BOURNEMOUTH AT ST MARY'S

Making history as Saints and Bournemouth meet in the Premier League for the first time.

On form, we should win this........but??

They are bound to raise their game for a derby so will not be easy, key will be getting in front early and hitting their confidence. they were a bit unlucky against Liverpool but we will have Mane back and think he will cause problems. Going for a 3 - 1 win

Well it was definitely a case of two halves. First half we were dominant, knocked the ball around caused no end of problems and should have gone in front at least 3 up. Second half again like Leicester game seemed to take the foot of the gas, midfield over run and unable to get a grip on the game, though at least this time we managed to close out the game and take the three points but odd that at home our second performances have been poor, away from home the opposite.

Saints started with a lot of pressure, a shot from Pelle at an angle to right of goal took a deflection to loop over but one of those that could have looped into the net. Mane was proving a threat all the time and not just his pace but his ability to play others in with neat passes. Thought it might be one of those days as chances went begging but saints took the lead with a really well worked goal, Tadic and Pelle combined on the left side of the box and Pelle laid a cute ball into the path of Bertrand who hit a great cross which Davis coming into the 6 yard box met on the volley and while the goalie got a hand to it far to powerful to stop hitting the back of the net. second goal quickly followed again with good build up on left side of box, ball played to Tadic who hit a decent cross and Pelle timed his jump to perfection to hammer in his header. Someone said ref had a good game but really annoying at corners Virgil was having his shirt pulled, ref tells Bournemouth player he is watching him, points his hands to his eyes, ball comes in Virgil's short blatantly pulled in front of everyone and ref does nothing, what is the point? Saints nearly conceded on the stroke of half time when they went to sleep allowing Murray through but Virgil made another great tackle to prevent a goal, which shows a game we should have been at least 3 goals in front could have been just one.

Second half and Yoshida on for Fonte who picked up a knock at end of first half, and far to many seemed to think had done enough and we were second best to most loose balls giving Bournemouth the momentum, lots of crosses from them and also quite a few free kicks as they are quite cute at diving, don't think they are a team of country bumpkins, quite clever at winning free kicks. Most went wide and Stekelenburg did not have many saves to make, one low down to his right but not a great deal of power. Classie went off on around the hour mark, but personally I was already saying take off Wanyama who was having one of those days when seemed a yard slower, caught in possession, and poor passing. I guess Classie struggles to last the pace and admit he had a good first half and began to show signs why Koeman signed him. Wanyama then got a second yellow card when he didn't need to make the tackle leaving saints to play out last 16 minutes with extra time a player down. Ward Prowse came on for Tadic and although Bournemouth had more pressure we looked more solid.
Don't think we had a corner second half and think we have some players, Tadic, Pelle, Wanyama, Mane when we are 2 up think its time for party tricks, guys that is when we are 5 up. We need to work on that, as a team with better strikers than Bournemouth would have made us pay.

Stekenelburg 7 looked comfortable and good hands in the game
Bertrand 6 good first half great cross for goal, less impressive second half
Fonte 7 didn't look under any pressure first half, shame he got a knock
VvD 7 made a number of good tackles throughout the game
Cedric 8 thought he had a really good game today and second half defended well.
Davis 7 worked his socks off and good goal
Wanyama 5 even before sending off was having a poor game, concentration wasn't there.
Classie 7 much better performance first half with some good cover and passes were crisp.
Tadic 6 good first half but as so often went missing second half.
Mane 6 untouchable first half but little impact second half .
Pelle 7, 8 for first half 6 for second, first half some good lay offs and hold up play and goal, second half was not a threat.

Subs
Yoshida 6 did okay as Fonte's replacement quite solid but sometimes does not get much on his clearance but made some good interceptions
Romeu 6 did okay when he came on in a difficult situation.
JWP 6 did okay and steadied the ship last 15 minutes , would have brought him on earlier.

Will Bournemouth stay up? Possibly but they need to sign a decent striker, difficult with Gradel and Wilson injured but they look capable of winning a few games, will be all about how they do against teams around them down the bottom but I wouldn't write them off yet.

Thanks Matty, good report.

Thanks, Matty, excellent report yet again. Really appreciate the time you spend doing this for us

Great comments Mike, I'm in total agreement.