Cherries kept quiet by dogged Saints 0-0

Match Description

AFCB 0 - 0 Southampton

20 October 2018

Attendance: 10.986

The build up for this local contest had everyone full of expectation for a high-flying game with plenty of goals. Sadly, the game didn't live up to that and was more of a tactical brawl that offered few chances to score. The better chances were probably carved out by Southampton in the end. Rather than blow energy into the Cherries, the international break perhaps took a little edge out of their play and Southampton were excellent at plugging any holes in their defence. While Bournemouth might not have been at their best, it is at least another point gained. It could have been worse if Stuart Armstrong or Manolo Gabbiadini had been better acquainted with where the goal was.

Bournemouth kept the same starting line up from their last game against Watford, even the subs bench remained the same. Southampton were coming off the back of a 0-3 home defeat to Chelsea, but they played with far more conviction in this game.

 

Southampton fans Ray, Trevor and Darren give their pre-match views.

Simon Francis at the coin toss with David Brooks looking on.

There are more pictures on Match Day Gallery.

The Cherries started well enough with Adam Smith bursting through the middle of the park and forcing the pace with Wilson, who returned the pass to Smith. Smith didn't manager to get the ball under control well enough to shoot, but Lewis Cook let fly only to see the ball cannon back towards him. Bournemouth had almost stunned Southampton in the second minute. 

Southampton survived the early assault and Nathan Redmond put a free kick just a metre or so over as the Saint's first attempt. 

A short corner from Bournemouth taken by Fraser was then caught by McCarthy and it was Bournemouth who were grateful that Austin was offside on 7 minutes.

Francis was looking for the early ball and sent King away up the right side of Southampton until Hoedt came across and snuffed out the threat. The game was already finally balanced with Adam Smith conceding a corner.

It was Wilson though who was showing strength and confidence in the middle robbing Bertrand of the ball and breaking forward.

Southampton came back though with Lemina hitting a weak shot. Begovic also did well to catch a ball in from another Southampton corner on 24 minutes, following Francis' sliding tackle.

Francis was also getting forward and supplied a good cross for Wilson, but the Bournemouth forward could only head over on 29 minutes.

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The game was competitive, but far from pretty. Bertrand was booked, but Southampton were more than just fouling. A long ball over the top from Højbjerg caused Aké problems when he let it bounce and Austin got ahead in the foot-race. This caused Begovic to come out, before Austin luckily ran out of room to get a shot off after 35 minutes.

Bournemouth tried to hit back with Francis putting in a strong cross that Wilson couldn't quite reach. It was Bournemouth then defending with Steve Cook doing enough to get a header clear with Danny Ings lurking.

King was fouled by Elyounoussi who picked up Southampton's second yellow card on 40 minutes. Following a Steve Cook header, Redmond forced a save from Begovic but it was straight at the keeper.

The most comical moment of the half came right at the end when a Bournemouth fan in the North stand had the ball and Steve Cook asked for it and the fan held on to it before throwing it to Begovic. The look on Steve Cook's face could kill, but we loved it.

Second half
Bournemouth stared like a train with Jefferson Lerma hurtling through tackles and eventually supplying across that King came close to getting a shot on target from, but it just went wide. Fraser would soon follow up with a pacy run and cross, but there was no one in the middle.

Begovic had to be at his best when Ings escaped up the left side and shot across goal forcing Begovic to get down and save. Both teams were accelerating now and Wilson was next to put in a cross but just too strong.

The big laugh of this half came when Austin completely air kicked and Ryan Fraser could win the throw.

Brooks was subbed on 58 minutes for Stanislas. Junior made an immediate impact winning a corner for Bournemouth. The Cherries best chance to score then came with Junior and Wilson working well before King shot wide from six yards out on 63 minutes.

The Saints too were getting corners but Aké was there to clear. No side was on top but Bournemouth kept trying to push the pace with Stanislas and Wilson stretching the Saint's defence, before Francis half shot come cross was deflected for another Bournemouth corner on 68 minutes.

Begovic again had to be careful to watch a dipping volley from Højbjerg for a corner a minute later. King was still looking like a good bet for a goal, but had a shot blocked and Austin had to head over his own goal to clear from Steve Cook's cross. Aké's header from the corner was powerful but easily saved.

Steve Cook was still making clearances before Fraser was subbed for Ibe on 76 minutes. Southampton also subbed Austin for Shane Long and Gabbiadini replaced Ings on 79minutes.

Lewis Cook's ball into the box saw the ball brush Stephens' arm, but the referee waved away penalty shouts.

Cedric put in a good cross from the right which Shane Long knocked down leaving Armstrong right in front of goal, but Begovic smothered the chance before Adam Smith cleared. King was then subbed for Gosling with five minutes to go.

Wilson was close to getting through when Hoedt kept him out. McCarthy punched the corner clear before Hoedt went down to kill some time. Højbjerg covered when Wilson and Stanislas looked to get free. Even Steve Cook's long throw didn't quite have it's magic as Gosling's shot from the knock down looked on target, before it hit Aké. Wilson then picked up a booking on 86 minutes.

One last chance came right at the end when Gabbiadini had the chance to win it, but leaning back he headed over.

Another point for the Cherries, but not such a dazzling display.

Summary
Not the most exciting 0-0 draw. Southampton contained Bournemouth's wide players well and denied space. In the end it was Bournemouth who were probably more grateful of getting something from the game. Lerma has proved he is a player with great touch and control, while Begovic is becoming more reliable between the sticks. It would have been great to see more of Adam Smith attacking at full pelt and Francis overlapping, but Bournemouth couldn't over commit and Southampton played well enough to get something from the game. While lack of goal action was disappointing, a clean sheet is always welcome.

AFCB line up

AFCB Subs: Boruc, Rico, Surman, Gosling, Stanislas, Ibe, Defoe.

AFCB Ratings
Begovic 7, Francis 6, Aké 6, S Cook 7, A Smith 6, Brooks 6, L Cook 6, Lerma 8, Francis 6, King 6, Wilson 6 

Ref Watch: Lee Probert 2/10 Did little to help game flow. Too picky.

Southampton
McCarthy, Cédric Soares, Stephens, Hoedt, Bertrand, Elyounoussi, Lemina, (Armstrong 66), Højbjerg, Redmond, Ings (Gabbiadini 79), Austin (Long 78)

Saints' Subs

Gunn, Yoshida, Vestergaard, Long, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong, Gabbiadini