With the score equal at the start of the second half, Cherries sent centre-back Illia Zabarnyi rushing up front before handing the ball back to Lewis Cook.

Cherries have been well-known for their inventive kick-off rituals, scoring in previous years at Fulham and Arsenal.

However, the subsequent ball forwards from Philip Billing was charged down this time, allowing Brighton to surge through on goal and score through replacement Kaoru Mitoma just 15 seconds into the second half.

Roberto De Zerbi’s Seagulls went on to win 3-1, Milos Kerkez’s own goal just before half-time cancelling out Dominic Solanke’s opener.

Asked what went wrong at the start of the second half, Iraola told the Daily Echo: “I think it is a matter of competing better, taking good decisions when it matters.

“The first goal and the second goal we concede in separate halves, but just in two minutes probably. It is what takes us from winning the points at the end.

“It was a pretty level game, if you take the shots on target, big chances, it more or less in the same. But you end up losing 3-1.”

Pushed further on the kick-off routine and if he regrets sending his centre-back forwards, given it was the spot Zabarnyi had vacated from where Mitoma scored, Iraola said: “At the end they covered Lew’s passing line.

“He had to take another decision. The play was not the one we had in our minds.

“From there it was a block to Philip, the ball went up, we didn’t compete well for the second ball and they were clinical.”

Discussing the own goal from Kerkez and asked if it was miscommunication in the back-line, Iraola said: “I think probably Milos misjudged the jump.