Southampton’s Premier League status was confirmed for another season after an entertaining 3-3 draw against Bournemouth.
Their point and Cardiff’s 1-0 loss to Fulham saw them mathematically secure their place in the top-flight for 2019/20.
Shane Long – fresh from netting the Premier League’s fastest ever goal on Tuesday – opened the scoring with his fourth goal in five games, but Bournemouth turned the match on its head with two strikes from Dan Gosling and Callum Wilson.
Saints regained control in the second half and went back ahead as James Ward-Prowse and Matt Targett found the net, but Wilson would grab his second of the afternoon to make it a point apiece.
Southampton had nine points after winning just one of their opening 15 games when Austrian coach Hasenhuettl took over from Mark Hughes in December, and the 51-year-old went on to guide them to eight wins and five draws in 21 league games at the helm.
“We deserve this, we invested a lot in this time and learned a lot. We showed how beautiful we can play,” he told reporters, adding that he would be aiming to rebuild his squad during the summer.
“The next step must be to get more clinical in some situations. Two games before the end, to be clear [of relegation] is fantastic for us.”
Hasenhuttl’s revolution beginning to take shape
Rewind to last season’s corresponding fixture, almost exactly a year before this one, when Dusan Tadic scored his final two goals in a Southampton shirt. They sealed a 2-1 win over Bournemouth, a result which was key to their survival.
Back to the present, and things are pretty good for Tadic, now of treble-chasing Ajax, who visit Tottenham for Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final. And after this humdinger sealed safety, things are looking up at Southampton, too.
In Ralph Hasenhuttl, they have a fine manager. A man-motivator, master tactician and someone who obviously relishes a challenge. ‘To be clear two games before the end is tremendous, amazing, sensational,’ he said, still beaming an hour after the final whistle.
Hasenhuttl has extracted 29 points from 21 games, often using square pegs in round holes. The careers of James Ward-Prowse, Nathan Redmond and Shane Long are transformed.
The Saints boss can now begin planning for next season safe in the knowledge that he has guided Saints to safety.
When he was appointed last December, his remit was to ensure the St Mary’s side kept their top-flight status.
With that now in the bank, the Austrian can begin drawing up a list of outgoings and potential incomings for what could prove to be a busy summer.
South Coast derby thrills before Saints fans rejoice
In front of a capacity crowd, this south coast derby proved to be a thrilling and hugely enjoyable encounter.
The Saints took a deserved lead through Long before Bournemouth gained a surprise equaliser with a fine move finished off by Gosling.
Long should have restored the hosts’ advantage but produced one of the misses of the season when he hit the post with an empty goal from only a few yards out after Artur Boruc had parried his first effort.
Instead, Wilson gave the Cherries a half-time lead, but the hosts equalised within eight minutes of the restart.
A powerful header from substitute Targett – his first Southampton goal – swung the match back in the Saints’ favour, before Wilson’s second with four minutes remaining brought it level again.
With Gareth Southgate watching on, the England international had a chance for a hat-trick to seal the win for Bournemouth, but Gunn made a fine save to deny Wilson when he was through on goal.
After the final whistle at St Mary’s, the home players faced an anxious wait for confirmation of Cardiff’s defeat before the celebrations could start.
Shane Long’s positive run continues
Long’s 12th-minute strike took his tally to four goals in his last five games.
It marks a remarkable turnaround for the Irishman who had struggled to find the back of the net for the majority of the past two seasons.
But with his contract at the club expiring next summer, it’s the perfect time to remind the management of his worth in the team. The Irishman is back in the goals and it must be a fantastic sight for his Austrian manager.
After goalless droughts and supporters who thought he was better off playing in the Championship and not on a Premier League side, Long has proven that while his endless running has an end product he has the quality to play and to score regularly at the top level.
He was trouble all day for the Cherries and really should have had two goals, especially after he missed the target from five yards. He got himself in great positions and was ready to receive that ball and dish it off to another teammate making a run towards the net.
If he continues this run of form he may have just played himself into Hasenhuttl’s future plans for the club next season.
Early attacking change reaps dividends for Eddie Howe
Bournemouth may be on the proverbial beach, but the Cherries boss was quick to identify his teams dismantling in the first 20 mins of the game and responded with an attacking change in the form of Ryan Fraser for the listless Centre back Chris Mepham.
Howe had just seen his team draw level but still opted to make an early substitution, the introduction of Fraser for centre-back Chris Mepham seeing a change in shape. It was a gamble that paid off, albeit the Cherries only managed to pick up a draw.
It’s undoubted that Eddie Howe has quality in his Bournemouth side, getting them to perform consistently remains an issue.
The opening 20 minutes of the first half was one of their worst of the season, yet a dramatic turnaround, thanks in part to the change to a back four, saw them lead at the interval, yet found themselves trailing with a third of the game remaining.
To their credit, they rallied one final time to earn a point, but it must be frustrating for those connected to the Cherries to see their side so consistently inconsistent, as they’ve now won just two of their last 12 league games.
Standout performers Wilson and Fraser the best partnership in Europe
Bournemouth duo Ryan Fraser and Callum Wilson have beaten the likes of Barcelona pair Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez as the most profitable partnership in Europe.
Fraser and Wilson have been the Cherries’ stand-out performers this season and a host of clubs have become interested in the pair following their impressive displays.
Striker Wilson has scored 14 goals and provided 10 assists in the Premier League this campaign, while winger Fraser has found the net eight times and set up 13 goals. That is the best assist to goal-scorer partnership in the top five leagues in Europe
Scotland international Fraser is joint top of the assists chart alongside Eden Hazard and ahead of Raheem Sterling and Christian Eriksen. He has also created the most big chances in the Premier League — 24.
But it is Fraser’s partnership with Wilson in front of goal which has shown just how pivotal the two are to Eddie Howe’s side.
Fraser has provided the assists for seven of Wilson’s goals in the English top flight, which is the best assist to goalscorer partnership in the top five leagues in Europe.
Fraser and Wilson are just as profitable as the Barcelona stars when their roles are reversed and Wilson is the provider with Fraser notching five goals.
What’s next for both?
Southampton play at West Ham on Saturday 4 May and face already-relegated Huddersfield at home in their last match of the season on Sunday 12 May.
Bournemouth, who are 13th in the table, play their last home match against Tottenham on Saturday, before an away game at Crystal Palace on the final day.
