Free-kick Brighton on the edge of the box.

Solly March steps up but fires high over the crossbar.

He should have done better there.

Almost 1-0 Brighton.

Lovely play by the Seagulls on the edge of the Bournemouth area, with Yves Bissouma playing a neat one-two with Pascal Gross.

The midfielder is through on goal but Asmir Begovic is out quickly to make the save.

Image source, Getty Images

Postpublished at 10 mins

10 mins

Bournemouth 0-0 Brighton

That looked nasty.

Bernardo clatters into the back of David Brooks, who goes down clutching his head.

Fortunately Brooks is fine to continue.

Image source, Reuters

Florin Andone wins the ball in midfield before Pascal Gross finds Solly March on the right, but the 24-year-old dallies on the ball and the chance is gone.

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport at Vitality Stadium

Bournemouth have reverted to 4-4-2 after defensive injuries rather forced them to play three at the back in recent weeks - while Brighton have lined up 4-1-4-1 in the early stages, with Davy Propper in the important role of midfield anchorman, and Florin Adone as lone striker, supported by Solly March and Jurgen Locadia on the flanks.

David Brooks attempts to play in Callum Wilson with a looping ball over the top of the Brighton defence, but Lewis Dunk clears the danger.

At the other end, Yves Bissouma fires a rocket of a shot just over Asmir Begovic's crossbar from long range.

Good effort by the returning midfielder.

Image source, Getty Images

Junior Stanislas goes directly for goal but it isn't troubling Brighton custodian Mat Ryan.

Bournemouth had plenty of men inside the penalty area there. Bit of a waste.

Jurgen Locadia has started the match on the left of Brighton's five-man midfield, with Florin Andone up front on his own.

Bournemouth win an early free-kick in a dangerous position...

We're under way at the Vitality Stadium.

Brighton's only win in their past 11 away games against Bournemouth was a 2-0 triumph in October 2007, when both teams were in League One.

Dean Cox and Bas Savage (pictured below) got the goals for the Seagulls, who ended the campaign just outside the play-off places.

Bournemouth, who were deducted 10 points after entering administration in February 2008, were relegated to League Two.

Image source, Getty Images

Here come the two teams...

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport at Vitality Stadium

Ryan Fraser has started all 17 of Bournemouth's previous Premier League games this season and made an energetic substitute appearance in the midweek Carabao Cup defeat at Chelsea.

However, BBC Radio Solent reports that the Scotland winger picked up a minor calf injury at Stamford Bridge, and only just made the subs' bench today.

Mark Lawrenson
BBC Sport football expert

Bournemouth have not been playing badly but they have lost seven out of their past eight games.

I still think they will beat Brighton though - the Seagulls' away form is poor and they don't carry much of a goal threat on the road.

Prediction: 2-0

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport at Vitality Stadium

Despite what you may read or hear, this game is very far from being a local derby - the two clubs being approximately 100 miles apart by road. However, this is becoming a familiar destination for Brighton supporters since their elevation to the top flight in 2017.

Last season, the Seagulls were sent here twice in the space of five days in the Premier League and Carabao Cup - with Bournemouth winning by the odd goal on both occasions - while after today, they'll be back in a fortnight in the third round of the FA Cup.

Brighton & Hove Albion

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton manager Chris Hughton: "Eddie Howe has got them playing in the way he wants to, very high tempo, a lot of pace in the team.

"They have a way of playing and it always smacks me in the face that they are a team where everybody knows their roles and jobs.

"We expect a very difficult game, particularly at Bournemouth."

Bournemouth

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: "Our squad is strong. We saw that in the changes we made in the Chelsea game. We're in a good position and looking forward to our busy schedule.

"All of our focus right now is on Brighton. We know it's a really big game for us and we're excited by the challenge ahead of us."

Tony Husband
Match of the Day commentator

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth are defending a fine home record against their seaside rivals from along the coast, and they really need to maintain that run.

After a super start, Eddie Howe's side have seen their form dip, albeit in a tough run of fixtures. With trips to Tottenham and Manchester United over Christmas, Cherries fans I talk to see this as a vital game.

It's a sign of Brighton's progress that in only their second season back in the top flight, new targets are being set. The talk isn't all about just staying up. Albion know they must continue to improve on the road.

Against an injury-hit Bournemouth side which has lost seven games out of eight, this appears a good chance to net a third away win.

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe makes three changes to the side that lost 2-0 to Wolves in their last Premier League game.

Callum Wilson starts after making his comeback from injury in the Carabao Cup defeat to Chelsea in midweek, while there are recalls for Simon Francis and David Brooks.

Tyrone Mings, Jordon Ibe and Ryan Fraser drop to the bench.

Bournemouth XI: Begovic; Francis, Cook, Ake; Lerma; Stanislas, Surman, Brooks, Daniels; King, Wilson

Subs: Boruc, Mousset, Ibe, Defoe, Rico, Fraser, Mings

Image source, BBC Sport

Chris Hughton also makes three alterations to the Brighton team that lost at home to Chelsea in the Premier League last weekend.

Glenn Murray and Anthony Knockaert have to settle for a place on the bench, with Jurgen Locadia and Florin Andone coming into the side.

Yves Bissouma also returns in place of Dale Stephens.

Brighton XI: Ryan; Montoya, Dunk, Balogun, Bernardo; Bissouma, Propper, Andone, Gross, March; Locadia

Subs: Steele, Bruno, Bong, Stephens, Kayal, Knockaert, Murray

Image source, BBC Sport

Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of Bournemouth v Brighton & Hove Albion at the Vitality Stadium.

The Cherries were five places and six points better off than the Seagulls in the table at the end of October, but victory for Chris Hughton’s side this afternoon would lift them above Eddie Howe’s charges in the standings.

Stay tuned for what is certain to be an intriguing battle on the south coast.

Image source, Getty Images