Written by billythekid
First Home Win Of The Season?
After losing our last two games, one at home against Chelsea and the most recent game away at Anfield against Liverpool, the Cherries will be hoping to get their first home win this season in their next game on Monday night at Dean Court at 8 pm, against the side from the other side of the New Forest, Southampton. This game will again be live on Sky.
AFC Bournemouth v Southampton
AFCB Win
Draw
Southampton Win
When the Cherries last met the Saints on two occasions in the 2022-23 season in the Premier League, they had two different managers. It was also the season they were relegated down to the Championship for the first time since 2011-12 season, the season Nigel Adkins took Southampton up into the top league.
The first time was in October 2022, Ralph Hasenhuttl was their manager when our two sides met at Dean Court, it finished 0-1 in Saints favour. In October, Hasenhuttl was sacked and replaced by Nathan Jones, who again after a 95-day spell in charge was relieved of his duties in February 2023. The second time our sides met was at St Mary’s Stadium in April 2023, this time AFCB were the victors, by the same score 0-1, it was the start of a five-game run of defeats for Ruben Selles who took over from Jones until the end of the season.
Their first season back in the Premier League their manager is Russell Martin. He joined Saints after leaving Swansea City in the summer of 2023. Previous to Swansea City he was manager of MK Dons. Martin in his first season in charge at Southampton, gained promotion via the play-offs back into the Premier League after one season out of it.
Martin’s club have not had a good start, losing all four Premier League games. Their first game was up in the North East against Newcastle United, finishing 1-0. First home game it finished 0-1 against Nottingham Forest. Then away at Brentford the score was 3-1, Saints scoring their first goal. Back at St Mary’s against Manchester United it ended 0-3. Their most recent game was at home against fellow promoted side Ipswich Town it finished 1-1.
As mentioned above, our two sides met at Dean Court in October of 2022, Saints won with a Che Adams first-half header. It was also their first clean sheet after 11 league games that season.
In all league games at Dean Court against the Saints, AFCB have W 5, D 3, L 6.
In all competitions, AFCB have W 9, D 9, L 16.
AFCB Team News
No new injury news, so just Tyler Adams out injured.
AFCB Player To Watch
Eyes again will be on our striker Evanilson to see if he can score his first goal for AFCB.
Southampton Team News
They signed a number of players, amongst them were Taylor Harwood-Bellis from Manchester City for £20 million, Aaron Ramsdale from Arsenal for £18 million and Flyn Downes from West Ham also for £18 million. On the injury front they have Gavin Bazunu, Kamaldeen Sulemana and William Smallbone. Jack Stephens is suspended.
Southampton Player To Watch
Aaron Ramsdale who was with our club and also linked in this summer transfer window. Last season Adam Armstrong’s 24 goals and 13 assists helped towards his club being promoted. He had a good goal-scoring record in the Championship, but when you look at his record so far in the Premier League he has struggled for goals. In the 2022-23 season Armstrong started 14 games (16 sub) scoring 2 goals. The 2021-22 season he started 17 games (6 sub) scoring 2 goals. So will he break his duck for this season on Monday?
The Referee
Michael Oliver is in charge of our game on Monday night. He was the referee for our first game of the season away to Nottingham Forest.
Matt Stevenson wrote…
I’ve looked at the last 4 league games for Southampton. These were three home games (N Forest, Man U and Ipswich) and away at Brentford, which are quite kind fixtures. Southampton have gained 1 point, which is a fair reflection, although they had the better chances vs Ipswich. Southampton have scored 2 goals and conceded 8 with xG estimating 5.32 goals with 9.59 conceded. The average of approaching 2.5 xG conceded per game is the highest I have seen in the previews.
Southampton have had 2 different goal scorers (Sugawara and Dibling). Lallana has 2 assists.
The average positions of the starting line-ups are below. There seems to be a lot of bunching around the middle third.
The following graph compares summary stats of Southampton and AFCB over the last 4 games. AFCB are in front in all of the key metrics, although we only have 1 more big chance (although our fixtures Newcastle and Chelsea at home, and Everton and Liverpool away) look tougher than Southampton’s.
Southampton have had a greater percentage of possession over the last 4 games with their manager preferring a possession-based game and greater pass completion as they strive to keep the ball. Chances created from open play are comparable, although Southampton concede a higher proportion from set pieces.
Your say…
RobTrent said…
Are they one of our bogey teams? – To join the conversation, click here.