Bournemouth 2-1 Brighton and Hove Albion recap as Andrew Surman and Jermain Defoe secure Cherries' first win

When he needed them most, two of Eddie Howe’s big signings picked the perfect time to come good.

Jordon Ibe and Jermain Defoe came to Bournemouth’s rescue to spare the Cherries a fifth straight Premier League defeat.

In a week when a new record for Premier League impatience was set by Crystal Palace sacking Frank de Boer after just four games, even with all the credit he has in the bank for hauling the hosts up to the top-flight, Howe could have done without another defeat to increase the spotlight on him.

Bournemouth were heading for another ­setback after falling ­behind to Solly March’s header early in the second half.

But Ibe came off the bench to set up Andrew Surman’s equaliser and then Jermain Defoe’s ­priceless winner.

The impact of most of Howe’s big-money signings has certainly been a ­disappointment for most of last season and the start of this.

Yet £15million Ibe and Defoe, a freebie on a £130,000 a week, paid back a big chunk of the Cherries’ investment in them last night.

In contrast to the hosts, Brighton came into this south-coast derby on a high, after breaking their Premier League duck with a first top-flight win for 34 years against West Brom last time out.

And they threatened first when danger-man ­Anthony Knockaert drove in off the right flank and dragged an effort wide from 25 yards.

It was a rare attack for Brighton as Bournemouth hogged possession, forcing the Seagulls to feed off scraps on the break. The pattern had been set.

The Cherries hardly needed a helping hand but Shane Duffy gave them one in the 14th minute, with a terrible pass across goal that was meant for Lewis Dunk, but he ­instead scuffed it horribly to the grateful Josh King.

The Norwegian took a touch, before letting fly, but Duffy’s centre-back ­partner Dunk slid in with a diving block to get his mate off the hook. It was a trick Dunk repeated later in the half to deny King once again.

Marc Pugh then screwed an effort wide after ­Surman and Charlie Daniels ­combined, before Daniels fired straight at Brighton keeper Mathew Ryan.

Efforts continued to come but they were far from clear ones. Davy Propper drifted a chip just over for Brighton, before Defoe fired just wide on the turn.

The half ended with Daniels having the only ­effort on target and Ryan only had to raise his hands to head height to save it. That, Duffy and Harry Arter conceding possession multiple times and a home fan shouting “the goal’s that way” as the Cherries recycled the ball without ever looking like breaking through the ­visitors’ defence, summed up the half.

The first 45 was not what the broadcasters were thinking of when they came up with the idea of Friday Night Football from the Premier League.

The natives were getting restless and Brighton sensed an opportunity.

Within five minutes of the restart they had shown more intent than they did in the entire first half.

Duffy and Propper both had headers cleared off the line by Surman before, from the resulting corner, Dale Stephens headed a Duffy knockdown onto the bar.

Bournemouth failed to take note of the warning signs and were duly ­punished.

From the Seagulls’ next ­attack, Pascal Gross swung over a cross as March e­scaped the attention of Daniels and stole in at the back post to head Brighton into the lead.

But the game’s turning point came with the introduction of Ibe in the 65th minute.

Two minutes after ­coming on, the winger’s clever ­back-heel released Surman who cut inside Dunk ­before slotting in an ­equaliser.

Then Ibe slipped through Defoe to smash the winner past Ryan with a trademark thumping ­finish.