SATURDAY felt all too similar for Cherries supporters at the Amex, watching their side lose a Premier League game for the 12th time this season.

There was an awful lot of huff, quite a bit of puff, but yet again, nothing to show for Cherries’ efforts.

VAR controversy reared its head for the umpteenth time this season, whilst injuries again enforced changes.

At least the side did not concede from a set-piece, the other common theme of this campaign.

Cherries gave as good as they got for the most part, withstanding some Brighton pressure just before the break to allow themselves the opportunity to fight for all three points in the second half.

The Seagulls are flying, and when Cherries sat that little bit deeper in the closing stages, there was an air of inevitability.

Kaoru Mitoma popped up with an 87th minute header and condemn Cherries to another pointless endeavour away from home.

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They are yet to keep a clean sheet on their travels, their last win on the road coming back in September.

Frustratingly, Cherries managed to restrain Brighton to better effect in the second period, reducing their expected goals to 0.62 compared to their first half prediction of 1.89.

There were moments on the break that could have seen them snatch a lead. There is enough to see why Cherries may persist with O’Neil, despite the side’s wretched form.

Bill Foley promised signings, and they arrived in their numbers. Six new players to bolster O’Neil’s squad, three attackers that fit the mould of the head coach’s tactics.

Direct dribblers with pace, unafraid to try and beat their man. Antoine Semenyo fared well on his top flight debut, although perhaps he should have done better with his one-on-one in the second period, whilst Hamed Traore caught the eye.

So O’Neil was clearly backed in the transfer market that only closed six days ago. Mitigating factors will also play a part in the thinking of O’Neil’s performance so far.

O’Neil will point to the virus that ravaged the camp ahead of Cherries’ return to competitive fixtures in December, as well as the injury list that seems to increase every game.

It is just not the quantity of injuries, but the quality of player missing.

Captain Lloyd Kelly is on to his third different injury of the campaign already, an abductor (hip) niggle in pre-season preceding his previous absence due to an ankle issue.

Now it is a calf complaint that kept him out of the Brighton defeat, the same issue that caused Jack Stephens to also miss the trip across the south coast.

Illia Zabarnyi has arrived from Dynamo Kyiv lacking in match fitness due to the winter break in Ukraine, with O’Neil also revealing he is carrying a knock.

Talisman Dom Solanke is another miss, with experience in Ryan Fredericks and Junior Stanislas also consigned to the treatment room.

For the third game in a row, O’Neil was forced to name youngsters on the bench to reach a full compliment of 20 for the matchday squad, even after the splurge in the January window.

Arguably, the most notable absence since the World Cup break is summer signing Marcus Tavernier. The winger had just started to convert his promising performances into goals and assists, the 23-year-old a huge part of O’Neil’s attack.

Then there is another external factor Cherries have no control over – the seemingly constant stream of decisions and VAR checks that have gone against them this season.

Whilst all fans will see decisions involving their team in a rose-tint, there is a long list of incidents that Cherries have every right to fume about.

Jefferson Lerma’s close range handball at Newcastle was a spot-kick, but at the weekend Pervis Estupinan’s was not.

Ivan Toney was labelled “clever” for his bending of the rules and Senesi’s arm to force contact and convince Jarred Gillett that a penalty should be awarded.

No side should rely on the rub of the green, but it feels like Cherries are yet to receive their slice of luck to balance out the decisions so far.

Those extenuating circumstances, when combined with the glimpses of promise we see in matches, are presumably enough for Cherries to stick with their man.

However, as is the case with any team that picks up one point out of a possible 18, there are glaring issues that need to be addressed.

There were howls on social media when Hamed Traore was hauled off on the hour mark, Cherries’ shiny new toy subbed despite impressing.

However, the Ivorian had clearly tired, losing his dynamism and starting to misplace his passes.

That was an understandable switch – O’Neil pointed out that Traore had played last Sunday, before being involved in the machinations of a transfer and not on the training pitch until the final days of the week.

Bringing off Jaidon Anthony to introduce another defender was a decision that rankled with some. Matias Vina, largely used as a wing-back during his time in Italy and Brazil, slotted in at left centre-back as Cherries made it clear what they were settling for.

Game management is an area of improvement for O’Neil. Back in November, Cherries became the first-ever Premier League team to lose consecutive games after enjoying two-goal leads in both matches, the 3-2 capitulation at home to Spurs followed by a seven-goal thriller in Yorkshire ending up in a 4-3 Leeds win.

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The fact that Cherries went largely toe-to-toe with Brighton for the majority of the game has gone under the radar because of the final result.

O’Neil is right in saying that the performance was good, an improvement on what has come before. Perhaps in time, when players return from injury and new signings settle, this will click.

But time is one thing Cherries do not have. There are 17 games remaining this campaign. Cherries currently have 17 points – less than half of the magic 40 often quoted as the equivalent of Premier League survival.

Six of those games will be against the current top six, with Cherries only mustering one point from the reverse fixtures with those sides.

In the wake of the Brighton defeat, O’Neil did not want to answer questions regarding his future.

There is no noise to suggest that his job is currently at risk, but there is a disgruntled fanbase promised that there will be no relegation by Bill Foley.

Hope and expectation was raised again following the transfer window, Cherries clearly strengthening in defence and attack.

Next weekend will be the emotional return of the club’s most successful manager, Bournemouth’s favourite son.

Eddie Howe is in town with a rejuvenated Newcastle off to Wembley.

But in terms of the relegation battle, it could be the following fixture that is more important, an away trip to a resurgent Wolves under Julien Lopetegui.

Cherries need improved results, not just performances.

How many more games can pass by without a win, how many more points dropped to relegation rivals.

The question is clear. Stick or twist?

(Pictures: PA Images)