South coast bragging rights up for grabs for the Cherries

The sight of seeing Southampton and Bournemouth in the top half of the table and only separated by goal difference is probably not how a lot of Saint's fans would have hoped this season would go. But there are one or two of them who wish AFCB well and may just be starting to feel that there is a team down the road that can't be taken for granted anymore for an easy win. 

Who is the best on the south coast?

AFCB have the firepower to worry the Saints and yet none of AFCB's leading marksmen are in stunning form at the moment. It may well be just as likely that Charlie Daniels or Steve Cook will give José Fonte and Virgil van Dijk more of a problem on the day.

The lack of goals for Southampton can't be helped by the loss of Charlie Austin and Shane Long has a lot of weight on his shoulders having come in as his replacement and not scored up at Stoke. But Derek Redmond is no slouch and when the Saints played Middlesbrough it was Sofiane Boufal who impressed. Jay Rodriguez could be brought back into the starting line up to face the Cherries, but you sense that the forward side of the Saints is not as strong as it has been in the past. They will also have to make a change in midfield as Oriol Romeu picked up his fifth yellow card up at the Bet365 stadium last Wednesday. Romeu had made the most passes for them this season.

Whether we see a strong Southampton or a slightly weakened team though, AFCB will see the chance to grab the bragging rights with this game. One win last season means nothing now, but the failure to get a back-to-back win is a big motivation for the Cherries, and if it comes against Southampton it will be because they have done their homework on a Saint's side that did not find it easy to play against 10-men for much of their last game.  

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In short, Southampton will still be smarting from the Stoke City game and it's up to AFCB to make them feel uncomfortable from that start. The swagger will be there for whichever team comes out on top, but it would no longer be a huge surprise if the Dorset team is celebrating come Sunday evening. UTCIAD!

Southampton Away Form
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AFCB Home Form
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AFCB - just look to enjoy the Saints game - oh and win it!

It is great now that AFCB fans can look forward to such a game knowing that they have been closing the gap on their near-neighbours. Rather than see this 'derby' as a grudge match or a rivalry that is starting to brew, I am hoping that the AFCB players at least can start to feel that they are at least as competitive as those who wear the Saint's shirts and that they can play with a bit of freedom, considering that AFCB's league position is very pleasing going into the game.

This is the game AFCB fans want to win.

There has to be pressure on the players to perform, but for once it can be a positive and pleasing moment that AFCB approach this match with nothing to fear. Last season there was a credible win for each side, and while I'd love AFCB to win against the Saints home and away, I did not mind it so much that the points were shared last season as playing Southampton is such a rare occasion that it's just great that people even talk about it as a southern derby. Without a derby you kind of feel that you are missing some of the football story when you go to games all season and while I have not seen many of these derby's it does add an extra bit of excitement to the day. 

I think the Saints can start to look upon AFCB as something a little more than a team tugging at their ankles these days. Okay, we aren't Pompey - so what. This is the best game you're gong to get on the south coast this season and hopefully for many to come as well. As the games start to become a more regular feature, I think they will grow their own stories and that's what we will be there to see happen on Sunday to add to the history of the games between the sides in the past.

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At least pretty much everyone gets to be at home a little quicker on days like these. Oh, well not me. And I expect quite a few other exiles who will enjoy the day travelling down. UTCIAD!