Bournemouth picked up its first-ever victory (16 visits – all competitions) away to Southampton in the Premier League‘s budding south coast rivalry as they won 3-1 at St. Mary’s Stadium on Friday night.
Nathan Ake handed the visitors a dream starts inside ten minutes when the Dutch Centre-half lept high from a corner to head into the bottom corner and the Saints were swept aside again as Joshua King finished beyond Angus Gunn from a tight angle on 25 minutes, but the effort was ruled out for offside by Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Bournemouth eventually doubled their tally ten minutes before the break after Harry Wilson squeezed into the area to find the bottom corner from a square-field ball. Southampton nearly grabbed an instant reply from their first real attack, but Pierre-Emil Hojberg failed to get the better of Aaron Ramsdale from close range.
The Saints made the evening’s first change with Ryan Bertrand coming on for Kevin Danso at the start of the second half. Soon after, Bournemouth saw their lead halved on 52 minutes when James Ward-Prowse beat Ramsdale from the penalty spot after Che Adams went down under a challenge from Steve Cook.
The Saints’ pushed for the equaliser with all their might but couldn’t move through a spirated Cherries defence. Although Saints piled the pressure on towards the end, a calamitous mix-up between goalkeeper Angus Gunn and Jan Bednarek in stoppage time allowed Wilson to wrap up a first ever win away to Southampton.
Cherries taste South Coast derby success at last
Eddie Howe’s side may be the ugly sisters of south coast rivalries, but this was their night. First-half goals from Nathan Ake and Harry Wilson put them in the driving seat before James Ward-Prowse, a former season-ticket holder at Fratton Park, halved the deficit.
But Saints fluffed their lines on this dress rehearsal, with Callum Wilson rubbing salt into the wounds after a calamitous injury-time mix-up by Jan Bednarek and Angus Gunn. The visiting contingent enjoyed this one, they were only too happy to spoil the party.
‘It’s a really nice moment for our supporters to enjoy,’ Howe said afterwards. ‘When you consider how far this club has come in recent years and how bleak the outlook was at times, to win here in the Premier League is something at one stage we’d never have thought possible.’
Ralph Hasenhuttl, meanwhile, admitted his side lost the game with their performance in the first half. ‘We had the chances in the second half to turn the tables…but if you are two down it’s always difficult to come back.’
How the mood at St Mary’s had changed from the early stages of Friday night’s game when the chants began within the first five minutes. The lyrics unprintable, but the sentiments clear: Southampton were coming for Portsmouth.
A 3-1 win not only took Eddie Howe’s team up to third in the Premier League ahead of the other weekend matches; it is also the first time in their entire history that they have won at Southampton. This was their 16th attempt, spanning 66 years both at The Dell and St Mary’s.
Add in two consecutive Premier League finishes above Southampton and there could be no serious argument just now at the ecstatic claim from Bournemouth supporters that “the South Coast is ours”. They also serenaded Howe with all the vigor of one of their survival or promotion seasons, even if the Bournemouth manager himself needed only 25 minutes to declare that his obvious enjoyment for the moment had already switched to ‘analysis’ for the fixture on Wednesday against Burton Albion.
Slow Saints made to pay
Through six games, Southampton have conceded the first goal four times. For a team that’s built around the idea of defensive solidity and limiting chances, Ralph Hasenhuttl ‘s side appears especially limited once forced to change its plan of attack. In the two games they didn’t concede first, the Saints picked up two clean sheets and two wins.
“We lost the game in the first half but after we changed our shape for the second half, we won every second ball and we had 25 shots on goal,” said Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl. “But the most important stat is the goals and there we lost by two.”
Did Hassenhuttl get his tactics wrong?
Hasenhuttl certainly got his tactics wrong from the start on Friday night, but whatever was said at halftime made a noticeable difference in the second half. Part of the first-half problem was the defence, with Kevin Danso uncomfortable at right-back and Cedric Soares farmed out to an unfamiliar role on the left. Josh King bullied Danso and Ryan Bertrand replaced the Austrian at half time – square pegs were no longer in round holes.
Given loads more freedom to push forward in attack and to win back possession, Southampton made it a game from 45:01 onward. Eddie Howe’s side lived dangerously in the final nine minutes, with Ramsdale forced to smother from his line after Ward-Prowse closed in on a double.
Saints were much improved after the break but for all their possession and shots – 25 in total – they couldn’t break Bournemouth’s will.
Bournemouth efficient, not productive, but deserve their early-season top-six spot.
Bournemouth needed just six shots to get their two goals. On the other hand, they managed just six shots in 90 minutes. Highly efficient and lacking in overall production.
Bournemouth’s fans – observing from the dreamland of third (before the weekend’s games) place in the Premier League – were united in praise of manager Eddie Howe as they celebrated after the final whistle at Southampton.
It was only a brief stay in this lofty position behind reigning champions Manchester City and current leaders Liverpool, but no-one could begrudge them their ecstasy in one corner of St Mary’s. Bournemouth are only six games into the season and previous campaigns under Howe have been characterised by both landmark victories, such as the 4-0 demolition of Chelsea last season, and unaddressed chaotic defending that saw them concede 70 goals last term, only relegated Fulham and Huddersfield Town letting in more.
Who can blame them, however, for wondering just how far this season might take them given that after the top three – we can include Tottenham in this elite group – the Premier League has a very fluid look?
Eddie Howe, however, was pragmatic on his side’s league position saying, “You want the players brought down to earth because you want the focus on consistent success.” “We needed to show our heart to see the game out.”
On moving into the top four before the rest of the weekend’s games, he said: “That’s a very nice feeling at this early stage but that’s all it is. “It was a nice moment. We rarely get those moments in football where you get that pure emotion and joy for a few seconds. Then you start thinking about next week.”
Just how far can Eddie take his men this season?
Next Up
Southampton take on fierce rivals Portsmouth in the League Cup on Tuesday before traveling to Tottenham at the weekend. As for Bournemouth, they travel to Burton before taking on West Ham in the Premier League at the Vitality.
