchanged blows in a pulsating 30th minute as Davy Propper's audacious lob on the half-hour nestled on the roof of the net before Defoe's shot on the swivel whistled past Mathew Ryan's post.

Andrew Surman scored his first Premier League goal to equalise for Bournemouth

Brighton came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock on 51 minutes but Surman was in the right place to clear headers from Shane Duffy and Propper off the line from successive corners.

Dale Stephens then turned Duffy's knock-down against the crossbar, and into the thankful arms of Asmir Begovic, as the Seagulls laid siege on the Cherries goal.

(Sky Sports)