Saints get derby drubbing from Cherries 1-3

Match Report

Southampton 1 v 3 AFCB

20 September 2019

Attendance: 30,168

Last night Bournemouth felt rather at home in a stadium where they had never won before. The fireworks before kick off were soon replicated on the pitch as the Cherries leaped into a first goal lead with Nathan Aké scoring from Bournemouth's first corner and while Josh King had a breakaway goal disallowed by VAR for offside, Billing pulled back a sweet pass for Harry Wilson to make it 0-2 before half-time. Southampton came out with purpose in the second 45 minutes and a penalty conceded by Steve Cook put the game back in the balance at 1-2. But the Cherries got their blocks in and made their saves, and the final insult was to see a defensive mix up for the Saints and Callum Wilson score at walking pace. Fantastic! The South Coast is ours!

AFCB finally get first win at St Marys

Eddie Howe only made one change to the winning team against Everton. Lewis Cook was managed by moving him to the bench, after his impressive comeback from injury in the last match, and Jefferson Lerma took his place in central midfield. Ryan Fraser found himself still stuck on the bench, nursing a bit of a knock, while Josh King kept his place on the wing, rather than up front, so that Solanke could try and break his scoring duck up front. Harry Wilson also kept his place, despite recently falling short of his great performances in earlier games. Bournemouth were in their all new dark navy blue strip for the first time this season. I think we might see that lucky kit again soon.

Southampton brought in Nathan Redmond after recovering from his ankle injury, while Moussa Djenepo was injured and didn't make the bench. Kevin Danso also returned from suspension and replaced Yoshida who moved to the bench.

Match Description

There was a minute's silence for former Southampton Chairman Leon Crouch before kick off. It was a slow start with neither team getting much control of the ball. Bournemouth tried to pin Southampton in their own half, but when they won the ball would give it back just as quickly. 

Boufal was unlucky to see his cross blocked, but another cross from Soares sees Ward-Prowse with the first chance, but he screws it wide. Rico came forward well but ran straight into Romeu and got a speaking to by the referee - looked accidental to me.

Stacey made good progress going forward and won Bournemouth's first corner on nine minutes and the corner is powered in by Ake 0-1 to the Cherries. The zonal marking was a mess from Southampton. Bournemouth keep scoring from set-pieces. Bednarek couldn't climb as high as Aké.

Boufal tries to make space on the edge of Bournemouth's box, but he hits his shot at Steve Cook. Bournemouth just need a period of control now to keep Southampton subdued.

Steve Cook is winning his fair share of headers. King is away like lightening up the left wing but Vestergaard makes the clearance. Harry Wilson has not really got in the game yet and is bundled over by Romeu. Billing is making some good blocks in the middle. Lerma has flattened Højbjerg, but looks like he has got away with it - no he is booked eventually.

Stacey is beaten to the ball but Boufal shoots weakly at Ramsdale. Steve Cook clears from Che Adams' cross, after 20 minutes.

Bournemouth close in on Verstergaard as Saint's try and play out from the back and lump it into touch. Saints haven't settled yet. Bournemouth have a free kick in he Saint's half for a foul on Harry Wilson. It's hit too long and out for a goal kick.

Callum gets space on the right and finds Solanke in the box, but Solanke can't get a shot off and Rico has a shot blocked.

Solanke now in the middle and King on the left has put Bournemouth 0-2 up on 25 minutes. VAR check has said offside! It remains at 0-1. It's the rule, but before VAR we would never has ruled that goal out.

Southampton fire a shot well over. It was from Ward-Prowse. Solanke takes a tumble but s up quickly. King is causing real problems for Southampton.

A chance for Højbjerg, but the Cherries get a block in. Stacey missed the cross but recovered well to stop Højbjerg. Redmond drives a shot right across the six yard box.

The more I watch this game, I think it is made for Ryan Fraser in the second half. Redmond to Adams but Cook is there to block. Bournemouth have a corner and Gunn punches under pressure for another corner, which the Saints clear.

Stacey is caught at the back by Soares. Great recovering block by Billing in the box, using the back of his heel. Billing moves well down the left with Callum Wilson, Billing has it back down the left and picks out Harry Wilson, who makes it 0-2 this time on 36 minutes!

Ramsdale makes a good save from Højbjerg with Lerma losing the ball on the six yard box. King at the other end shoots wide off a Saint's player. Another corner. Bournemouth are well in control now.

Lerma loses it form 30 yards out of his own penalty box, but Romeu chips it wide. Aké clears a Ward-Prowse cross. Ramsdale pushes out a shot from Redmond from distance, nice height for him, but it is a corner. Billing meets the ball well and clears.

Steve Cook has conceded a second corner for Southampton. Billing is down holding his face. He went down with Redmond at the near post.

A drop ball to Bournemouth restarts the game. Southampton are keeping possession while Bournemouth look for an opportunity to counter. We have played the two extra minutes for this half and it's half-time 0-2.

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Second half

Ryan Bertrand has come on for Kevin Danso at half-time. Southampton attack and Adams has gone down with Aké running into hm in the box but no VAR check, it's okay. 

Rico makes a poor pass but Billing saves it for him. Great break by Southampton and Soares puts it into Ward-Prowse but he has hit it just over the bar. That was Saints' best move of the night and should have been a goal really.

King wins the ball well, but can't get a shot off he's run off it by Boufal. Billing has to make a pin-point tackle in the box. Solanke has a chance and looks for Harry Wilson but Bertand clears.

Adams is taken out by Steve Cook and the referee has pointed to the spot on 52 minutes. Cook just didn't time it well and left his foot in. Ward-Prowse sticks it in the top right corner, 1-2. Now Saints are in the game.

Harry Wilson has been booked for fouling Boufal. Easy catch for Ramsdale. Redmond now drives a shot over the left post. Bournemouth have dropped off and need to get back on it. Rico is robbed of the ball by Redmond, but Ramsdale gets the knock down.

King makes a string run he's in the box and has gone down from Soares, but no penalty.  VAR is checking.

Adams back to Ward-Prowse but the shot goes over. That could be Saints best chance.

Solanke goes on a good run, but can't find a pass. Fraser is coming on for Harry Wilson on 62 minutes. Stacey is booked and Billing comes to his rescue. Højbjerg puts a cross in but it's over everyone.

Rico and Soares have a coming together. Neither are booked. Great play by Aké at the back. Boufal fires from range, but Ramsdale gets two hands to it and pushes the shot out to his right. Another shot from Ward-Prowse is horribly wide and high.

Twenty minutes to go. Does Howe risk Lewis Cook? Gareth Southgate is in the crowd tonight. Callum wins the ball well for Solanke but Solanke can't get past the last man.

Ramsdale has to come out quickly to intercept and beat Adams to it. Good cross for Southampton, it's out for Redmond and some how it's blocked by Stacey over the bar! King is away from the corner and takes the ball into the Saint's half.

Lewis Cook is coming on. Good call I think. Bournemouth keep putting in the blocks. Boufal tries to bed one and it's just wide of the far post. Solanke is subbed for Lewis Cook and Che Adams is replaced by Danny Ings on 78 minutes.

King on another powerful run is squeezed out by Soares. Just 12 minutes left. Redmond tries to get round the back but has run it out. Romeu is carded for trying to stop King earlier on the break. Ings gets round the back and Ward-Prowse has it, deflected off Billing and Ramsdale just keeps it out. Great save by Ramsdale and Steve Cook cleared.

Lewis Cook does well in the middle just to give AFCB a breather. Bournemouth have a corner. Aké wins a free kick - all valuable time for Bournemouth. Billing has a go from 40 yards and it's just wide of the left post.

Ings has a shot blocked. Fraser loses it on the break and Ings shot is deflected for a corner. Southampton are bring on Armstrong for Redmond with 88 minutes gone. It's a goal kick off Ings.

King and Fraser and Wilson makes a poor cross and holds his head in his hands. Wilson is offside. Lewis wins the ball and the break is on King shoots wide and not strong enough.

Four minutes of added time go up. Surman is coming on for Josh King, The ball is through to Ings and Aké blocks Ramsdale has to save form Boufal down to his left – what a save! Vestergaardgoes for a volley but its tame for Ramsdale.

Time is nearly up and Wilson has run through to make it 1-3. What happened there? Gunn lost the ball a mix up with Bednarek - Kinder Garden Kopps defending!!

Summary

A great night for Bournemouth. They fought for every ball and simply weren't going to be denied. The blocks just kept going in and even with the penalty for Saints they didn't look like they would beat Ramsdale more than the once. You could pick several players out for having outstanding games. For me it was a close call between King, Billing and Ramsdale. I'm going for Billing. But who cares, it was just great to finally win at Southampton. Job done! Enjoy taking in the table. It was Eddie's 50th Premier League win, and I couldn't think of a better team to get it against.

Southampton
28 Gunn, 2 Soares, 35 Bednarek, 4 Vestergaard, 38 Danso 9 (Bertrand 46),
16 Ward-Prowse, 14 Romeu, 23 Højbjerg, 19 Boufal, 10 Adams (Ings 78),
22 Redmond (Armstrong 88)

Saints Subs
1 McCarthy, 3 Yoshida, 21 Bertrand, 5 Stephens, 17 Armstrong, 7 Long, 9 Ings

Cherry Chimes MoM: Philip Billing

Ref Watch: Chris Kavanagh 6/10 not much to moan about. 

AFCB Subs: Boruc, Surman, Ibe, L Cook, Fraser, Simpson, Mepham

AFCB Ratings
Ramsdale 9, Stacey 7, S Cook 7, Aké 8, Rico 7, H Wilson 7, Lerma 6, Billing 9, King 9 ,
C Wilson 6, Solanke 7 

Score prediction winner Steve Butler @_steve_butler_