And there were two strong storylines for the writers to pursue – Alireza Jahanbakhsh’s first Albion goal and Aaron Mooy’s man-of-the-match display in midfield.
It was a case of first things first for Richard Forester of The Sun. “Brighton’s Alireza Jahanbakhsh couldn't contain his emotions after finally ending his 18-month goalscoring drought in their 2-0 win over Bournemouth,” he wrote. “The Iranian winger, a club-record £17million signing last summer, needed just three minutes to find the net against Eddie Howe's struggling side.
“Jahanbakhsh, 26, was making just his first league start of the season after drawing 24 blanks last campaign. But he took his chance like a man in red hot form to open the scoring in the crucial battle towards the bottom of the Premier League.
“A swift counter-attack saw Aaron Mooy break through the centre of the pitch before playing it into the feet of Neal Maupay. The striker then bided his time in the box before laying it into the path of Jahanbakhsh who smashed it first time into the corner of the net.
“Jahanbakhsh almost looked in disbelief himself as he instantly covered his eyes with his hands. It obviously meant the world to him as he was mobbed by his delighted team-mates.
“The player then crouched down to the ground before thumping the badge on his shirt as a sense of relief swept around the stadium.”
Ian Winrow continued in The Sunday Times: “The significance of Alireza Jahanbakhsh’s goal was evident in the winger’s tearful celebrations that followed his third minute finish. The Iran international has endured a frustrating 18 months since becoming Brighton’s then record signing but handed his first Premier League start of the season, he responded with his first goal for the club, justifying his inclusion and putting his side on course for a timely win.
“Victory was confirmed by Aaron Mooy’s second half effort that capped a fine individual performance by the midfielder. The win was only Brighton’s second in nine league games and provided them with much needed breathing space in the lower half of the table. Instead it was Bournemouth who were left to confront growing concerns after a painful defeat.
“'Sometimes you get lucky with team selections,’ said Graham Potter, the Brighton manager. ‘Ali sums up the group. He's been frustrated but his approach to the team has been perfect and he deserves his goal. He has been fighting to make an impact. He has worked away and improved and deserved his chance’.”
On the BBC Sport website, Emlyn Begley wrote: “There were high hopes for [Jahanbakhsh] when he joined Brighton 18 months ago, having just won the Dutch golden boot with AZ Alkmaar with 21 goals before playing at the World Cup for Iran.
“But he failed to score in 25 appearances last campaign and was making his first Premier League start of the season against Bournemouth in one of seven changes from their Boxing Day defeat by Tottenham.
“He made no mistake with his 38th shot for the club, rifling an effort into the bottom corner after good play by Maupay to net Brighton's quickest Premier League goal.
"’I had ups and downs last year, trying to settle,’ Jahanbakhsh said. ‘This season it felt good with the new manager. He wanted to use different players, but I've been doing well in training and was ready for my chance. It took longer than I expected.’
“Potter said: ‘It was a great moment for everyone in the stadium, especially Ali. He deserves it. He worked away every day, with exemplary behaviour. We all wanted him to contribute and he did that today."
Sonia Twigg of the Press Association reminded Observer readers why this particular victory was doubly welcome. “Brighton recorded their first home win since 2 November with a convincing victory over a lacklustre Bournemouth side at the Amex Stadium.
“They had suffered their biggest home defeat in the Premier League in this fixture last season but got off to a dream start this time around, when Alireza Jahanbakhsh scored his first goal for the club.
“The game was not without controversy, with VAR overruling a second-half goal from Dan Burn after the left-back was judged to be offside.”
Tom Farmery of the Mail on Sunday went into more detail. “Mooy’s free-kick wasn’t cleared by Bournemouth and it took gymnast-like flexibility from Burn to manoeuvre his 6ft 7in frame into a position where he could send a shot from just outside the six-yard box crashing into Aaron Ramsdale’s net.
“It was a thumping effort but quickly lost all impact when a VAR check showed Burn’s left arm was offside by the smallest of margins. That could have halted Brighton’s progress and sent them off course but they stayed on method and followed Potter’s plan.”
And Farmery went intio great detail about Mooy’s part in that plan. “Brighton look to Mooy to give them a spark when going forward as well as producing dangerous deliveries from set pieces,” he wrote. “Given his growing importance to the side this season, Potter has become desperate to make his loan move from Huddersfield a permanent transfer once the January window opens on New Year’s Day.
“The Australian isn’t a typical playmaker either. He can press and tackle, which makes him vital when opposition defenders dawdle on the ball right in front of him. He doesn’t hesitate in picking them off before returning to his in-possession role of creating chances.
“The only downside of Mooy often starting attacks is that he isn’t there to finish them through either assisting or scoring. Leandro Trossard and Jahanbaksh were often left with that task and neither showed they were particularly capable.
“It is perhaps a pattern that has plagued Brighton throughout the season. Taking the lead but then threatening without end product and then allowing the opposition a way back is why they had dropped 12 points from winning positions in their previous 19 league games.”
But that did not happen this time. Tom Prentki took up the story in the Sunday Telegraph. “The perceived injustice [of Burn’s disallowed goal] acted to incentivise Brighton,” he wrote. “Yves Bissouma ran powerfully from midfield and struck a shot against the base of the post with the rebound blocked.
“Finally, they got the second goal they deserved when Leandro Trossard stood up a cross which Mooy controlled brilliantly before swivelling past Chris Mepham and finishing into the top corner.”
And it all added up to the promise of a Happy New Year for Albion fans.