MY ACCOUNT
Wednesday night sees a south coast derby take place at the Vitality Stadium, as in-form Bournemouth face struggling Southampton.
Gary O’Neil was placed in temporary charge of the Cherries following Scott Parker’s sacking in the wake of the 9-0 thumping by Liverpool, and the ex-midfielder has helped steady the ship.
Bournemouth are yet to taste defeat under the 39-year-old tactician with a six-game unbeaten run helping the club climb to 10th in the Premier League table.
As for Southampton, Sunday’s draw with West Ham has seen them drop into the relegation zone and manager Ralph Hasenhuttl’s position is looking very precarious.
Team news
Bournemouth have no new injury concerns ahead of the Saints’ visit, with Lloyd Kelly still absent with an ankle issue and David Brooks still returning to fitness following his all-clear from cancer.
Lloyd Kelly remains absent due to an ankle injury so Chris Mepham will continue in defence alongside Marcos Senesi.
O’Neil’s troops will have to make do without defender Jack Stephens, who is ineligible to face his parent club after making the loan switch to the Vitality Stadium.
Southampton will be missing defender Armel Bella-Kotchap after he was forced off in the West Ham game with a dislocated shoulder, with Croatian Duje Caleta-Car expected to take his place.
Tino Livramento remains out with a knee problem while Moussa Djenepo will be pushing for a start after he returned to the bench against the Hammers following a bout of illness.
The stats
Bournemouth are on a six-match unbeaten streak — winning two and drawing four — while they have lost only one of their five home assignments.
Southampton ended their four-match losing run with the West Ham draw last time out and that share of the spoils should give them some degree of confidence.
However, the Saints have won just twice this season in the league and their only away victory came at Leicester, who are one of only two teams below them in the table.
Prediction
This should be a game Bournemouth are targeting all three points in and the test for them going forward is trying to convert more draws into wins.
Claiming the spoils may be easier said than done though, given the fact Southampton have won the last two meetings and have lost just one of the last nine head-to-heads.
However, in terms of current form, both teams could not be more contrasting right now and while O’Neil’s side may not be prolific in the final third, they have only conceded six goals since the Liverpool debacle and that solid backline may be enough to see them through.
Southampton have scored just twice in five games and are struggling for a regular goalscorer, making a home win to nil at 3/1 a good option.
