St Marys defeat is so costly for Cherries

Match Report

Southampton 2 v 1 AFCB

28 April 2018

Attendance: 31,778

 for a AFCB and Southampton at St Marys.

Playing Southampton at St Marys is something that should get the Cherries excited and when the opposition are fighting for their lives, you'd expect AFCB not to gift anything. But the Cherries  managed to falter from a position of strength, throwing a first half goal away to Dusan Tadic from a Bournemouth corner and even when Josh King equalised before half time, Bournemouth fans were expecting a stronger second half from their team. Instead, Tadic was the recipient of a stumble by Steve Cook and this time there was no way back for Eddie Howe's men. AFCB sit just six points above Southampton and if they don't secure another point they'll probably have to rely on goal difference to keep them up. Safe - don't make me laugh. AFCB are almost in deep as trouble as Southampton.

Bournemouth made two changes to the starting line up. Out went Andrew Surman and Jordan Ibe and in came Dan Gosling and Lys Mousset. Tyrone Mings also made a welcome return to the bench.

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There was nothing to shabby about Bournemouth's start to the game apart from the early booking of Lewis Cook for a foul on Tadic. It was frantic as you'd expect in a derby carrying so much importance for the relegation scene, but the Cherries had the better of the opening minutes winning two corners in the first 10 minutes. Bournemouth's delivery was perhaps not the best as McCarthy easily caught Francis' cross for the first and the second corner was harmlessly put wide for a goal kick.

In between these incidents Southampton had tried to find Nathan Redmond with a long ball over the top, but Bournemouth were defending well enough with their high line. More concern came when Charlie Austin almost jumped on a short pass to Begovic and then Southampton came closer still with Bertrand having a blocked shot, followed by Francis throwing himself in front of Romeu's shot on 14 minutes.

The nerves in Bournemouth's ranks shot up even more when Ryan Fraser gave a short ball back to Begovic. Ake then thought he'd risk a poor back pass too! Daniels was comprehensively beaten on the left allowing Cedric to cross, but Begovic caught the ball well.

All seemed well as Josh King won a corner at the other end, but a break from it with Redmond feeding Lemina left the Cherries horribly exposed with just one defender at the back - Charlie Daniels. There was no cover when Tadic was played in through the left side and Begovic's star-shaped attempt to make the save was no match for the precise finish. The Saints were 1-0 up on 25 minutes.

The Cherries tried to get over the shock quickly and a great run from Lewis Cook should have ended with a shot on goal, but he squared the ball and the chance was lost.

Charlie Austin was lurking at the other end and his snap shot from the right wing was kept out by Begovic at his near post.

Lamina was next to shoot high over the goal with a curling attempt. But Bournemouth didn't get the ball out of their half before Lamina had another shot from distance that Begovic saved well down low to his left.

Bournemouth's reply was a volley from Fraser that went well wide. A Southampton corner fell out to Lemina who shot that was held up by Austin, who then shouted for a penalty as he collided with Begovic in Bournemouth's box. Nothing was given, thankfully.

The Cherries got up field with Ryan Fraser and Josh King. Mousset had a shot blocked before Ake turned well around the six yard box and got a shot away which was saved by McCarthy's legs. The following corner though gave Bournemouth the chance they needed. A six yard heading contest saw the ball fall nicely to Josh King at the far post and he smashed it into the roof of the net to make it 1-1 right at the end of the first half.

1-1 at half time.

Second half
The second half started no less ferociously with a a yellow card for Bednarek on Mousset. Redmond claimed a penalty for the ball hitting Steve Cook, but it seemed to hit Cook's back.

Lewis Cook then made a good drive that was saved by McCarthy on 50 minutes. Southampton were also getting forward and Lemina had a shot blocked before Redmond has his attempt blocked.

It all went wrong for Steve Cook and Bournemouth when a goal kick from the Saints was not controlled by Bournemouth's centre-half and he was robbed by Tadic. Tadic still had much work to do but he found space in between the Bournemouth cover and finished comfortably passed Begovic with a toe-poke to put the Saints back in from 2-1 on 54 minutes.

Bournemouth had plenty of time to recover, but they'd have to do better than Mousset's attempt that was hit straight at the keeper.

The Saints then subbed Nathan Redmond on 58 minutes and brought on Shane Long. Fraser took a knock but carried on. King was the next to shoot but again right at McCarthy.

Bournemouth subbed Wilson for Defoe on 64 minutes and Ibe replaced Mousset. Gosling went down in the box from a challenge from Lemina but there was no penalty.

A good chance for Southampton saw Lemina find Austin but the shot was deflected. Gosling was losing the ball regularly now in midfield and he was subbed for Surman on 72 minutes. Austin was replaced by Højbjerg,

Bournemouth won a free kick wide on the right when Francis went down against Shane Long. A Bournemouth corner followed, but it was punched clear by McCarthy. The ball was being turned over all the time.

Southampton were doing well enough to see the game out. Ward-Prowse replaced Tadic on 86 minutes. The last few minutes saw an all out Bournemouth assault on the Saint's goal. Surman hit the first speculative shot wide.

Yoshida picked up a yellow card for a foul on Fraser as the pressure grew. King then shot horribly wide after a long build up.

Five minutes of added time started with a yellow card for Cedric. Begovic came up for the corner but McCarthy punched it away. Bournemouth had one last chance when Surman squared to Fraser outside the box and the Scotsman hit a well-flighted shot towards the top right corner but it was deflected and McCarthey made a spectacular save. Højbjerg was yellow carded as time ran out.

McCarthy was also carded for time wasting but Southampton had taken the three points on offer.

Who look exhausted and are on the floor? AFCB!

Summary
Bournemouth had a chance to finish the season with no worries but they didn't do the job at Southampton. Southampton wanted the points and Bournemouth didn't do nearly enough to frustrate them. Tadic stole the game from Bournemouth and his finishing was superb. Too often the Cherries mis-controlled the ball and made it easy for Southampton to pick up the pieces. No Bournemouth player really came out with any high praise, but at least King grabbed another goal. Bournemouth are sinking towards trouble fast and if they don't win against Swansea it will be an extremely nervy last game of the season up at Burnley. We know this defeat is costly, we just don't know how costly it might be yet.

AFCB line up

AFCB Subs: Boruc, B Smith, Mings, Surman, Pugh, Ibe, Defoe

AFCB
Begovic 5, Francis 4, S Cook 3, Ake 5, Fraser 6, Gosling 4, L Cook 6,  Daniels 4, King 7, Wilson 5, Mousset 5

Southampton
McCarthy, Bednarek, Yoshida, Hoedt, Cedric, Romeu, Lemina, Bertrand, Tadic (Ward-Prowse 87) Austin (Højbjerg 72), Redmond (Long 59)

Cherry Chimes' MoM: Josh King

Referee Watch: Anthony Taylor 3/10 - All the yellow cards came late on for Southampton and yet Lewis Cook was booked straight away. 

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