O'Mahony starts for first time as Brighton are beaten

Mark O'Mahony started a Premier League game for the first time as Brighton succumbed to a 3-0 defeat against Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon.

Goals from Marcos Senesi, Enes Unal and Justin Kluivert fired the record-breaking Cherries into the top half.

They won the battle for south-coast supremacy to beat their own best ever points haul in the top flight, surpassing the 46 they managed under Eddie Howe in 2016-17.

When Brighton won the reverse fixture at the end of September they moved up to third, while Bournemouth were still searching for their first win under Andoni Iraola.

But the Seagulls have now wilted to 12th, their European ambitions well and truly extinguished, while Bournemouth are proving to be the late-season bloomers.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 international O'Mahony was substituted at half-time in a disappointing day for the Seagulls.

It took Bournemouth just 13 minutes to take the lead when Lewis Cook swung in corner to the near post, where Umal challenged O’Mahony.

The ball looped up into the six-yard box and Senesi was left with a simple header into the net.

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi made seven changes to his line-up following the 4-0 drubbing by Manchester City on Thursday, including full debuts for O’Mahony and Odel Offiah, the nephew of rugby league great Martin Offiah.

They almost hauled themselves level when Facundo Buonanotte jinked past fellow Argentinian Senesi and raced into the box, but his shot was beaten away by Cherries keeper Mark Travers.

However, Bournemouth were by far the more dangerous side and Unal should have doubled their lead on the half hour when the ball was squared to him by Alex Scott.

But the Turkish midfielder, making his first Premier League start, scuffed his shot horribly