History Matters
When it comes to Bournemouth v Southampton in the Premier League at the Vitality Stadium, it is the Saints who have the better head-to-head record. Southampton are undefeated in the last five matches on Bournemouth’s home ground and won 1-0 the last time the two teams met there.
A Huge Game For Southampton
However, this time around the pressure is certainly on Russell Martin and Southampton to get a result. Despite playing some good football in parts, the Saints have been vulnerable to individual errors and potency in front of goal in the Premier League. As a result, they lurk in the relegation zone, with only one point on the board. In their last game against Ipswich, they were the better team throughout much of the game and had plenty of chances to put the game to bed. It was a last-minute equaliser from Sam Morzy that drained the atmosphere at St. Mary’s after a positive display. Moving forward I think that game could be a stepping stone to go on a run and pick up some points.
If You’re Good Enough You’re Old Enough
On the other hand, one shining light for Southampton has been the emergence of Tyler Dibling. The 18-year-old has forced himself into the starting eleven after some impressive display from off the bench. Last weekend Russell Martin was rewarded for his selection, as Dibling scored after five minutes. He is a quick dribbler who has an eye for a forward pass and a cool finish. The rumour mill is already suggesting that the top-six club could be planning to make a move for him in the January transfer window. However, I am not sure he will want to move so early in his career. He’s currently 13/2 to score anytime tonight against Bournemouth, and I think that’s still overpriced.
Evanilson Needs To Start Scoring
Bournemouth will also be looking to get points from this match. The Cherries have lost their last two games, so they need to bounce back. They’ve proven they can score goals, but they are also capable of conceding them. In the summer transfer window, they did break their transfer record by signing striker Evanilson from Porto, who cost £40m. It’s still early days for him, but he did miss a penalty against Chelsea, where it looked like nerves got the better of him. He’s currently 6/5 to score anytime tonight, and I think that’s way too short. At the start of the season, I predicted that they could be relegation candidates, and I’m still standing by that.
When it comes to my final thoughts for tonight’s match, I think it will be a close game. I can see Southampton surprising a few people and possibly getting a favourable result. The Saints are 29/20 on the double chance, which looks a little bit too big. I wouldn’t be shocked if we got a score draw or if Southampton came away with a small win.
Bournemouth v Southampton Selections
Tyler Dibling To Score (13/2)
Southampton Double Chance (29/20)
