Brighton 1-1 Bournemouth LIVE: Express Sport brings you the latest Premier League updates from the Amex Stadium

BRIGHTON 1-1 BOURNEMOUTH

HT: Despite the naysayers claiming that watching paint dry would be better entertainment - this has been a great game. Brighton will be frustrated having failed to press home the advantage given to them by Anthony Knockaert, but Steve Cook ensures we’re finely poised here at the Amex Stadium.

45: Fantastic entertainment before the break! It’s largely been a decent game, actually. Lewis Cook brings the ball forward and pulls it back for Pugh, who's strike on the edge of the area is saved once again!

44: You’re joking!? Gross plays a beautiful low pass through the entire Bournemouth defence but Begovic is there to stop Izquierdo’s flicked effort from point-blank range. Top goalkeeping.

42: Almost ahead before the break. Pugh makes himself a couple of yards and fizzes a cross into Wilson, who struggles to control before toe-poking it at Ryan.

40: A good punch from Begovic to clear Knockaert's cross, with Afobe heading away the resulting corner.

39: Only Scott Dann (9) has scored more Premier League goals than Steve Cook (8) of all central defenders in the competition since August 2015.

38: Save! The Cherries win a free-kick just outside the box and Daniels tries one from range, but his bullet shot is palmed away. Seen nothing of Brighton in an attacking sense in about 10 minutes.

35: Chris Hughton will be livid with that. The Cherries haven’t looked particularly threatening but find themselves level from a set-piece. The Seagulls failed to heed the many warnings, and now Eddie Howe’s side have their tails up.

BRIGHTON 1-1 BOURNEMOUTH - COOK

33: You can’t say Brighton weren’t warned.

Having just seen a corner cleared off the line by Suttner, Steve Cook has equalised for Bournemouth from a set-piece.

The skipper gets up highest to nod home an unstoppable header from Jordon Ibe's corner.

32: Oh, Jordon Ibe is playing. Having been a passenger in the early stages the winger shows plenty of energy, dribbling with the ball and working himself into a shooting position, but it's well saved by Ryan. 

31: Gross’ perfectly-weighted pass to Murray almost sees Brighton net their second, but an excellent save from Begovic denies him.

29: I’m just going to say it. The way the Sky Sports commentator pronounces “Knockaert” is infuriating. He’s putting a huge emphasis on the “K” at the beginning and I’ve found myself reaching for the mute button. Actually, this is the same commentator that pronounces Jagielka as “Yag-Yell-Ka…”

27: Penalty appeal! Nobody was asking for it, but I’m convinced that Anthony Knockaert blocked Daniels’ shot with his arms. Here comes the replay… OK, it was a handball but it was outside the area. In the words of Liam Gallagher, as you were…

24: Daniels forces a corner on the left after some good build-up, but it comes to nothing and the hosts clear. Brighton have dropped a little deeper over the last few minutes, which answers my last question...

21: Brighton haven’t found themselves ahead this early before in the Premier League. It’ll be interesting to see how it affects their style of play. Surely grabbing another will be top of the agenda?

18: Ahh Benik Afobe. I’d almost missed his ability to excite and disappoint inside the same micro-second. The forward looks likely to latch onto a decent through ball but runs it out of play.

15: Close! Charlie Daniels picks out Callum Wilson with a first-time cross and the striker flicks it just wide of the post. Ryan probably had it covered on reflection.

12: Anthony Knockaert's goal was the earliest that Brighton have scored in the Premier League, timed at 4:32.

10: Chris Hughton will be very happy indeed with how 2018 is going. Izquierdo cuts inside from the left and fizzes an effort narrowly past the post. The hosts could easily be 2-0 up in the opening exchanges.

8: Here come Brighton again! Pascal Gross drives forward but a crucial tackle from Harry Arter prevents the German from pulling the trigger.

BRIGHTON 1-0 BOURNEMOUTH - KNOCKAERT

5: Bosh! The first goalscorer of 2018 is Anthony Knockaert.

Izquierdo gets in down the left following a ball from Gross and Knockaert is there at the back post to convert.

Cracking team goal for the Seagulls, who generally don’t let a lead slip…

3: Brighton have started the better of the two sides. A couple of decent forays forward from Pascal Gross look encouraging for the hosts.

BRIGHTON 0-0 BOURNEMOUTH

1: Aaaaand we’re off! Everyone pumped for the first game of 2018? Pumped excited, NOT stomach-pumped… which is obviously a very different thing.

BRIGHTON vs BOURNEMOUTH

12:28: Quick reminder of today’s line-ups folks. We’re almost underway…

Brighton XI: Ryan, Dunk, Duffy, Stephens, Suttner, Propper, Gross, Schelotto, Knockaert, Murray, Izquierdo.

Subs: Krul, Bruno, Kayal, Hemed, Goldson, March, Brown.

Bournemouth XI: Begovic, Francis, Cook, Smith, Daniels, Cook, Pugh, Arter, Ibe, Afobe, Wilson.

Subs: Boruc, Gosling, Ake, Surman, Mousset, Butcher, Simpson.

CHERRIES ON THE UP

12:25: Bournemouth head into 2018 and along the south coast to Brighton with a spring in their step and the winds of fortune blowing their way.

After Callum Wilson's controversial last-gasp equaliser secured a 3-3 draw against fellow strugglers West Ham, Ryan Fraser's late deflected strike gave Bournemouth a first win in nine games against Everton.

The victory took Bournemouth out of the relegation zone and the delight on boss Eddie Howe's face was evident as he spoke about the psychological pressure of being in the bottom three.

HOWE OBLIGES...

12:20: What’s everyone’s thoughts on asking a rival manager to sign your team’s shirt? I’m not convinced myself, then again, Eddie Howe is clearly a much nicer bloke than me.

STAT BOX

*Bournemouth have won the four most recent meetings, including the reverse Premier League fixture and a League Cup tie this season.

*Brighton are winless in eight games in this fixture since a 3-2 home victory in League One on New Year's Day 2008. Alex Revell scored a hat-trick for the Seagulls that day.

*This will be the first league game Bournemouth have played on New Year's Day since 2014 - when they drew 1-1 with Brighton in the Championship at the Amex Stadium.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Ross: Stay away from Brighton vs Bournemouth game everyone. Gunna be a 0-0 with absolutely nothing happening.

Paul: Oh God. Bournemouth vs Brighton. That's like the worst game of would you rather ever.

Ben: It’s Brighton vs Bournemouth, I’d rather watch paint dry.

I’m not seeing too much enthusiasm for today’s clash folks. Fingers crossed the haters will be proved wrong with ding-dong of a battle.

TRANSFER DESTRUCTION

12:10: Now that’s a sensational headline I’ve ever I’ve seen one.

I’m referring to Brighton CEO Paul Barber’s programme notes, in which he urges supporters to ignore any transfer rumours linking players with the club.

I guess that means Celtic’s Moussa Dembele won’t be joining then…

TEAM NEWS - BOURNEMOUTH

12:05: Eddie Howe, whose parents allowed to to stay awake until 12:01 and enjoy a glass of Bucks Fizz yesterday, has made four changes to the side who beat Everton.

Charlie Daniels, Benik Afobe, Harry Arter and Marc Pugh all return to the starting XI. Brace hero Ryan Fraser misses out through injury.

TEAM NEWS - BRIGHTON

12:00: Chris Hughton, who obviously celebrated New Year with an intense game of scrabble and was fast asleep by 9:15pm, has made three changes to his starting XI.

Ezequiel Schelotto, Jose Izquierdo and Markus Suttner all come into the side with Bruno, Gaetan Bong and Solly March dropping out.

BRIGHTON vs BOURNEMOUTH

11:55: OK, let’s see the line-ups for the first game of 2018! The excitement is almost unbearable.

Brighton XI: Ryan, Dunk, Duffy, Stephens, Suttner, Propper, Gross, Schelotto, Knockaert, Murray, Izquierdo.

Subs: Krul, Bruno, Kayal, Hemed, Goldson, March, Brown.

Bournemouth XI: Begovic, Francis, Cook, Smith, Daniels, Cook, Pugh, Arter, Ibe, Afobe, Wilson.

Subs: Boruc, Gosling, Ake, Surman, Mousset, Butcher, Simpson.

HAVE YOUR SAY

11:50: If you want to vent your frustrations, or discuss any issues in the world of football (within reason), then get in touch!

You can either comment at the bottom of the page or contact me via Twitter using the hashtag #ExpressSport.

GOOD MORNING

11:45: Happy New Year, football fans!

We're getting 2018's Premier League coverage started in style with a quality clash down at the Amex Stadium between Brighton and Bournemouth.

OK, I’ve exaggerated a bit there.

My resolution was to try and be less cynical about uninspiring matches, but I’ve also vowed to be more sarcastic, so good luck knowing what to believe!

Anyway, I’m in position and fighting back an apocalyptic hangover to bring you LIVE coverage of today’s clash. Let’s get going!

BRIGHTON vs BOURNEMOUTH - PREVIEW

Brighton boss Chris Hughton will make a late check on central defender Lewis Dunk.

Dunk picked up a knock during Saturday's 0-0 draw at Newcastle, but is expected to be fit to face the Cherries.

On Loan Chelsea forward Izzy Brown did not make the 18 at St James' Park after having to sit out against his parent club on Boxing Day, while midfielder Steve Sidwell (back) is Hughton's only long-term absentee.

Josh King suffered a new hamstring problem in Saturday's 2-1 win over Everton, and could be set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

Ryan Fraser could continue in the starting XI after his match-winning double against Everton, with Charlie Daniels possibly ready to return from the off.

Brighton provisional squad: Ryan, Krul, Bong, Bruno, Hunemeier, Duffy, Dunk, Rosenior, Goldson, Schelotto, Suttner, Kayal, Propper, Knockaert, Stephens, March, Izquierdo, Brown, Gross, Murray, Hemed, Baldock.

Bournemouth provisional squad: Begovic, Boruc, Ramsdale, S Cook, Francis, Simpson, Ake, A Smith, Daniels, Surman, L Cook, Fraser, Gosling, Pugh, Hyndman, Ibe, King, Afobe, Wilson, Mousset.