Preview
BOURNEMOUTH VS SOUTHAMPTON PREDICTIONS
Sunday, 18/12/2016
Vitality Stadium
Bet on Bournemouth to win at 19/10 odds
Bournemouth seek their first consecutive win of the season when South Coast rivals Southampton pays them a visit on Sunday afternoon. With both sides level on points, the Saints have a slightly better goal difference and edges their Sunday hosts in the point table. A draw would be enough for the Cherries to leapfrog Claude Puele’s men whereas a win would bring them in the vicinity of top six. Bournemouth beat Leicester at home on Tuesday, courtesy of a brilliant volleyed finish by Marc Pugh.
Southampton felt the dire need of a finisher when they failed to see off a 10 men Stoke side on Wednesday evening. Marco Arnautovic’s 23rd minute dismissal left the Potters shorthanded for more than an hour but the visitors failed to pick up a winner because of their horrific finishing. Southampton finished the game with a whopping 71.3% possession but had nothing to show for it.
Charlie Austin(dislocated shoulder), Matt Targett(hamstring) and Jeremy Pied(knee) are long term absentees for Southampton. Oriol Romeu will serve a one match suspension for picking up his fifth yellow of the season on midweek against Stoke.
Lewis Cook(ankle) and Junior Stanislas(ankle) is not expected back anytime soon by Eddie Howe. Andrew Surman might face a late fitness test ahead of the game. Callum Wilson is also doubtful with a head injury. Ryan Fraser(ankle) might also miss out.
We don’t see a Charlie Austin-less Southampton inflicting much damage on Bournemouth. We will back the hosts to pick up a 1-0/2-0 win.
Bet on Bournemouth to win at 19/10 odds
RECENT FORM
- AFC Bournemouth(10th in the league, last 5 matches in all competitions)
1-0(Home, Leicester)2-3(Away, Burnley)4-3(Home, Liverpool)1-3(Away, Arsenal)1-0(Away, Stoke)
- Southampton(9th in the league, last 5 matches in all competitions)
0-0(Away, Stoke)1-0(Home, Middlesbrough)1-1(UEL, Home, Hapoel Be’er Sheva)0-3(Away, Crystal Palace)2-0(EFL Cup, Away, Arsenal)
HEAD TO HEAD
Total Played | Bournemouth wins | Southampton wins | Draws |
23 | 7 | 11 | 5 |
LAST MEETING
1 March, 2016
Vitality Stadium
Premier League
Bournemouth 2-Southampton 0
INTERESTING FACTS
- Four of the last five competitive meetings between Bournemouth and Southampton have ended in a 2-0 win for the team playing at home.
- Southampton have lost just one of their last seven league games versus Bournemouth (W5 D1 L1), although this did come in their last meeting.
- There has been a red card in three of the last four competitive meetings between these sides, with two being shown to Southampton players.
- After losing their first eight Premier League games played on a Sunday, Bournemouth won their last such match, earning a dramatic 4-3 victory over Liverpool.
- The Cherries have conceded 24 goals in their nine previous Premier League games on a Sunday (2.67 per game) – the second highest ratio per game on a single day in the competition with a minimum of five games played (Blackpool three per game on Sunday).
- Bournemouth have won as many home games in their last seven Premier League games (W5) as they did in their first 20 in the competition.
- The two Premier League players to have created the most goalscoring chances without having assisted a goal this season are both Southampton players: Dusan Tadic (32) and Nathan Redmond (28).
- Southampton have scored only four goals in their last eight Premier League games, despite attempting 101 shots in total in these games.
- Saints have scored with the lowest proportion of their total shots in the Premier League this season (5.7%).
- Jack Wilshere has already played more minutes in the Premier League this season (932) than in 2015-16 and 2014-15 combined (873).
Bet on Bournemouth to win at 19/10 odds