Sublime Ferguson backheel paves way for Brighton win

Republic of Ireland international Evan Ferguson scored an exquisite backheel as Brighton won 2-0 away to Bournemouth as the high-flying Seagulls move within four points of a Champions League spot.

Ferguson missed the 3-3 weekend draw with Brentford with an unspecified injury, but was restored to the starting XI at the expense of Danny Welbeck and quickly repaid manager Roberto de Zebri's confidence in him.

FULL MATCH DETAILS

A week on from just his second Irish start in the 1-0 European qualifier defeat to France in Dublin, the 18-year-old gave the Seagulls a 28th-minute lead, backheeling the ball home from around eight yards out following Kaoru Mitoma’s low cross into the box for his fourth goal in 11 Premier League appearances this term.

The visitors added a second in injury-time at the end of the game when Pascal Gross fed another teenager, 19-year-old Julio Enciso, who easily beat Neto in the home goal for his first strike for the club.

Brighton are in sixth place in the table with 46 points from 27 games, four points behind Newcastle United in third, while Bournemouth remain in the bottom three with 27 points from 29 matches.

Bournemouth's best chance of the game fell to Hamed Traore, who found himself one-on-one with Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele in the first half but put his shot wide.

Brighton midfielder Gross saw his shot superbly saved by Neto, but the visitors were left counting the cost of the three points after injuries to key midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo forced them from the pitch.

Bournemouth are away at fellow strugglers Leicester City on Saturday, while Brighton travel to fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur in what could turn out to be a key battle for the Champions League places.

Elsewhe