'Guernsey Grealish' scores stunner as Cherries jump to third

ALEX Scott showed why he’s nicknamed the Guernsey Grealish with a screamer that showed his England class.

The former Bristol City scored a goal that hero Jack Grealish would have been proud off to lit up this South coast clash.

5 Alex Scott's sweet strike gave the home side an early lead Credit: Getty

5 Scott celebrates his stunning strike Credit: PA

It was a classy strike and any more of this and England boss Thomas Tuchel will find it difficult to ignore his full international claims.

And there’s no reason why he shouldn’t get the chance to follow Elliot Anderson into the reckoning for next year’s World Cup finals.

They were key to England’s Under-21 European championship success and with his injury problems now hopefully a thing of the past he is very much in contention as long as he stays fit.

Scott, who only turned 22 last month, underlined his vast potential in stunning style on 18 minutes with some neat footwork.

He turned and fired past Bart Verbruggen from 20 yards after being teed up by former Bristol City team-mate Antoine Semenyo.

And his first Prem goal since the 3-1 defeat at Tottenham in December 2023 showed some things in life are worth waiting.

With his socks rolled down to his ankles like Everton hero Grealish, Scott oozed class as he moved through the gears.

He seemed to have more time on the ball than anyone else in the midfield trenches at the sun-drenched Vitality.

And that took some doing bearing in mind evergreen James Milner was in the thick of it on his first start of the season.

Milner will turn 40 in January and so would have sighed more than most when midfield partner Jack Hinshelwood hobbled off with an ankle knock on three minutes.

It was a huge blow to Brighton as they looked to build on their 2-1 win over Manchester City a fortnight ago.

And things went from bad when defender Maxim De Cuyper went off injured on 24 minutes.

But Brighton stuck at and only a fine Dorde Petrovic save denied Yankubu Minteh when he broke clear.

Despite that scare, Scott made sure the hosts remained on top with some measured midfield play.

And he even popped up in his own six-yard box to cooly head the ball back to Petrovic as Brighton stepped things up.

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler clearly got stuck into his players over their half-time cuppa.

For they really took the game to their hosts and the pressure paid off just three minutes after the break.

The home defence was at sixes and sevens when Minteh crossed to the far post and Mitoma headed into an empty net to level.

But back came Cherries and this time the Brighton defence was punished after falling apart under pressure.

Centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke was the fall guy, giving away a penalty when he was bamboozled by Evanilson and ended tripping the striker.

He had no complaints and Semenyo showed no mercy, calmly sending Verbruggen the wrong way from the spot to put the home side back in command on 61 minutes and record his third goal of the season.

Milner struggled to get into game and was hooked midway through the second half shortly after being booked as the heat and being given the runaround took their toll.

Scott was also taken off early by boss Andoni Iraola but the damage had already been done and 18-year-old defender Veljko Milosavljevic ensured there would be no comeback by the Seagulls.

It was a commanding full debut by Milosavljevic but the day belonged to Scott who proved this part of the world is no country for old men like golden oldies Milner and Danny Welback who also had a day to forget.

5 Antoine Semenyo fired home from the spot to give Bournemouth all three points Credit: Reuters

5 The win lifts the Cherries to third in the table after a strong start to the season Credit: Shutterstock Editorial

5 Kaoru Mitoma levelled for Brighton but they couldn't avoid their second defeat of the season Credit: Reuters