Before long, we will look back on this season’s highlights and reflect that it took Albion and those of us who follow them to places we never even dreamed of and will never forget.

For now, though, the bit we WILL forget as quickly as possible is dominating our thoughts and darkening our mood .

Albion continued their stumbling progress towards the finishing line with this latest goal-shy performance and tame defeat.

It feels like a long time since we left a game with any spring in our step and positive thoughts.

Which is a shame because this season will be seen in a far better light from a distance than it is being now.

Roberto De Zerbi spoke about a lack of clear motivation now hopes of a quick return to Europe have faded into the distance.

The easy cliché here was to say Albion were on the beach.

It fits in well with a South Coast contest and the jubilant home fans enjoyed taunting their Albion counterparts that they had the best seafront as well as the three points.

I’m not so sure it was lack of effort, here. Yes, lack of killer instinct, know-how, confidence, defence at crosses (although Lewis Dunk did well to prevent further damage).

Lack of several key players, of course.

But Bournemouth also know how to win games at the moment, and Albion seem to have forgotten that skill.

Once a brief flurry centred around recently introduced Julio Enciso had abated, there was nothing for the away fans to sing about other than the European adventures for which this season will be recalled and celebrated.

Bournemouth hope to cross those frontiers next season and headers from Marcos Senesi and Enes Unal followed by a late Justin Kluivert rocket increased their chances.

Jaded and injury-hit Albion handed first Premier League starts to Odel Offiah and Mark O’Mahony and just a second to Valentin Barco after his midweek debut versus Manchester City.

It was, at least, an English Prem debut for Offiah. His most recent away outing was in the Scottish top flight at Ibrox while on loan to Hearts.

Igor was given a start in central defence as a hamstring problem ruled out Jan Paul van Hecke while Billy Gilmour played his first game for a month – and first in the Prem since being sent off against Everton.

Thee was a very early hint of a chance for Albion as a Pascal Gross free-kick deflected through to Igor, who was caught unawares and prodded the ball well wide.

Unal got away down the right for Bournemouth and Dunk did well to make a goal-saving tackle on Dominic Solanke right in front of goal.

But Bournemouth scored from a subsequent corner a couple of minutes later.

It was driven to the near post and O’Mahony was able to block the first header from Unal at close quarters, only for the ball to loop up and Senesi nod in unchallenged .

Albion’s response was quite bright. They played some attractive stuff with Barco busy on the ball and Offiah’s charges forward giving the away fans on that side of the pitch something to get behind.

O’Mahony hooked a difficult chance wide but the Seagulls’ best moment saw Facundo Buonanotte explode away from a tackle down the right but then opt to try and beat another man.

He still forced a good block from Mark Travers but one wondered whether he might have let fly earlier.

There was, though, a huge let-off for Albion - and Igor. The Brazilian was too easily dispossessed out on the touchline by Alex Scott, leaving the defence exposed. But Unal dragged his shot wide when the ball was cut back.

Dunk later did well to divert a Scott shot over his own bar.

For Albion, Simon Adingra’s header sailed too high after Gross whipped in a cross from the right.

Danny Welbeck replaced O’Mahony at the break but it was the hosts who were on the attack as they looked to kill the game off.

Kluivert should have done better than fire into the side-netting as he bore down on goal and Unal let the ball get away him in a dangerous position.

But it was Unal who rose at the far post to head the second after Dango Ouattara chipped over a cross from the byline on the Cherries’ left wing.

Albion were having plenty of the ball and pushing forward - some of the football was attractive - but Bournemouth seemed very comfortable protecting what they had and offering a sporadic threat on the counter.

The question was how were the Seagulls going to score? Joao Pedro might have offered an answer as he easily beat his defender on the right and got to the byline but then drove the ball wildly across goal.

Enciso, just on for Adingra, looked eager and almost offered the lifeline on two occasions.

He fired wide from a good position after Buonanotte’s shot was blocked.

Then the Paraguayan curled inches past the far top corner with Travers beaten before running to the away fans urging them to increase the volume.

Joao Pedro got away to the left, cut inside and was foiled by a great block.

But that was as promising as it got.

Bournemouth: Travers; Smith, Senesi (Hill 90+2), Kelly, Ouattara; Semenyo, Scott (Aarons 77), Cook, Kluivert (Sadi 90+2); Solanke, Unal (Christie 52). Subs not used: Neto, McKenna, Christie, Kinsey, Dacosta Gonzalez.

Goal: Senesi 13, Unal 52, Kluivert 87.

Yellow card: Senesi 8, Kluivert 57.

Albion: Verbruggen; Offiah (Veltman 74), Dunk, Igor (Webster 74), Barco; Gross, Gilmour, Buonanotte, Joao Pedro (Baleba 88), Adingra (Enciso 66); O’Mahony (Welbeck HT). Subs not used: Steele, Veltman, Webster, Baleba, Moder, Lallana, Enciso, Ansu Fati.

Yellow card: Gilmour 59, Barco 66.

Referee: Paul Tierney.

VAR: Chris Kavanagh