Bournemouth 2-1 Brighton: Deadly Jermain Defoe proves his worth as he completes Cherries' comeback victory

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Eddie Howe was in Bournemouth's starting XI the last time Jermain Defoe scored for them.

Back then, in 2001, defender Howe could not believe how good a finisher Defoe, a young striker making a name for himself on loan from West Ham, was.

'He's lost none of that,' Howe said after watching the veteran score the match winner against Brighton, his first Bournemouth goal since a free transfer from Sunderland, and first since netting in that 3-3 draw away to Reading in Division Two sixteen years ago. 

Jermain Defoe slides on his knees after scoring the second goal in Bournemouth's comeback win over Brighton

Jordon Ibe, who came off the bench for the Cherries, was key in the first and set up Defoe to put the hosts ahead

Bournemouth midfielder Andrew Surman clutches the ball and roars in celebration after pulling his side level

Solly March had given Brighton the lead, giving them hope of a first away Premier League victiory, after a scoreless first half

MATCH FACTS, RATINGS, TABLE AND MATCH ZONE 

Bournemouth (4-4-1-1): Begovic 6; A Smith 6, Francis 6, Ake 6, Daniels 6; Fraser 6 (Ibe 65 7.5), Arter 5, Surman 8, Pugh 6; King 6 (Gosling 90); Defoe 7 (Afobe 78).

Unused subs: Boruc, L Cook, Mings, Mousset. 

Manager: Eddie Howe 7 

Goals: Surman 67, Defoe 73

Brighton (4-4-1-1): Ryan 6; Rosenior 6, Dunk 6, Duffy 6, Suttner 6; Knockaert 6.5 (Izquierdo 77), Stephens 6, Propper 6.5, March 7.5; Gross 7 (Murray 77); Hemed 6.

Unused subs: Maenpaa, Hunemeier, Murphy, Goldson, Schelotto.

Manager: Chris Houghton 6 

 Goals: March 55

Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)

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A look at Andrew Surman's equaliser from Sportsmail's excellent Match Zone service. More stats, match info and graphics HERE

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'He's one of the best finishers I've ever seen,' Howe added. 'We need to get to know as a team where he wants the ball, he's different to any striker we've had, for us it's about creating the openings for him.'

The pressure was mounting on both the former team-mates: the manager winning no points from four games, and striker firing five blanks on his big wages of around £80,000 per week. 

The 34-year-old striker may not have the legs these days but team-mate Andrew Surman made up for that with headers off the line at one end and an equalising goal at the other, after Solly March gave Brighton a surprise lead early in the second half.

But what Defoe does have is a masterful finish, honed over decades, and his 160th Premier League strike against his 36th different Premier League opponent was as fine as they come. Substitute Jordan Ibe laid on both goals and when he slipped in Defoe in the 73rd minute there was no doubt the ball would end up in the far corner. 

Brighton's Pascal Gross chases a ball towards the Bournemouth byline with Nathan Ake in close attention

Brighton chairman Tony Bloom pulls on a woolly hat as he prepares to watch his side take on the Cherries at Vitality Stadium

Anthony Knockaert beats Charlie Daniels as Brighton look for some respite in a first half dominated by Bournemouth

Shane Duffy escapes Jermain Defoe with a clever piece of footwork that left the veteran striker on the turf

Defoe went closest for the home side in the opening period, turning and firing instinctively from the edge of the box

The England international knows just how close his effort was and reacts with anguish after seeing it go just wide

Davy Propper slides in to clear the ball as the Cherries continue to peg back the newly-promoted side int he first half

Tomer Hemed leaves Ryan Fraser in a heap on the turf as the striker ploughs a lone furrow in the Brighton attack

Ibe produced more in eight minutes than he had in the whole of last season, the winger yet to live up to the potential he brought with a £15million move from Liverpool last summer. 

'It was a really good cameo of what he is all about,' Howe said. 'He is a really talented lad. He is different to what we have got, that ability to beat people and he has real pace. He showed real quality with his back-heel which was a moment of magic and with the second, the weight on the pass was perfect for Jermain.'

Howe has developed a look of constant concern in recent weeks, perplexed not only by Bournemouth's run of defeats but by their diabolical, troubling performances. 'It's massive to be honest,' Defoe admitted of the three points. 'It was a game that we thought we needed to win.' 

Dale Stephens watches as his header beats Asmir Begovic and hits the crossbar as Brighton piled on the pressure

Defender Shane Duffy was next to go close for the Seagulls as he once again hit the woodwork from a set-piece

Winger March would not be denied when Pascal Gross picked him out with a fantastic deep cross, heading home the opener

Duffy flies into action during the Brighton celebrations following March's goal in front of the away fans

Bournemouth turned to £15million signing Ibe with his side a goal down, it proved to be an inspired change

In seasons past, Bournemouth have lost matches but maintained a buccaneering, free-passing style. That was non-existent against West Bromwich Albion, Watford and Arsenal and was only present for a half, at best, against Manchester City. It only returned with 15 minutes remaining against Brighton.

The situation was descending into dire proportions at the start of the second half as Bournemouth's six yard box descended into a game of head tennis. 

Pascal Gross swung in a left-hand-side corner and Shane Duffy headed across goal and on target from the back post, but Surman headed off the line. Davy Propper headed the rebound back at goal and Surman nodded it around the post for a corner.  

Bournemouth had dominated possession and finally made the pressure tell when Surman levelled in the 67th minute

The former Norwich man grabbed the ball as he celebrated his goal, knowing there was plenty of time to get a winner

Defoe clinically broke Brighton hearts when he made the most of Jordan Ibe's clever pass to put the Cherries ahead

Defoe wheels away after seeing his strike nestle in the back of net and complete the Bournemouth comeback

Gross sent the ball back in, Duffy nodded on and Dale Stephens headed onto the underside of the bar, but the ball stayed out. Four minutes later Brighton made one count: Gross turned sharply on the right flank, crossed and March headed past Asmir Begovic.

The game was getting desperate for Bournemouth but a moment of quality had them level as Surman proved as adept at putting the ball in the net as he was at keeping it out. 

The Bournemouth midfielder passed to Ibe, introduced two minutes before the equaliser, who back-heeled back into his path inside the area and he stuck Dunk on his backside and levelled. When Defoe struck the winner six minutes later, Howe celebrated as though he was out on the pitch with him.