Honours even in South coast derby

Match Report

3 December 2017

AFCB 1 v 1 Southampton

Attendance: 10,764

Francis looks to get Bournemouth kicking the
right way for the match against Southampton. 

Coming into this south coast derby, Bournemouth were really searching for something like their best form. For Eddie Howe to make five changes is rare unless the team is not functioning and it was a brave call that saw the Cherries play with a little more positivity in the first half. Despite Southampton having early opportunities it was Ryan Fraser that steered AFCB into a goal lead before half time, after great work from Josh King. Yet, it was Southampton that stepped up their play after the break and Charlie Austin put a way his shot with precision to make it 1-1 on the hour. Neither team really deserved a winner and both sets of fans will take some positives from the performances and result, although referee Jonathan Moss may not wan to see too many replays of his decision to deny Adam Smith a penalty in the first half.

The boys are ready to go.

Eddie Howe was fairly ruthless in dropping Harry Arter from the squad and putting Steve Cook, Callum Wilson, Marc Pugh and Jordan Ibe on the bench after their mid-week efforts. That meant Jermain Defoe would start along with Lewis Cook, Adam Smith, Junior Stanislas and Ryan Fraser.

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The game started tentatively but Nathan Aké was taking no risks with Charlie Austin and getting in a good early tackle on him. The first big chance fell to the Saints when van Dijk came up for a corner and headed wide of the left post from eight yards, despite having a free header.

On 16 minutes another header from Tadic also failed to bother Begovic as it went over the bar.

A slow start from Bournemouth finally improved when Adam Smith drove a shot across the box that came off Defoe and forced a reaction save from Forster and a Bournemouth corner. Surman then floated another ball into the box and Aké forced another save from Forster with a diving header.

Lewis Cook was also now trying to get in on Bournemouth's attacks making a one-two with Junior Stanislas before thumping a shot over the bar. Southampton were far from quiet though and Pied shot wide of the left post on 28 minutes.

The big talking point came on the half hour with Adam Smith being tripped by Boufal in the right side of Saint's 18 yard box. Yet, referee Jonathan Moss read it as a dive and booked Smith as well as Defoe. It means Smith misses the next game.

Bournemouth kept coming forward and fans were treated to another Daniels' blockbuster of a shot that the left back drove through a wall of players and just wide of Southampton's right post. It would have been a screamer of a goal if it had gone in.

Moments later AFCB were a head, Josh King robbed Hoedt on the right side and Surman quickly fed the ball on to Fraser on the left. Fraser steadied himself before drilling the ball past Forster and into the bottom right corner of the goal on 42 minutes. There was just time for the Saints to have a go at getting a goal back before half time but Boufal fluffed his lines by smashing a shot over the bar from the centre of the box.

All is going well at half time.

Second half
Southampton made a sub by withdrawing James Ward-Prowse and putting on Nathan Redmond. The Saints wanted to get back at Bournemouth quickly and Redmond played in Boufal on the left and the shot forced a good save from Begovic low down.

Bournemouth picked up then with Defoe keeping the ball on the edge of the box well before King saw his shot dribble past Forster and inched wide of the right post as Stanislas slid in.

Lewis Cook then beat a couple of Saint's players before releasing Surman and then Adam Smith  on the left. He found Junior Stanislas who brought a good save from the Saint's keeper to his left.

Southampton then really began a period of dominance. Tadic had a rising shot from just six yards out which must have been deflected as a Saint's corner followed. Begovic could only punch and the ball soon came back.

Lewis Cook then lost the ball to Romeu and Redmond picked out Austin with a pull back pass from the right and the Saint's number 10 pulled the trigger effectively, beating Begovic with pace to make it 1-1 just after the hour. It was what the Saint's had deserved, but it didn't make it feel any better.

Southampton were out for the win now with Bertrand putting a shot wide. On 68 minutes Bournemouth made a double substitution with Defoe replaced by Wilson and Ibe coming on for Stanislas.

Southampton were still looking the stronger side with Boufal shooting over and getting another corner. Tadic was then replaced by Lemina on 74 minutes.

Bournemouth's best chance of a winner came when Daniels picked out King and his shot made Forster make a good parry to his left and Wilson could not find his feet in time to get the rebound, although he was flagged offside.

Lemina picked up a yellow card for hiding back Lewis Cook, but play was starting to open up. Austin put his header over on 81 minutes and he looked disgusted with himself at missing.

The Saints then took Davis off and brought on Gabbiadini with five minutes to go. Afobe also came on for Fraser injury time. The Saints then had a shot go over from Romeu. Bournemouth won a late corner with Ibe's persistence but Nathan Aké failed to hit the target heading over.

A draw was about right.

The teams shake hands on the result.

Summary
While a home win would have been fantastic, a draw was still a good point for the Cherries as they had caused the Saints lots of problems and had shown more desire to get stuck into the game than previous performances of late. Had they been given a penalty in the first half and had gone two up it may have been a different story, but one goal was always going to be fragile against a Southampton side who were not afraid to get shots off. Begovic made some good saves again and at times Bournemouth had been stretched, but they dug in well and could have been more fortunate with King's shot that trickled past the post in the second half. There still has to be more to come from Defoe, but Bournemouth looked creative again and goals look like they are just around the corner.

How AFCB lined up.

AFCB Ratings
Begovic 7, A Smith 7, Francis 7, Aké 7, Daniels 7, Stanislas 6, L Cook 7, Surman 6, Fraser 8,
King 7, Defoe 6

Referee Watch - Jonathan Moss: 2/10 strange call for a dive on Adam Smith's penalty and to book the player as well showed it doesn't pay to go down in the box these days even when you are clearly fouled.

Southampton
Forster, Pied, van Dijk, Hoedt, Bertrand, Romeu, Davis (Gabbiadini 85), Ward-Prowse (Redmond 45)
Tadic (Lemina 74), Boufal, Austin

Saint's subs
Targett, Yoshida, McCarthy, Lemina, Gabbiadini, Redmond, Højbjerg