Bournemouth 1, Albion 3

One of the concerns of Glenn Murray's prolific form was Albion becoming too dependent on him.

He provided eight of their first 18 goals in the Premier League this season.

What would happen if Murray was ruled out for any length of time or, as is the case with all goal scorers, went through a leaner patch?

We have the answer now and it is an encouraging one for Chris Hughton's in-form side as they approach a twin test at home to Liverpool and away to Manchester United.

The goals have been shared around during an unbeaten four-match run which has left them in a healthy state in the table and through to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

The Argus: Murray, without a goal in his last six appearances, watched from the bench against his former club as Florin Andone (above centre) sealed the victory.

Jurgen Locadia added to his goals against Arsenal and Everton with an assist and was unlucky not to score again himself with a first half header which hit the upright.

The Dutchman set up winger Anthony Knockaert for his first away goal since the double that left Albion on the brink of promotion from the Championship at Wolves 21 months ago.

Yves Bissouma opened his account three days after Dale Stephens scored his first Premier League goal at West Ham.

Shane Duffy, also on target against the Hammers, provided the assist for Andone's header which extinguished the threat of a comeback by Bournemouth akin to the one Albion suffered in East London.

Goals are suddenly going in from all over the pitch, defence, midfield, out wide and the strikers.

Hughton said: "It's important for us, because centre-forwards will always have periods where they are not scoring. You don't want to be reliant on them.

"We're delighted that we have got centre-forwards that can score goals but the value of that team togetherness, if you are able to spread the goals around, whether that's scoring or assists, is the best feel you can have for the team."

Albion's passage into Monday evening's fourth round draw emphasised once more how their squad has evolved after the second batch of summer strengthening.

Hughton made eight changes, his opposite number Eddie Howe nine, to the teams that respectively had high-scoring draws against West Ham and Watford to end the hectic festive programme.

The Albion line-up looked stronger on paper and so it proved. Bournemouth have their fair share of injuries, including new £19 million signing Dominic Solanke.

The Liverpool striker, who was also of interest to the Seagulls, will not be available until next month due to hamstring trouble.

Howe's problems were counter-balanced by four players unavailable to Hughton, Bernardo and Jose Izquierdo through injury, Mathew Ryan and Alireza Jahanbakhsh because of the Asian Cup.

Since losing at Bournemouth in the Premier League a fortnight earlier, Albion have taken revenge against them, also beaten Everton and held Arsenal and West Ham.

Hughton said: "There isn't anything you can put your finger on, apart from the obvious that we are doing things better in games.

"When you play badly the preparation is exactly the same, the instructions are the same, and it's about performances on the day.

"So generally it's down to, on a particular day, we defended better or attacked better or did things better in the game.

"Sometimes, definitely on a run, a feeling of winning the last game gives you that little bit more momentum and confidence.

"But of course we are playing in a division where every game is a huge game. So there's nothing in what we've done.

"We've changed shape a little bit (4-4-1-1 to 4-3-3), which has given us a bit more possession of the ball and sometimes that can be a good feel.

"But we've defended well when we've needed two and we're spreading the goals around."

It might have been different if Bournemouth, with the edge in the opening half-hour, had gone ahead. Lys Mousset missed the target from eight yards, with the goal gaping, after Jordan Ibe got the better of Leon Balogun.

The Argus: Knockaert's crisp strike from Locadia's back-heel (above) came only two minutes later and was quickly followed by Bissouma beating an early diving Artur Boruc with a bouncing shot from 25 yards.

Albion scored again from a corner, a familiar route nowadays, Andone nodding in after Duffy headed down Knockaert's delivery. That eased the anxiety stemming from another good strike, Marc Pugh halving Bournemouth's arrears with his first goal for 17 months.

Bournemouth were eighth when they beat the Seagulls last month. The gaps have reduced since then from five places and five points to one place and one point.

The beauty for Albion is the Liverpool and Manchester United games are free hits. They are expected to get nothing and, even if that is the case, they will still be in very good shape.