Hurzeler expected more but mentality will please himpublished at 23:37 GMT 19 January
23:37 GMT 19 January
Keifer MacDonald BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Kostoulas joined Brighton from Olympiacos last summer
Before the game, head coach Fabian Hurzeler said Brighton would need to treat their remaining Premier League games as "finals" if they were to qualify for Europe.
Although the German's comment was slightly hyperbolic, he will be delighted with his side's spirit after the Seagulls battled until the 91st minute to extend their unbeaten run across all competitions to five games.
The point keeps Brighton within touching reach of Chelsea, who currently occupy the Premier League's sixth and final European slot, before favourable match-ups against Fulham, Everton and Crystal Palace.
The club's quest to qualify for Europe for only the second time will be boosted by the returns of Yankuba Minteh and Carlos Baleba, two players crucial to Hurzeler's plans and absent from recent Premier League matches.
Prior to Minteh's introduction, Brighton looked out of sorts and failed to really test Djordje Petrovic between the sticks
In a game of few chances, it was the Gambia international who, prior to Charalampos Kostoulas' equaliser, provided the spark for his side.
In the end, a point flattered Brighton after a lacklustre performance Hurzeler wouldn't have expected when he issued a battle cry to his side at the end of last week.
But Brighton's refusal to accept defeat could prove valuable come the business end of the season – and that alone will please Hurzeler.
Come back on Tuesday for a selection of your replies
Brighton v Bournemouth: Team newspublished at 19:04 GMT 19 January
19:04 GMT 19 January
Fabian Hurzeler makes four changes to the Brighton side that beat Manchester United in the FA Cup last weekend, with Verbruggen, Dunk, Van Hecke and Mitoma returning to the starting XI.
The visitors, meanwhile, hand forward Amine Adli only a fourth start of the league campaign as they begin life without Antoine Semenyo in the Premier League.
Brighton v Bournemouth: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 08:31 GMT 19 January
08:31 GMT 19 January
Matthew Hobbs BBC Sport journalist
Brighton are bidding to continue a good run of home form this season against a Bournemouth side aiming for back-to-back league wins for the first time since August.
BBC Sport examines some of the key themes going into Monday's meeting at Amex Stadium.
The Seagulls have generally been strong at home this season, with their solitary defeat coming in a chaotic seven-goal contest against Aston Villa in December - and while Fabian Hurzeler's side have since been held by West Ham United and Sunderland, they got back to winning ways against Burnley in their most recent Amex outing.
Part of Brighton's consistent home record so far has been down to an ability to bounce back when going behind, including the 1-1 draw with West Ham on 7 December, during which Georginio Rutter scored a 91st-minute equaliser, along with home wins over Manchester City and Chelsea earlier this season.
Brighton have conceded the opening goal on 12 occasions in 2025-26 and gone on to avoid defeat in seven matches (W3, D4) – the most of any Premier League side.
Affairs were slightly more straightforward when Brighton switched competitions last weekend, triumphing at Old Trafford in the FA Cup courtesy of a virtuoso performance by Danny Welbeck.
The 42-cap England international has been used sparingly in his 16th campaign of top-flight football, although he has still managed to score eight goals – tying his career-best tally after 21 league matches, despite starting just 12.
Welbeck is only two goals away from equalling the best total league tally of his career with 17 games remaining, and if the former Arsenal and Manchester United forward can stay fit and in form, he may yet make a compelling case to be on England's plane to the World Cup later this summer.
Bournemouth searching for away win
Bournemouth rediscovered winning ways of their own last time out in the Premier League, ending an unwanted club record of 11 top-flight fixtures without a victory by beating Tottenham at Vitality Stadium.
Junior Kroupi was again a key performer, scoring his seventh goal of the season in the 3-2 triumph. The 19-year-old has impressed in his first campaign of Premier League football, with only four non-British teenagers - Romelu Lukaku, Nclas Anelka, Robbie Keane and Kelechi Iheanacho - having scored more in a season in the competition.
The Cherries did not enjoy the FA Cup weekend as much as Monday's opponents, again failing to find a way to win away from home and being eliminated on penalties following a 3-3 draw at Newcastle United.
Bournemouth have not won on the road in any competition since a 1-0 victory at Tottenham on 30 August - a run of nine matches, with only Leeds, Burnley and Wolves picking up fewer Premier League points than Bournemouth's seven away from home.
Andoni Iraola's side have also lost on their past four visits to the Amex, although they may take confidence from beating Brighton at home earlier this season as they target just a second Premier League double in this fixture and first since 2019.
Sutton's predictions: Brighton v Bournemouthpublished at 14:37 GMT 18 January
14:37 GMT 18 January
Antoine Semenyo is a huge miss for Bournemouth now he has joined Manchester City, but they are still an attack-minded team and I always fancy them to score.
Brighton are the same, in that they look dangerous when they come forward but can also appear very open.
So this should be a very entertaining game and we should see a few goals too. I just can't pick a winner.
Image source, Getty Images
