CHERRIES broke their record for most points in a Premier League season with a comfortable 3-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.

Marcos Senesi opened the scoring in the first period, before Enes Unal marked his first Premier League start with a goal in the second half.

Late on Justin Kluivert made it three, placing Cherries 10th on 48 points – two more than their previous best haul of 46 in the 2016/17 season.

Prior to kick-off illness again impacted Andoni Iraola’s options, with Cherries only able to name eight players on the bench – two of which were goalkeepers.

Speaking of shot stoppers, Mark Travers kept his berth in between the sticks, whilst there were three changes outfield.

Illia Zabarnyi’s run of playing every Premier League minute this season was ended by illness; Milos Kerkez was suspended and Ryan Christie rested on the bench.

In came Lloyd Kelly, Dango Ouattara and Unal, who made his full Premier League debut.

Early on Cherries felt they should have had a penalty for a potential handball inside the Brighton box.

Antoine Semenyo had spun his marker to pass the ball onto Unal, the Turk squaring for the lurking Dominic Solanke.

Brighton captain Lewis Dunk slid in to block, successfully doing so, but it appeared the loose ball bounced onto his hand in the process.

Defender Senesi was heavily involved in the opening exchanges. After a few nibbling fouls the Argentine was booked for clipping the heels of Joao Pedro, the Brighton striker with his back to goal and in his own half.

Senesi’s next involvement in the game was a far more positive one – opening scores.

Lewis Cook’s corner was helped on by a combination of Unal and Mark O’Mahony, Senesi arriving to nod over the line from inside two yards.

Brighton had a chance of their own as winger Facuno Buonanotte was released into the box.

At a tight angle, Cherries keeper Travers waited for Buonanotte to commit before spreading wide to send the ball behind for a corner.

Cherries continued to enjoy the lion share of chances.

Alex Scott pickpocketed Seagulls defender Igor, allowing the midfielder to surge forward and centre the ball for Unal.

With time and space the Turkish international could only place wide of the far post.

Shortly after Justin Kluivert would feed Solanke – Brighton able to halt the striker but not the attack, forcing the Seagulls into blocking Scott’s drive out for a corner.

The trend of decent chances continued for Cherries into the second period.

Unal, Solanke, and Kluivert all combined with some slick passing, freeing Kluivert one-on-one with Bart Verbruggen in the Brighton goal.

Opting not to drift centrally, the Dutchman had only the near post to aim at  - Kluivert firing into the side netting.

After screaming for the ball off Semenyo, Unal received it in a decent spot but allowed the ball to run under his studs.

The Getafe loanee would make amends shortly after.

Having made an overlapping run outside of Kluivert, Ouattara whipped in a cross, Unal arriving to head the ball back across goal and past Verbruggen.

At the other end Lloyd Kelly’s brave block to deny Buonanotte saw the ball sit up nicely for Julio Enciso – the substitute blasting wide.

There was another handball shout against Dunk. The Brighton skipper again blocked Solanke at close range, with the ball ricocheting off his body and onto to his outstretched arm.

Solanke again wanted a penalty when he was wrestled to the ground by Webster, referee Tierney not interested.

But Cherries would find another opportunity for their third.

Substitute Christie slipped in Kluivert, who cut back in from the left before placing the ball beyond Verbruggen.

That was Kluivert’s last interaction on affairs, coming off shortly after as Dominic Sadi made his Premier League debut.

Despite the feel-good factor around Vitality Stadium, there was concern in stoppage time as Semenyo had to be stretched off after a heavy challenge by Brighton's Joel Veltman.

Having used all of their substitution opportunities, Cherries were forced to finish with 10 men.

Cherries: Travers; Smith, Kelly, Senesi (Hill, 90+1), Ouattara; Cook, Scott (Aarons, 77), Unal (Christie, 67); Kluivert (Sadi, 90+1), Semenyo, Solanke.

Unused subs: Kinsey, Dacosta Gonzalez, McKenna (g/k), Neto (g/k).

Booked: Senesi, Kluivert.

Brighton: Verbruggen; Offiah (Veltman, 74), Igor (Webster, 74), Dunk, Barco; Gilmour, Gross, Buonanotte, Adingra (Enciso, 66); Pedro (Baleba, 88), O’Mahony (Welbeck, h-t).

Unused subs: Lallana, Moder, Fati, Steele (g/k).

Booked: Gilmour, Barco.