CHERRIES slipped back into the Premier League relegation zone after a goal in each half condemned them to defeat against in-form Brighton & Hove Albion.

Evan Ferguson’s impressive finish was all that separated the sides, until substitute Julio Enciso sealed a 2-0 win in second-half stoppage-time.

Cherries had chances to equalise before Enciso’s late strike, Hamed Traore guilty of squandering the clearest opening as Brighton preserved their clean sheet.

Having named an unchanged team for three fixtures in a row, Gary O’Neil opted for two alterations from the side which began Saturday’s 2-1 win over Fulham.

Traore replaced Joe Rothwell, while Ryan Christie was handed his first start since January, with Jaidon Anthony dropping to the bench.

Brighton also made two switches, from their weekend draw with Brentford. Evan Ferguson led the line in place of Danny Welbeck, while Adam Webster came in for Levi Colwill at the back.

The first chance fell to Roberto De Zerbi’s Seagulls. World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister wriggled beyond challenges from Jack Stephens and Jefferson Lerma, but he could only fire over the bar.

Cherries responded, a corner from Traore headed wide by Stephens.

Brighton broke the deadlock just before the half-hour mark. Pervis Estupinan got in behind Adam Smith, but his cross was cleared by Marcos Senesi. However, Kaoru Mitoma collected the loose ball before picking out Ferguson in the centre, the young Irishman cleverly flicking the ball into the bottom corner.

Cherries enjoyed a spell of pressure before the half was out. Dominic Solanke carved out a chance for himself, dribbling through before his shot was beaten away by goalkeeper Jason Steele.

Then came the hosts’ clearest opening so far. Lerma slipped a perfectly-weighted through ball into the path of Traore, but the Ivory Coast international’s wait for a first Cherries goal continued, prodding wide left-footed when one-on-one with Steele.

The chances kept coming – Solanke seeing his well-struck effort saved by Steele, before Traore’s rebound was blocked by Webster.

Lerma and Solly March tried their luck at respective ends in the closing stages, as Brighton went in at the break one goal up.

Both sides had opportunities within minutes of the restart. Ferguson curled wide before Solanke fired over from close range under pressure.

Ferguson saw a big chance come and go to double his tally. March picked out the striker in the box, but he leant back and fired his first-time effort over the crossbar.

O’Neil turned to his bench, introducing Saturday’s saviour Marcus Tavernier, with Christie replaced.

After being urged to shoot by the crowd within seconds of coming on, Tavernier obliged, but could not test Steele.

Solanke’s effort after a scramble in the box also did not work Brighton’s keeper, his fierce effort striking teammate Dango Ouattara before flying over the bar.

With 20 minutes to play, it was time for a hero’s welcome for David Brooks. The Wales international was introduced for his first appearance for the first team at Vitality Stadium since September 2021 after his long recovery from cancer.

But it was Brighton who quickly carved out the next opportunity, Pascal Gross taking aim, denied by a brilliant diving stop from Neto.

The Brazilian was called into action again to thwart substitute Danny Welbeck, after good work by Mitoma to burst away from Smith.

With five minutes of regulation time remaining, Antoine Semenyo and Lewis Cook were introduced, as well as Ukraine international Illia Zabarnyi for his debut.

But defender Zabarnyi could not prevent Enciso securing the win. After being found in the box by Gross, the Paraguayan cut inside Zabarnyi before slotting past Neto.

Cherries: Neto; Smith, Stephens, Senesi (Zabarnyi, 85), Kelly; Christie (Tavernier, 58), Billing (Cook, 85), Lerma, Ouattara (Semenyo, 85); Traore (Brooks, 72); Solanke.

Unused subs: Vina, Rothwell, Anthony, Travers (g/k).

Booked: Cook.

Brighton: Steele; Veltman, Webster, Dunk, Estupinan; Gross, Caicedo (Ayari, 80); March, Mac Allister (Enciso, 73), Mitoma (Undav, 90+2); Ferguson (Welbeck, 73).

Unused subs: Colwill, van Hecke, Gilmour, Buonanotte, Sanchez (g/k).

Booked: Steele.

Referee: Darren Bond.

VAR: Darren England.

Attendance: 10,266.