Albion's survival in the Premier League will depend not only on the players Chris Hughton starts with but those he can bring on to change games.

The Seagulls are two seasons behind Bournemouth in their development.

The difference played a crucial role in the 2-1 setback at the Vitality Stadium.

As Eddie Howe stared a fifth straight defeat in the face, he was able to turn to Jordon Ibe to transform the match.

He also brought on Benik Afobe. Tyrone Mings was an unused substitute.

Bournemouth bought winger Ibe from Liverpool for £15 million at the start of their second season in the top flight after finishing 16th, aided by the £10 million capture from Wolves of Afobe. Defender Mings arrived from Ipswich for around £8 million.

Bournemouth improved to ninth and stregthened again in the summer, landing Friday's matchwinner Jermain Defoe (below) as well as Asmir Begovic and Nathan Ake.

The Argus: This type of squad progression does not happen overnight. It takes time - and hefty investment - to nurture the degree of strength in depth at Howe's disposal.

Hughton, reflecting on Bournemouth's comeback, said: "I thought we were very good and the two goals were probably the two times we didn't defend as rigorously as we had for most of the game.

"You either get punished or you don't and we got punished for it.

"We knew they can probe. When they bring on Ibe, Defoe, Afobe - these are players brought in to do particular jobs and they have invested big money in them.

"They can hurt you if you give them the opportunity. Unfortunately for us, we gave them the two moments they needed.

"That's why they have invested the way they have in the last couple of seasons. They can change the game in a moment."

Hughton brought on Jose Izquierdo and Glenn Murray in an attempt to rescue a point, but the circumstances are different.

While Ibe has been at Bournemouth for over a year, Albion's £13.5 million record purchase Izquierdo is a fresh addition.

He is on the bench for now, because of a lack of pre-season minutes with previous club Brugge and the form of the Seagulls' goalscorer Solly March.

Murray would also probably be starting had he not sustained an ankle injury at Leicester.

The Argus: March (above) often made an impact from the bench for Albion in the Championship last season.

The importance of game-changing quality in reserve was also emphasised on the previous occasion Albion lost after leading.

That was against eventual champions Newcastle at the Amex in February, when Rafa Benitez had Ayoze Perez up his sleeve to win the game.

Benitez will have formidable back-up again when Newcastle pursue a fourth victory on the trot at the Amex on Sunday.

Jonjo Shelvey, Mo Diame, Dwight Gayle and Jacob Murphy were among the substitutes for Saturday's 2-1 home win against Stoke.

Hughton, reflecting further on the third defeat in five games, regards Bournemouth as a blueprint for Albion.

"I can't be hard on a team that has put in a really good effort," he said. "We had two good chances from set plays before we scored a really good goal.

"It would have been very difficult for us to stop Bournemouth having chances in the game. You just try to limit them as much as we can and we did that.

"They've had difficulties over the two seasons. It's impossible to be a team that gets promotion and to have it all your own way.

"They hadn't won for four before this, but it's not the first time in the last couple of seasons where they have lost a few on the spin.

"It's normal, but they have always found a way through it and they are continuing to develop."

Hughton rightly points out that three of Albion's first five matches have been away and one of the two at home was against Manchester City.

"We are the new team in the division and it was never going to be easy," he said. "There are some really good signs in some of our play."

Albion have ten realistic opportunities left to pick up a win or two away from home after losing at Bournemouth and drawing against ten men at Watford.

Most of the double-figure tally of victories needed to stay up are far likelier to be accumulated at the Amex, beginning after the sole success so far against West Brom with Newcastle.