Both sides lost 2-1 in midweek and find themselves in the bottom half of the Premier League. They both have some tough fixtures on the horizon and will be keen to get three points from this south coast derby.
Bournemouth have had an up and down season in their third year in the Premier League. After a slow start they found themselves in the bottom three but a run of nine points from four games saw them move up the table. Last weekend saw them grab a goalless draw at Swansea City, but they lost 2-1 at home to Burnley in midweek.
They start this game in 15th place just four points above the bottom three that they have done so well to avoid ending up in at the end of their first two seasons in the Premier League. They will climb above their opponents if winning this game, but defeat would see them back in trouble. Next week they travel to improving Crystal Palace and then have two away games against the Manchester clubs and a home game against Liverpool, so a few points against Saints and Palace are imperative.
Home form this season has already seen them suffer four defeats with just that one win over Huddersfield in their last four home matches. Their only other home league win this season was against another south coast rival, Brighton and Hove Albion so perhaps they can work the magic again this Sunday against nearby Southampton.
The Saints had a great win last weekend when beating Everton 4-1 at home. Charlie Austin scored twice in that game but again ended up on the subs bench for the midweek game at Manchester City. Southampton came so close to getting a draw in that game with the returning Oriol Romeu equalizing only to see that last gasp Raheem Sterling winner.
That was the third away league defeat in the last four for Southampton with that quartet of games only producing one point from a draw at Brighton and Hove Albion. They only have one away win this season and like a few teams, it was at Crystal Palace. Their last eight away league games have only seen them score more than one goal on a single occasion and that was at soon to be relegated Middlesbrough last May.
They also have a worrying fixture list having to play Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and Manchester United before the end of the year. Southampton are a healthy looking 11th in the table but that’s only six points above the bottom three and a few defeats would see them in a worrying position by the time 2018 comes around. That would make the need for a new striker and keeping hold of Virgil van Dijk even more crucial.
Conclusion
It’s often difficult to tip either of these sides to win a game. They both lack a bit of consistency. Bournemouth have some good recent form with the only defeats being by Chelsea and Burnley who are both in much better form than their opponents this weekend. Callum Wilson adds something up front for them and surely Jermaine Defoe must be due a goal having failed to score since September. Saints also struggle to score consistently but with five in the last two games, they do seem to be creating more chances. Between them the two teams have only scored 26 league goals in 28 matches with eight of those coming in two. This should be a tight but hectic derby and a bet on a draw with under 2.5 goals may be the best option.
The Key Stats
Last Five Premier League Results – Most recent first
Bournemouth– LDWWL
Southampton – LWLLD
Head to Head – Last Five League Meetings
01/04/17 – Southampton 0 Bournemouth 0
18/12/16 – Bournemouth 1 Southampton 3
01/03/16 – Bournemouth 2 Southampton 0
01/11/15 – Southampton 2 Bournemouth 0
12/03/11 – Bournemouth 1 Southampton 3
- Four of the last seven league and cup games between these two sides have ended in a 2-0 scoreline.
- Bournemouth have gone two league games without a win.
- Bournemouth have only won one of their last four home league matches.
- Four of the last six Bournemouth home league games have had over 2.5 goals scored in them.
- Southampton have lost three of their last four league games.
- Southampton have just one point from their last four away league matches.
- Southampton have scored in four of their last five away league games.