CHERRIES fell to a 3-1 defeat at high-flying Seagulls after leading Brighton 1-0 heading into the break.

Dominic Solanke punished Bart Verbruggen’s slowness on the ball to give Cherries a first-half lead, but an own goal moments prior to the break by Milos Kerkez was added to in the opening seconds of the final 45 via substitute Kaoru Mitoma.

The Japanese international produced a second with 14 minutes remaining, flashing a header past Neto to make sure of the result.

Boss Andoni Iraola made just the one change from last week’s 0-0 draw with Chelsea, Dango Ouattara swapped out for Justin Kluivert.

Minimal swaps were not on the cards for Roberto De Zerbi and Brighton, the Seagulls naming nine changes to the side beaten 3-2 in the Europa League by AEK Athens on Thursday.

Clear-cut chances were not in abundance in the first half, Cherries' most notable a well worked move sliced narrowly wide by Ryan Christie.

One of the nine brought in, Verbruggen, saw a lot of the ball throughout the first period.

He was tasked with building Brighton’s moves, the goalie dwelling on the ball as he picked out a pass further up the field.

Eventually Christie’s pressing attempts paid off, the Scot nipping in to poke the ball away from the keeper and towards Solanke, who kept his cool to loft the ball into the empty net.

Brighton’s scariest opportunity came right at the close of the half, a corner whipped in that caused chaos in the Cherries box.

The away side dealt with the initial and follow up crosses, but another ball into the box created further confusion, Kerkez rising unchallenged to head the ball.

But the Hungarian’s flick only served to send the ball past a stranded Neto, and level scores.

Philip Billing came close to restoring Cherries’ lead with the last kick of the half, a free-kick from some distance flying just wide of the top-left corner.

De Zerbi rang further changes at the break, replacing teenagers Evan Ferguson and Facundo Buonanotte with Ansu Fati and Mitoma.

The pair would make an instant impact, but only after a baffling kick-off routine from Cherries.

Centre-back Illia Zabarnyi surged forward as Cherries moved the ball backwards, but the purpose of the Ukrainian’s attacking run will remain unknown as the hosts instantly won the ball back.

This allowed them to drive at the Zarbarnyi-shaped hole in the backline, allowing Fati to slip in Mitoma to put the Seagulls ahead.

Cherries looked to reply instantly, some nice build-up outside the Brighton box leading to Billing supplying a curling cross into the area.

The tempting ball had slightly too much on it, narrowly missing both the head of Christie and the foot of Solanke as it bounced just wide of the far post.

Then it was Brighton’s turn to go close. Lewis Dunk flashed a header wide at a corner, before Fati somehow contrived to completely miss the target when supplied with a dangerous low ball in front of goal.

At the other end Zabarnyi was left to his own devices in the Brighton box at a corner, the Ukrainian nodding the ball over the bar.

The next goal would come from the hosts, however.

Kerkez was unable to drive the ball forward after winning it back, allowing Brighton to steam forward.

The defence unset, an unmarked Mitoma floated into the box to flick Estupinan’s cross past Neto and all but confirm the points.

That did not deter Cherries, who searched for a way back into the game.

Substitute David Brooks slipped in Antoine Semenyo, who returned the ball back to the Welshman inside the box.

Only a huge block from Estupinan denied Brooks.

Brighton were then able to see out the closing stages with little incident, rising to third in the Premier League table at the time of writing.

Cherries: Neto; Aarons, Zabarnyi, Kelly (Senesi, 82), Kerkez; Cook, Billing (Brooks, 81), Christie (Traore, 81), Kluivert (Semenyo, 62), Tavernier (Ouattara, 62); Solanke.

Unused subs: Radu (g/k), Smith, Rothwell, Sinisterra.

Booked: Zabarnyi, Brooks, Senesi.

Brighton: Verbruggen; Veltman, Webster, Dunk, Estupinan; Adingra (Lamptey, 86), Dahoud (Baleba, 72), Gilmour, Buonanotte (Mitoma, h-t); Ferguson (Fati, h-t), Welbeck (Pedro, 62).

Unused subs: Steele (g/k), Igor, March, Lallana.

Booked: Veltman, Gilmour, Dunk.

Referee: John Brooks.