Andoni Iraola felt Bournemouth's 1-1 draw with Brighton was "harsh" on his team, though he could not blame his players for the hosts' "incredible" equalising goal.

Bournemouth looked set to walk away from the American Express Stadium with all three points after Marcus Tavernier's 32nd-minute penalty.

Amine Adli was initially booked for simulation after going down under a Bart Verbruggen challenge, but the decision was overturned following a VAR review, with Bournemouth taking the lead from the resulting spot-kick.

However, Brighton piled on the pressure in the second half and eventually breached Bournemouth's defence with a stunning 91st-minute overhead kick from substitute Charalampos Kostoulas.

The Cherries have now lost 18 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, more than any other side.

But Iraola, while disappointed, admitted there was little his side could do to stop a true moment of magic.

"It is very harsh, very harsh for us because we were so close to getting the three points," he told BBC Match of the Day.

"We played a really good first half and had our chances, we scored one, and we were controlling the game.

"In the second half, we didn't have the energy to keep these intensity levels, and we had to defend a little bit lower, especially after the Brighton subs, but we were doing well. At the end, it is an incredible goal from Kostoulas.

"I have seen the goal, and it is very difficult to blame the players. We had [Marcos] Senesi in front of him, but it is a bicycle kick, into the top corner. It's incredible. Looking at the replay, I was trying to see what we could do better, but it is impossible."

While Bournemouth were on top in the first half, Brighton dominated the second, controlling 73.3% of the possession and having 13 shots to the visitors' four, with none of those attempts by the Cherries hitting the target.

Iraola's side have now won just one of their last 13 Premier League matches (D5 L7), and were also knocked out of the FA Cup via a penalty shoot-out after a 3-3 draw with Newcastle United.

"We had to defend deep and compact, and as we did in the first half, you have to come together a bit more," Iraola added.

"You know you are probably going to concede some set-pieces, and you have to do the basics and defend your box.

"Lately, we have been very close to winning, and in difficult stadiums, for example, against Newcastle in the cup, then we lose on penalties.

"Maybe before the game, you say one point is good, Brighton away is a difficult place, but seeing how the game has evolved, we might not think it is good for us."