Southampton v Bournemouth: Another south coast stalemate on the cards

Southampton v Bournemouth: Another south coast stalemate on the cards

Bournemouth head lớn Southampton on Friday night in search of their first ever win there. Can the Cherries make it 16th time lucky? Read Steve's thoughts on the live action here- According lớn the soccer handicap tips page!

Southampton v Bournemouth

Friday 20 September, 20:00

Live on Sky Sports

Solid Saints looking to build on steady start

Southampton began their 2019/20 Premier League campaign with a disappointing 3-0 defeat at Burnley. It was a tight and rather dull affair for over an hour, decided by defensive mistakes, and the score flattered the hosts somewhat. A 2-1 home defeat to league leaders, Liverpool, followed but that was the last time the Saints tasted defeat, they've conceded just once in soccer tips every day, and they're on a bit of a roll.

Premier League wins away at Brighton (2-0) and Sheffield United (1-0), sandwiched a 1-0 win away at Fulham in the EFL Cup and a 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United but it's debatable how deserved the seven Premier League points gained were.

Brighton went down to ten men when Florin Andone was sent off after half-an-hour and the hosts had a Lewis Dunk goal disallowed shortly after the dismissal. Despite being down lớn ten men, Brighton matched the Saints throughout but they were caught out on the break.

Manchester United dominated the draw at St Marys, having the bulk of the possession and 17 shots lớn Southampton's seven and by all accounts, Sheffield United deserved at least a point at Bramall Lane last week. The Blades had a goal chalked off by VAR, Billy Sharp saw red for a poor tackle late on and David McGoldrick, in particular, was profligate in front of goal for United.

Southampton may have ridden their luck a bit at times but it's noteworthy that they've conceded just once in their last four games and the future is starting lớn look bright under Ralph Hasenhüttl. The Saints have only lost twice at home this calendar year (to Cardiff and Liverpool) and with seven points from their first five games of the new season, they're ahead of the predicted curve and inside the top-ten.

Unpredictable Cherries look to make history

Bournemouth manager, Eddie Howe, described the Cherries 3-1 victory at home to Everton on Sunday as a "huge moment in our season" and I can see why. He'd have been disappointed by the 1-1 draw at home lớn Sheffield United, thanks lớn an 88th minute Blades equaliser by Billy Sharp, he'd have been satisfied with their 2-1 win away at Villa, and philosophical about 3-1 defeats to both Manchester City (home) and Leicester (away). It's now time to kick on.

Bournemouth are a tricky side to weigh up and their results are often confusing. For example, they lost 2-0 at Cardiff last season, just three days after thumping Chelsea 4-0, and a week after thrashing Brighton 5-0 away in April, they lost 1-0 at home to Championship-bound Fulham.

You never quite know what you're going lớn get with Bouremouth, although goals are often on the agenda. No team outside of the top six scored more than the Cherries last season and they scored more goals than any other team on the break.