Southampton’s poor form has put Ralph Hasenhuttl’s position under scrutiny
TEAM NEWS
Ben Pearson has a chance to make his debut in the Bournemouth squad after recovering from a knee injury.
Interim head coach Gary O’Neil has no new injury worries as Joe Rothwell and Junior Stanislas returned as unused substitutes last weekend.
Southampton are without defender Armel Bella-Kotchap, who dislocated his shoulder against West Ham on Sunday.
Theo Walcott and Ibrahima Diallo have fitness doubts due to illness.
CHRIS SUTTON’S PREDICTION
I will do something no Bournemouth fan would want me to do and predict they will win.
So apologize to them because that means the cherries are definitely not going to win. Bournemouth should really win this one though.
I thought Southampton were lucky to get a draw against West Ham on Sunday. The Saints got an assist from referee Peter Bankes for their first goal and I also agree with Hammers boss David Moyes that his side should have been awarded a penalty.
As for Bournemouth, their first goal against Fulham on Saturday was absolutely superb. Dominic Solanke seems full of confidence and Philip Billing has emerged as a key player. You are a real threat.
Maybe I was a bit brainwashed when your former boss Scott Parker said earlier in the season that your team was ill-equipped for the Premier League?
At least I got some of their results right when he was in charge. Under Gary O’Neil, they’ve proven me wrong every time.
Forecast: 2-1
Chris Sutton’s full predictions against Phoenix singer Thomas Mars
MATCH FACTS
head to head
- The Saints are unbeaten in their last four visits to Vitality Stadium.
- The last competitive meeting of these teams was last season’s FA Cup quarter-finals at Vitality, which the Saints won 3-0.
- Southampton have lost five of the last seven Premier League games in which they have scored the first goal. By contrast, both of Bournemouth’s victories under Gary O’Neil came after conceding the opening goal.
AFC Bournemouth
- Bournemouth are the only unbeaten side in the Premier League since Scott Parker was sacked as head coach on August 27, with two wins and four draws.
- They can match the Premier League club record of seven straight games unbeaten, set from December 2017 to February 2018.
- Bournemouth’s two wins in their previous 14 Premier League games on a Wednesday both came against Chelsea.
- Dominic Solanke is missing one of 50 league goals for Bournemouth.
southampton
- The Saints have won just three of their last 22 Premier League games and lost 15 times.
- It’s six defeats in seven away league games for Southampton.
- They have gone on a streak of 16 Premier League games without conceding, the longest since returning to the top flight in 2012.
- Southampton have conceded 249 Premier League goals since Ralph Hasenhuttl took charge in December 2018 – 30 more than any other club during that period.
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