Bournemouth 2, Albion 0

It seems perverse to point to another defeat by Bournemouth, the sixth of a winless ten-match run against them, as evidence that Albion are growing in the Premier League.

Particularly when Eddie Howe's squad are suffering from injuries and they had been beaten in six of their previous seven games.

And yet a third reverse in a row for Chris Hughton's side felt like progression.

A change in personnel and system produced an away performance deserving of a better outcome. They have played worse on their travels this season and picked up points.

They certainly did not deserve to be behind at the break and would not have been but for Asmir Begovic reminding us why Chelsea signed the Bosnian keeper from Stoke.

Eddie Howe, his team uncharacteristically loose in possession, admitted they were indebted to the keeper for their first half advantage.

Albion could not build on the opening 45 minutes but were still well in the game until Lewis Dunk was sent-off and David Brooks sealed their fate with the second of two finely executed goals four minutes later.

The Argus: Hughton (above left) was entitled to reflect: "I think we are developing, there's no doubt. Ultimately the most important thing will always be getting points and results. There are different ways to get them but I think as a team we are developing.

"We have played more often than not 4-4-1-1. I think we are able to change that a little bit now with the players we've got and at this moment we've got two of our biggest signings missing in Izquierdo and Jahanbakhsh."

Hughton made the type of changes some supporters had clamoured for in the wake of losing at home to Chelsea.

Yves Bissouma came in for Dale Stephens in midfield, joining Davy Propper and a deeper Pascal Gross. Florin Andone, not Glenn Murray, led the line and Jurgen Locadia made only his fifth league start at the expense of Anthony Knockaert, operating on the left of a 4-3-3 formation familiar to him from his time with PSV Eindhoven.

Injecting more pace and mobility through the team was at least partly designed to offest Bournemouth's high-tempo style.

"It was to do with that," Hughton said. "I'd made up my mind I wanted to play a 4-3-3. Then it's about the options I've got in forward areas.

"Andone's been pushing. He was on the back of a couple of very good games. He was good when he came on in the last game. Locadia has been pushing for a place and training really well.

"It's about the dynamics in central midfield. The three we had I thought did very well at Huddersfield, against Palace I was happy with them, and, even though we didn't win, at Burnley."

Bissouma, at the end of a slick move, Locadia with a shot and Dunk with a header were all denied by Begovic.

The difference between the sides was the finishing of David Brooks, Bournemouth's £11 million midfield purchase from Sheffield United.

His first goal midway through the first half was a sweet strike with his left-foot from 20 yards after creating room for himself.

The Argus: The clincher was a deft header, with his back to goal, looped cleverly over Mathew Ryan, taking his tally to four in 11 league games after one in the previous 35.

Brooks, Howe acknowledged, has fitted in and improved faster than Bournemouth anticipated when they signed the 21-year-old Manchester City reject in the summer.

They also bought top scorer Callum Wilson from a lower level in England (Coventry) and winger Ryan Fraser, who came on to supply the cross for Brooks' second goal, was a snip from Aberdeen.

Albion's recruitment route has been different, looking to Europe in search of better value. They had more English players on the bench (Stephens, Murray and Jason Steele) than in the starting line-up (Dunk and Solly March) but it would be unfair to criticise them for that when the vast majority of the overseas signings have improved the squad.

Dunk was a little unfortunate to receive his first booking from Mike Dean, the most prolific referee this season in terms of both red and yellow cards.

His challenge on Brooks came after Bissouma made the initial contact. The second caution was straightforward, a stretch from behind on England team-mate Wilson (below).

The Argus: Hughton defended him but it was a little reckless of the skipper with his side still well in the match and Wilson 30 yards from goal.

Nor did Dunk react to his second yellow with the incredulity one might have expected if, as was suggested, he was unaware it was him and not Bissouma that had been booked earlier.

What is beyond dispute is that Dunk's self-control is far greater than it used to be as he has matured into the high class defender he has become. Although the sixth red card of his career overall, this was his first for 22 months.

It was Albion's third in seven games, after Duffy and Stephens, a sequence that has also included two dismissals for opponents.

The Seagulls will need to avoid such hazards in the testing run of fixtures ahead, although the cushion they have over the bottom four is a big comfort.

And if Crystal Palace can win at Manchester City after falling behind, having played so dismally at the Amex against ten men, then anything can happen.