Was Howe tactically naive at Southampton match?

The Match of the Day punditry from Alan Shearer took the lid off what had gone wrong for Eddie Howe at Southampton. It was the wing-backs that opened the door for Southampton all afternoon and there was no attempt to go to a back four when Southampton were getting so much joy from getting down the flanks.

Did Eddie set out with the wrong game plan for Southampton?

Eddie may have felt that the chances that AFCB were creating at the other end were worth keeping the system as it was, but as the game went on there was less and less intensity being put on Southampton players. AFCB were reacting rather than imposing themselves in the opposition and they were being stretched.

The three at the back has been a good formation up against the best teams, but I felt Eddie could have been more cautious against Southampton. Bournemouth didn't need to win the game they just needed a point and while it is not in Eddie's nature not to go full out for the win, if Southampton had been more frustrated by a strong Bournemouth defence with two lines of four, the game might have panned out differently. Southampton didn't get desperate because Bournemouth kept giving them good chances to test Begovic.

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The personnel that were on the park for Bournemouth are not stranger,s but there were times when I wondered where the organisation was and why the Cherries were not able to play with more grit in what was after all a derby. Tadic was easily the star player on the pitch and Bournemouth didn't deal with him all game. From the moment Lewis Cook was booked in the fourth minute, there was little AFCB seemed to be able to do to hold Tadic back.

Bournemouth needed to nullify Southampton's strengths and while Austin was perhaps seen as the main problem, it was Tadic that had the freedom to run at defenders. 

The Bristol Posts reports that AFCB are looking at a £12m move for Bristol City striker Bobby Reid. Celtic defender Kieran Tierney is a £20m player that AFCB are also said to be interested in, according to the Sun.

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 are more pictures on Match Day Gallery.

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. 

• 
  minutes

Cherries and Saints fail to hit target 0-0

Match Report

Southampton 0 v 0 AFCB

1 April 2017

Attendance: 31,847

The Cherries come out to take on the Saints.

We should have known better on April Fool's Day that there would be a game that was going to make some one look foolish. I'm not sure if it was Harry Arter, Benik Afobe or Dusan Tadic at first, but at the end of the game I thought it was all us travelling fans who had see a great game with some appalling finishing. Southampton could have had a big scoreline by half time, only Tadic seemed to lose his bearings whenever he got near goal and the game really should have seen a goal when Josh King unselfishly passed to Afobe in front of goal just after the hour, but his off balanced shot had AFCB fans looking for somewhere to hide. Adam Smith came within a whisker of scoring as well when he hit a shot that deflected onto the post. The clearest opportunity was surely when Ryan Fraser was pulled down in the box and Harry Arter stepped up to try and score from 12 yards. His standing foot slip at the big moment though meant the points would be shared.

Southampton made an effort to welcome Bournemouth fans.

Eddie Howe kept the same line up from the previous game but Harry Arter, Junior Stanislas and Baily Cargill found their way onto the bench.

More pictures are up on Match Day Gallery.

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The game took a while to get up some speed. Bournemouth pressed high to try and win the ball high up the pitch and Southampton found the first clear chances when Tadic saw the Cherries' defence part like the sea and he ballooned his shot over. He had hardly had time to contemplate that wastefulness before Cedic put in a good cross that Tadic managed to side foot wide.

Steve Cook then had to make a last ditch tackle on Rodriguez in the box which he accomplished well although he hurt his leg. Cook soldiered on but went down a few minutes later when Tadic had again fired wide. 

AFCB were getting some possession but finding it hard to get behind the Saint's back four. Meanwhile Rodriguez was making good diagonal runs and Redmond was industrious in his running on the left wing. Rodriguez even looked to have scored on 15 minutes from a Redmond cross but was ruled offside. 

Rodriguez was still looking to test Boruc and had another low effort saved at the near post. Rodriguez had another shot go wide on 19 minutes, but AFCB were starting to liven up, even if the Saints were awarded the first corner. Bournemouth won their first corner moments later and it led to Gosling slamming his rising shot over.

Bournemouth continued to add corner pressure with Cook winning a near post header that led to Surman having a superb chance to score from six yards out, but Davis somehow managed to clear.

The Saints were still pushing forward well and Tadic was getting closer following a good build up with Cedic and Redmond, but saw his effort flick the outside of the post.

Boruc did have to make a save though when Rodriguez broke free on the angle and Boruc moved quickly to his top left corner to keep the shot out and kept the score at 0-0 at half time.

The teams go off at half time.

Second half

The second half had a peculiar start as Surman came out to play but then immediately decided his hamstring wasn't right and had to be subbed for Harry Arter. Bournemouth started to get the upper hand, but a pitch invader slowed things down for a few minutes as we watched a steward haul the Saints fan to the ground after having seen him get a selfie with Fraser Forster.

AFCB suddenly kicked into action with that and King's headed battle win over Yoshida saw him race towards the box and deciding to square the ball to the well placed Afobe who had a bit of time but lost his cool when he saw Forster rush towards him and the shot went agonisingly wide of the left post, when it looked simpler to score.

At the other end Redmond hit a shot straight at Boruc and with Tadic not able to follow up because of Cook's sliding clearance, Ward-Prowse swung his shot wide of Bournemouth's far post - another let off.

AFCB were just getting up a head of steam. Saint's decided to sub Ward-Prowse and Rodrigues for Boufal and Shane Long.

It was Long that locked on to an early ball through in behind AFCB's defence and he also managed to fire wide on 69 minutes. 

Bournemouth decided to replace King with Wilshere to give them more control. It certainly worked. Fraser bust through into the box and while he was blocked the ball fell out to Adam Smith who hit  a low drive that looked destined to find its target, but it was deflected on to the post and Pugh struggled to get something on the lose ball before it rebounded out for Gosling to hit over!  

The Cherries were really causing problems now and Fraser's explosive burst of pace was checked by a Saints defender and we all looked to the assistant referee - penalty! Arter decided he was taking the kick and Forster was doing everything to put him off by standing right up to the penalty spot and towering of AFCB's number 8. The gamesmanship worked well though as Arter slipped and hot his shot high into the stand from 12 yards. 

Tadic was subbed for McQueen.

There were still 11 minutes to go, but everyone knew that was as good a chance as AFCB could have hoped for. But Arter again shot a curling drive from just outside the box that Forster saved well to his left. The Cherries couldn't find another route to goal and the game was destined to end 0-0 with Romeu picking up the only yellow card in added time.

Some how n body scored!

Harry Arter said thanks to the fans bit was soon seen walking
off ahead of the rest, disappointed with his penalty miss.

Summary

AFCB will have come away form this game knowing that two points escaped them and yet they were the strongest team come the last 20 minutes and had Southampton hanging on. The finishing was terrible from both teams and the penalty misses seem to be haunting AFCB at the moment. Still, only Chelsea and Liverpool have come away with clean sheets from St Marys this season, so Eddie Howe was right to say it was a good point gained.

Saints
Forster, Cedric, Stephens, Yoshida, Bertrand, Davis, Romeu, Ward-Prowse (Boufal 63), Tadic, (McQueen 80) Redmond, Rodriguez (Long 63)

Saints' Subs
Cáceres, Clasie, Long, Boufal, Højbjerg, McQueen, Hassen

AFCB
Boruc, A Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Fraser, Surman (Arter 46), Gosling, Pugh, Afobe, King (Wilshere 70)

Cherries' Subs
Allsop, Cargill, B Smith, Arter, Stanislas, Wilshere, Ibe

Jack Wilshere gives his short to a Bournemouth fan. 

AFCB Ratings

Boruc 7, A Smith 6, Francis 6, Cook 7, Daniels 6, Fraser 8, Surman 5 (Arter 6), Gosling 6,
Pugh 6, Afobe 5, King 6 (Wilshere 7)

Referee watch: Jonathan Moss - 6/10 let things flow and let a few bookings go. He missed a few corner/goal kick decisions but had a good game.

New look Saints set to visit Dean Court

Southampton are the first Premier League outfit to come to the Goldsands Stadium this pre-season and they will be an inviting prospect with their new line up against the Cherries. Ronald Koeman has had a difficult start to his Southampton appointment not least because of Croatian World Cup player, Dejan Lovren's desire to leave the club following the high profile sales of Shaw, Lallana and Lambert that have swollen the club's coffers by some £57m. Lovren's asking price has reportedly been put at £20m with Liverpool still said to be interested in him. 

There are signs that the rebuilding is already under way though at St Mary's with the arrival of Graziano Pelle from Feyenoord. The spending at Southampton has only just started you would think though and having also signed Dusan Tadic from FC Twente for an estimated £10.9m more talent will surely come into St Mary's before the start of then season. They have also secured the services of Liverpool legend Sammy Lee in the coaching staff and working with Koeman means that the Saints have a lot of experience behind them. But the Saint's seem to have failed in attempts to lure former-Cherry Danny Ings to the club.

This really is a new era for the Saints now that Cortese and Pochettino have left the club, but there is no time for Koeman to sit back because the Premier League is unforgiving and he'll be measured by his success on the pitch not just in his signings. The game against AFCB will give fans of both clubs a feel for how well pre-season has benefited the clubs and let's face it neither team will want to lose this game even if it is only a friendly.

The Saints are in good form having beaten Belgian side Sporting Hasselt 6-0 on 17 July and they also beat Dutch side EHC Hoensbroek  4-0 on 15 July. Their most recent outing was a 0-1 away win against Swindon Town on Monday when Hooiveild got the winner. Six recognised first team players began that match - Nathaniel Clyne, Jose Fonte, Graziano Pelle, James Ward-Prowse, Jack Cork and Jos Hooiveld, on the bench was Maya Yoshida and Billy Sharp. Whether Koeman changes the team much for the visit to Bournemouth remains to be seen but I would expect a strong Saint's team.

Well done to the AFCB 11 who beat Brighton's U21's 1-2 yesterday, that comes after a -14 win against QPR's U18 team last Saturday and welcome to the club Aly Coulibaly.