Under Eddie Howe in 2016-17, Cherries finished ninth, reaching 46 points.

They have now eclipsed that tally, hitting 48 with three games to spare, and currently sit 10th in the table.

Here are some of the topics of discussion from Sunday’s 3-0 success against the Seagulls.

Late changes in defence

Boss Andoni Iraola has regularly been asked in recent weeks about the ever-improving Illia Zabarnyi.

The young Ukrainian centre-back had featured in every Premier League minute this season, and looked set to go through the whole campaign without missing any of the action.

However, illness struck Zabarnyi down in the past couple of days and he was unable to be in the squad to face Brighton.

That last-minute withdrawal, combined with Milos Kerkez serving a suspension, saw enforced changes at the back.

Iraola had options, with the likes of James Hill and Max Aarons on the bench. But instead he slotted Dango Ouattara in at left-back, with Lloyd Kelly next to him and Marcos Senesi shifting across to Zabarnyi’s position.

That changed midway through the first half, with Kelly and Senesi swapping sides, after the latter had been booked for a heavy foul on striker Joao Pedro.

Despite the alterations at the back, Cherries looked solid defensively with Mark Travers, himself making just a second Premier League appearance of the campaign, left relatively untested as he recorded a second clean sheet of the week.

Enes Unal gets his chance

Having been restricted to cameo appearances off the bench due to the scintillating form of Dominic Solanke, Unal got his opportunity to lead the line against the Seagulls.

A reshuffle saw Ryan Christie drop to the bench, Alex Scott play in a deeper midfield role and Solanke playing behind Unal up front.

The Turkey international was making the first Premier League start of his career and, in truth, he had a mixed afternoon in front of goal.

Involved heavily in all the build-up, the 26-year-old’s finishing was lacking when he dragged a glaring chance wide in the first half.

Scott did well to shrug off Igor Julio on the wing, before teeing up Unal free in the box, but he could not find the target.

Unal had another opening early in the second period. After spreading the play out to Antoine Semenyo, Unal sprinted into the box and was picked out, but the ball got lost under his feet at the chance was gone.

However, the goal would come. After excellent work on the left by Justin Kluivert and Dango Ouattara, the latter delivered a perfect cross to the back post where Unal got some space and powered a header back across goal and into the far corner, sparking wild celebrations.

Many expect Solanke may leave Cherries this summer after a phenomenal season. If he does, Unal will be hoping he is doing enough to convince Cherries he can be the new main man, should everything go through as planned and his loan from Getafe turn into a permanent £14million transfer in the summer.

A look to the future?

While Iraola has always maintained his focus is on each game as it comes, rather than any planning for next season, there seem to be little hints here and there he could be looking at future options.

Unal starting up front with Solanke deeper was a good sign of that, while Travers replacing Neto in goal for the past two games in the clearest example. Iraola insists the club’s captain has done nothing wrong to be dropped, simply that the boss wanted to see the Irishman in action.

The substitutes’ bench yesterday was also telling. Due to injury and illness, Cherries named just eight replacement options for the game against Brighton, including two goalkeepers. Neto was one, but neither of the experienced duo Andrei Radu nor Darren Randolph were included, seemingly giving a clear indication their futures lie away from Vitality Stadium.

Instead, teenager Callan McKenna was among the subs, alongside three more members of the development squad yet to make their Premier League debuts in Dominic Sadi, Max Kinsey and Michael Dacosta Gonzalez.

That stat changed in the closing stages, Sadi brought on for his top-flight debut. While he did not have any impact on the game due to a lack of time remaining, Sadi is a player Iraola has kept close to the first-team squad all season and seems to be a player he very much likes.

On the other end of the scale, Adam Smith showed again he very much will still have a role to play. The veteran right-back, wearing the captain’s armband, was a beacon of calm across the back-line, using all his experience and composure to full effect to quell Brighton’s attacks and again impress at right-back.

What stood out for you from the win over Brighton? Let us know in the comments below.