2018-19 Premier League: Week 36 – Southampton vs Bournemouth

Southampton can take a huge step towards safety if they can beat Bournemouth at St Marys and Cardiff fail to win at Fulham. 

Currently six points clear of Cardiff, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side know that if they can better Cardiff’s result, they will be safe whilst Bournemouth are in a five way scrap for 11th. 

 

Team news

Embed from Getty Images

Southampton could be without Ryan Bertrand due to an ankle injury picked up in midweek at Watford, with Matt Targett set to replace him at left-back.

Stuart Armstrong will face a late fitness test as he battles a hamstring injury but Shane Long is fit after being subbed with a knock in midweek.

Jannik Vestergaard is ruled out of this game through fatigue whilst Michael Obafemi (hamstring) and Alex McCarthy (knock) are potentially out until next season.

Bournemouth could welcome Nathaniel Clyne back from a thigh strain but Junior Stanislas is now sidelined until next season with a hamstring strain.

Adam Smith is ruled out with a knee issue but could return for Bournemouth’s clash with Tottenham next Saturday.

Diego Rico (ankle) and Andrew Surman (calf) remain sidelined alongside Charlie Daniels, Simon Francis and Lewis Cook who are recovering from knee injuries.

 

Form

Southampton enter this off the back of ten points from their last six matches and Shane Long has scored in three of their last four.

At home, the Saints have won three of their last four with Long, James Ward-Prowse ad Nathan Redmond all netting twice across those games. 

Bournemouth have taken four points from their last five matches but have just two wins from their last 12 away games since beating Fulham 3-0 at end of October. 

 

Stat Attack

• Southampton have lost just one seven Premier League meetings with Bournemouth (W3, D3, L1).
• Southampton have avoided defeat at home in all three top flight meetings with Bournemouth (W2, D1).
• Only five players who started the first top flight meeting between these teams in November 2015 remain at either club and they’re all defenders, including Southampton’s Cedric Soares who is currently on loan out at Inter Milan.
• Bournemouth’s Nathan Ake has produced a league high 219 clearances this season.
• Nathan Redmond has hit 20 shots off target for Southampton this season, three more than he has managed on target.

 

Prediction

It’s hard to predict what we could expect here because both teams have been very inconsistent in last few months. 

A goalless draw therefore wouldn’t be a shock but the Saints have found their scoring boots lately so fancy them for a narrow win. 

Prediction: Southampton 1-0 Bournemouth

Jake predicts: Southampton 2-1 Bournemouth

Result: Southampton 3-3 Bournemouth