Brighton collapse as Ryan Fraser leads Bournemouth rout at the Amex Stadium

BOURNEMOUTH ended their away-day blues against freefalling and ill-disciplined Brighton as they almost secured their Premier League status for a fifth successive season.

Goals from Dan Gosling, Ryan Fraser, David Brooks, Callum Wilson and Junior Stanislas gave the upbeat Cherries just their 2nd win in 12 Prem away matches.

And it continues the wretched run of form for Brighton, who will now have Anthony Knockaert banned for three matches following his straight red card.

Bournemouth started the brighter of the two teams and Josh King had two decent chances in the opening quarter of the match.

The Norway striker failed to connect with the first, a wicked low cross from Fraser, and then the second, 10 minutes later, was a header from six yards which bounced horribly off-target.

Those blushes were spared on 33 minutes by teammate Dan Gosling who scored his first goal for the club for 14 months.

In an efficient team move involving seven players, which started outside the Bournemouth penalty area, Gosling kept his composure to score after a one-two with Wilson.

It was desperate defending from Brighton as they were sliced open by incisive Bournemouth passing.

And it was little surprise there were boos at half-time from disgruntled home fans.

The Brighton crowd were even madder early in the second half as they screamed for the referee Kevin Friend to show a red when Chris Mepham and Florin Andone clashed in the Bournemouth area.

Though there wasn’t much connection, Mepham motioned his head towards the Brighton forward, and other refs might not have shown such leniency.

Things continued to get worse for the home side soon after. After Knockaert gave the ball away, Bournemouth broke and Fraser managed to apply an unorthodox finish to beat Seagulls goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.

KNOCKAERT NIGHTMARE

Knockaert couldn’t have many complaints when he was dismissed for scything down Adam Smith at speed on 68 minutes. The Bournemouth player was lucky to carry on playing such was the ferocity of the challenge.

Former Man Utd and Aston Villa striker Dion Dublin, who once broke his leg in a match, said: “I have no idea what Anthony Knockaert is thinking. He is a second-and-a-half late. It’s a disgusting challenge and it could have been a career ending tackle.”

Bournemouth enjoyed one of their best results of the season when Brooks slotted home after being unleashed by Fraser. And then Callum Wilson achieved the goal his excellent play had deserved with eight minutes left.

In stoppage-time, Brighton had their first shot on target, with Artur Boruc catching the looped header from Bernardo.

Yet in a cruel ending, Bournemouth raced down the other end and capped a dark day for Brighton when substitute Stanislas scored the fifth goal for the visitors.

For Brighton, this was their worst day at the Amex stadium since arriving in the Premier League.

And for nervous Brighton fans, they face a do-or-die match against Cardiff on Tuesday at the Amex stadium, with the result possibly deciding who occupies that final relegation slot next month.