Few doubted the excessive problem dealing with Russell Martin at Southampton this season. This lesson in south-coast superiority solely confirmed that. If the Saints’ supervisor has credit score within the financial institution, his crew’s lack of ability to study from errors is starting to chunk.
The very best that may be mentioned for Saints is that there could also be security in numbers. This was the final likelihood for the promoted groups to choose up a win from the primary six Premier League rounds.
Bournemouth had received as soon as of their earlier 9 matches however they had been a category above, and although they wobbled within the second half as Saints, a lot of the strain lifted, got here into the sport, they at all times retained a hazard on the counter.
Two high-minded managers, neither given to push the pragmatism button, confronted off, and it was urgent that prevailed over possession. Forward of kick-off, Martin marched to the away supporters with arms vast in recognition. Andoni Iraola, serving out a suspension, was confined to the stands for a extremely welcome first house win of the season that lifted his crew above Manchester United.
Ryan Fraser, the previous house hero turned hated Covid refusenik, was booed on each contact. The Southampton followers affected indifference to Bournemouth by declaring their rivalry with Portsmouth because the one “south coast derby”. With 5 strikers on Saints’ bench, the 18-year-old Tyler Dibling led the assault as a false 9 and his crew truly started brighter. Maxwel Cornet had a shot deflected behind, Fraser additionally having a dig because the ball fell unfastened.
Southampton’s achilles heel all season has been vulnerability in possession, and an absence of due care and a focus after shedding it. Bournemouth’s first purpose adopted the template. Charlie Taylor’s hoick upfield from left-back discovered its strategy to Antoine Semenyo, and when Flynn Downes fouled the winger, Marcus Tavernier’s shortly taken free-kick discovered Evanilson. After 5 matches with no purpose, together with a fateful penalty miss towards Chelsea, the Brazilian made no mistake. His £40m charge, and the £15m revenue cleared by the concurrent sale of Dominic Solanke, had its first downpayment.
Coughing up possession is ill-advised towards Bournemouth, who assault in numbers. As the primary half drew on, Southampton had been rendered incapable of enjoying Martin’s prescribed possession sport as Bournemouth squeezed play. Defending turned problematic, too. Semenyo surged into the field, checked and Lewis Cook dinner’s shot deflected off Dango Ouattara and past Ramsdale, the scorer performed onside by ball-watching Saints.
Semenyo, rampant now, having roasted Taylor for that second, subsequent turned Lesley Ugochukwu inside out and drilled a low shot past Ramsdale’s wingspan. The away crew’s heads had gone down, regardless of Martin’s continued exhortations from the bench. Bournemouth, from 5 makes an attempt, with 4 on course, had been ruthless in exposing his crew.
That Fraser was one in all three half-time adjustments from Martin precipitated nice delight to the house followers, with Ugochukwu and Cornet becoming a member of him. Past Dibling, a lot of the beginning XI deserved the hook after that horrible half-hour, and on got here two forwards in Ben Brereton Díaz and Ross Stewart, Joe Aribo including midfield zip as Dibling moved to the appropriate flank. Was a extremely unlikely redemption on the playing cards? Taylor Harwood-Bellis’s stooping header gave the guests hope.
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As laser yellow shirts poured ahead, a comeback was not past the realms of chance. Martin, his voice now a husk, and his assistants pored over notebooks in the hunt for an extra rung to climb again into the sport. His crew started to take pleasure in dominance in possession, Bournemouth and their followers not so positive of themselves.
Bournemouth despatched on Justin Kluivert for Ouattara, and Southampton’s ascendancy started to ebb. Semenyo might need completed off the competition however dragged vast after one other sweeping transfer. Cook dinner then intercepted in midfield and arrowed the ball straight to Evanilson, this time unable to beat Ramsdale. Martin subsequent despatched on Adam Lallana, the returned veteran given 20 minutes to rescue a consequence.
Lallana dragged an effort vast however the higher possibilities fell to Bournemouth, Ryan Christie firing off beam and Luis Sinisterra forcing a Ramsdale save. If Saints had proven enchancment, it was not practically sufficient for this sport, or the challenges that lie forward.
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