Albion started brightly, looking for a fast start to further erode Bournemouth's fragile confidence after their 6-0 thrashing in midweek.

Inside the opening minute Watson's quickly taken free-kick released Oatway into space down the right.

His cross was met by the head of Zamora at the far post, but he was penalised for a foul.

Fletcher had his name taken in the third minute for an untidy challenge on Oatway inside the centre circle.

Watson's free-kick was headed out as far as Rogers, whose left foot volley from 25 yards forced Stewart into a smart take moving to his right.

The Cherries' made a better stop moments later to deprive Zamora of yet another home goal.

Brooker twisted and turned down the left before slipping inside the box.

He recovered to cross to the far post where Zamora connected with a header which had goal written all over it until the diving Stewart somehow kept it out with his left hand.

Tindall collected a second early caution for the visitors for tugging back Steele as the Albion striker threatened to go clear through the middle.

Albion's relentless pressure continued with a chip against the crossbar by Carpenter. Steele was in an offside position when he hooked in the rebound via a post and the effort was ruled out.

Albion's dominance was rewarded with a breakthrough in the 13th minute, when Paul Watson scored for the third home League game running.

The fullback whipped over a left-footed cross from the right flank which eluded everybody in the area before finding the far corner of the net.

Steele indicated the ball had brushed off his head, but Meridian TV replays confirmed that he had not got a touch.

Watson had struck early this time after his late match winners against Queens Park Rangers a fortnight ago and Stoke in midweek.

Bournemouth, eager to avoid another rout, responded with a swivelling left-foot shot from Hayter against a post, although it would not have counted anyway as the linesman was already flagging for offside.

Hayter, rejected by the Seagulls as a schoolboy, set up Fletcher for a long range drive five minutes later which Kuipers held above his head.

Watson blotted his copybook with a slightly unfortunate yellow card midway through the half.

He was adjudged to have handled on the halfway line and was then cautioned by referee Taylor for rolling rather than kicking the ball away.

Albion were keeping the Bournemouth defence at full stretch with some fluent football.

A deep cross by Jones was headed square by Zamora towards Steele, who by now had the collar ripped off his shirt.

Maher made a timely intervention to stop Steele from doubling Albion's advantage.

A break in play while referee Taylor consulted his linesman over the award of a free-kick to Bournemouth allowed Steele to change his top.

Another sweet move by Albion produced another goalscoring opportunity just after the half hour mark.

Watson's slide rule pass put Brooker free through the inside right channel and his centre was headed narrowly wide by the frustrated Steele.

Elliott picked up Bournemouth's third booking in the 36th minute for a late challenge on Jones as the Albion defender cleared from inside his own area.

Bournemouth had looked more dangerous since falling behind and they came close to restoring parity twice in swift succession approaching the break.

Ford's quick free-kick from a central position caught Albion napping as Fletcher made a diagonal run inside the area.

He was unmarked when he struck a low right foot shot which Kuipers diverted behind.

The ensuing corner led to a flurry of scrambles, with Rogers making a desperate challenge to clear his lines before Hayter eventually headed over.

Albion were worth there lead for their early enterprise.

But Bournemouth had done enough going forward in short bursts to suggest the game was not over yet.

It might well have been if Brooker had been inches lower in first half stoppage time. He jinked past a defender to fire a fierce angled drive from ten yards which fizzed narrowly over the bar.

Half-time: Albion 1, Bournemouth 0 Bournemouth began the second half brightly with a run by Elliott.

He tried to twist and turn Jones inside out before his shot was deflected to Hayter at the far post.

Hayter's header was heading straight towards his unmarked team mate Fletcher when Cullip put it over his own crossbar.

Hayter's ensuing corner was headed narrowly over by the visitors' skipper Howe.

A scuffed cross by Cullip fell to Rogers five minutes into the restart. His first effort was blocked, but his follow-up shot from 20 yards flashed narrowly wide of the target.

The Seagulls, searching for the security of a second goal, went close again when Brooker created space for himself to cross.

The unmarked Zamora's header was saved by Stewart and Zamora was just about to pounce on the rebound when he realised referee Taylor had blown his whistle for offside.

Fletcher looked the player most likely to bring Bournemouth back into the game.

He had a rasping drive from 12 yards beaten away by Kuipers after Purches worked the ball to him inside the box.

Ford fired over for the Cherries from a promising position a few minutes later.

A fine covering tackle by Howe at the expense of a corner prevented Zamora from giving Albion breathing space as he latched on to Brooker's pinpoint pass.

Albion made a double substitution with 18 minutes remaining, Hart replacing Rogers and Mayo coming on for Brooker.

The Seagulls conceded a sloppy equaliser on 76 minutes, Howe escaping to head in Ford's free-kick from just outside the six yard box.

Albion went back in front on 80 minutes when Mayo's long throw was back headed towards goal by Cullip and diverted into his own net by Howe via the post.