Brighton can improve on winning performance at Bournemouth

A 90-minute battering by Storm Bert - and a storm-proof display around big Bart – did nothing to change his mind.

Show that steel, have a bit of luck and be brave enough to field such an array of attacking magic and there is every chance you could go far.

Maybe back into Europe, as Albion fans were singing again after this hard-fought win.

The Seagulls faithful have a song which collates some of their most extreme experiences of travels to Rome, Marseille, Athens and Amsterdam.

When Antoine Semenyo’s volley battered the top of the crossbar with the final kick here, they could enjoy another step towards what looks a realistic goal, albeit at still quite an early stage.

(It says a lot for Bart Verbruggen’s display that one assumed he had produced a wonder save until checking the replays).

Fabian Hurzeler said he did not hear the songs about Europe but that he is delighted to give fans something to enjoy.

Ideally with wins, of course, but also with performances and commitment and they certainly got the last of those here, even if they can play better than this.

The fans roared loudest in the opening five minutes of either half, when Joao Pedro put away a rebound after a slick move and then when he slid a precise pass for Kaoru Mitoma to finish cleverly.

Carlos Baleba’s second yellow card lifted home fans but the Cherries did not halve arrears until David Brooks scored deep in added time.

Then came that last scare – but a defence built around Igor and the commanding Jan Paul van Hecke had done enough.

Right-back Veltman said: “Loads of crosses, loads of shots as well we defended. I think we did well.

“If you score two and they only get one, you did well as a defence.

“A great goalie. Bart did amazing, helped us a couple of times.

“Obviously in the last five minutes they are coming with their goalie and six guys in the box, obviously you need to defend properly.

“Igor and JP were unreal with their heads, keeping us in the game.

“You need a bit of luck, obviously, but we had that in this game and got the result.

“Ten against 11, 2-0, they have moments.

“More guys on the pitch so they will create chances.

“I think we could still have done better on the ball sometimes, me included. We had possibilities to play.

“But you know when you are 2-0 in front, they play at home, they will come for you.”

Veltman’s willingness to accept Albion must be better in possession was good to hear and also accurate.

Head coach Hurzeler was quick to strike the same note in all his post-match interviews and also said a draw may well have been a fair outcome. But he loves this resilience from his team.

In the end, the success felt a bit like that with ten at Nottingham Forest this time last year.

And the celebrations were almost as good, although Veltman kept hold of his GPS tracker this time.

It was achieved without several injured senior players and handicapped by a second yellow for Baleba which seemed harsh as he collided with the sliding Milos Kerkez.

But Joao Pedro’s return to fitness has been a huge plus and he took little time making the most of this first start in nine Prem fixtures, since the 1-1 draw at Arsenal.

He was allowed to weave magic with Danny Welbeck, Georginio Rutter and Mitoma, the first time that unit had been tried together. Hurzeler said: “I think good players find good connection to each other quickly.

“They are very good players and we made the choice to let them start together.

“Now it is also for us to find the right positioning, so they are close to each other and combine, as they showed in both goals.”

We often talk about the crucial first goal but the second has actually proved key in previous Albion away games – or the fact the second did not come at Newcastle.

Mitoma’s finish from Joao Pedro’s pass after Rutter and Welbeck joined in was a worthy matchwinner.

But a lot happened from that point.

You get nowhere without backbone across a long and competitive season and the Seagulls, as Veltman pointed out, showed that in abundance.

Bournemouth: Arrizabalaga; Smith (Aarons 75), Senesi (Huijsen 65), Zabarnyi , Kerkez (Unal 80); Cook, Adams (Ouattara 65); Semenyo, Kluivert (Brooks 75), Tavernier; Evanilson. Subs: Travers, Hill, Billing, Kinsey Goal: Brooks 90+3.

Yellow card: Semenyo 40, Cook 90+6.

Albion: Verbruggen; Veltman, van Hecke, Igor, Estupinan; Baleba, Ayari (O’Riley 76); Rutter (Adingra 64), Joao Pedro (Wieffer 64), Mitoma; Welbeck (Ferguson 85). Subs: Steele, Gruda, Enciso, McConville, Samuels.

Goals: Joao Pedro 4, Mitoma 50.

Yellow card: Rutter 30, Baleba 45+1 and 59, Van Hecke 90+6.

Red card: Baleba 59 (two yellows).

Referee: Stuart Attwell.

Attendance: 11,196.