A STIRRING second-half fight-back earned Cherries their first Premier League win of the season as they were forced to come from behind to see off Brighton.

Eddie Howe’s men broke their duck thanks to goals from Andrew Surman – his first for more than two-and-a-half years – and Jermain Defoe’s first since he returned to the club in the summer.

But Cherries had to do it the hard way after Solly March had given the visitors a 55th-minute lead, with substitute Jordon Ibe pivotal to the comeback.

Thrown on as a 64th-minute replacement for Ryan Fraser, Ibe had a hand in both goals, setting up Surman for Cherries’ equaliser with his first touch, a clever back-heel.

And his defence-splitting pass to Defoe allowed the England international to put the finishing touches to a dramatic triumph.

Cherries were forced into a defensive switch after Steve Cook had been ruled out due to a knee injury.

The 26-year-old, who had started 142 of Cherries’ previous 144 league games, was left out as a precaution.

Cook was replaced by Simon Francis, the skipper one of three changes to Eddie Howe’s starting line-up following Cherries’ 3-0 defeat at Arsenal.

Andrew Surman and Marc Pugh also returned with Tyrone Mings and Dan Gosling dropping to the bench, while Ryan Fraser was declared fit having picked up an ankle injury against the Gunners.

Brighton, who recorded their first Premier League victory against West Brom six days ago, made one change with Bruno ruled out through injury and replaced by Liam Rosenior.

An encouraging start for Cherries saw Charlie Daniels and Fraser both make inroads down their respective flanks, although Brighton stood firm to clear the danger.

Cherries goalkeeper Asmir Begovic was happy to watch a speculative drive from Anthony Knockaert drift harmlessly past the post as the visitors fashioned the first shooting chance.

Shane Duffy’s stray pass fell straight to Joshua King but the Norwegian’s resultant shot from 20 yards was superbly blocked by Lewis Dunk.

Some nifty footwork by Marc Pugh took him past his marker inside the 18-yard box, only for the winger to lift his shot over the crossbar after 20 minutes.

Daniels, the scorer of Cherries’ only Premier League goal this season, tried his luck following a probing run from the halfway line but fired straight into the hands of Brighton goalkeeper Maty Ryan.

Davy Propper, gifted the ball in the centre circle by Harry Arter’s errant pass, raced to the edge of the box and clipped his shot over the top.

Jermain Defoe had Cherries supporters on the edge of their seats when, following a sharp turn, he rifled a shot towards goal which flashed narrowly past the post.

King burst through on the stroke of half-time but again heroic defending from Dunk thwarted the striker after he had taken aim.

The Cherries goal lived a charmed life at the start of the second half with the hosts thankful to Surman and the crossbar for keeping the score level.

Midfielder Surman twice nodded efforts off the line, firstly after Duffy had met Gross’s corner and then when Propper followed up to seize on his clearance.

Cherries had another let-off from Gross’s next corner when Dale Stephens’s header – after Duffy had again climbed well – hit the underside of the crossbar.

However, there was no reprieve for Cherries as Brighton broke the deadlock in the 55th minute through March.

The midfielder outjumped Adam Smith at the far post and guided his header past Begovic after meeting Gross’s pinpoint centre.

Brighton’s lead did not last long, however, with Surman starting and finishing an excellent move as Cherries levelled in the 67th minute.

He traded passes with substitute Ibe – whose clever back-heel foxed the Seagulls defence – before slotting the ball past Ryan. It was Surman’s first goal for more than two-and-a-half years.

Ibe went close to firing Cherries ahead when his low drive was blocked and turned over the crossbar by Dunk, easily the pick of the Brighton defence.

Defoe turned the game on its head when he gave Cherries the lead after 72 minutes with Ibe again providing the assist.

The winger’s defence-splitting pass put Defoe in the clear and the England international made no mistake as he drilled a right-foot shot into the bottom corner.

Ibe was denied a deserved goal when his free-kick late on crept past the base of the upright.

Cherries: Begovic, A Smith, Francis, Ake, Daniels, Fraser (Ibe, 64), Arter, Surman, Pugh, King (Gosling, 90), Defoe (Afobe, 77).

Unused subs: L Cook, Mings, Mousset, Boruc (g/k).

Seagulls: Ryan, Rosenior, Dunk, Duffy, Suttner, Knockaert (Izquierdo, 76), Stephens, Propper, March, Gross (Murray, 76), Hemed.

Unused subs: Hunemeier, Murphy, Goldson, Schelotto, Maenpaa (g/k).

Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire).