Premier League Preview: New South Coast Derby! Bournemouth Manager Serves Suspension as Southampton Faces Crisis

At 3:00 AM on October 1, the latest match of the sixth round of the 2024/25 Premier League season will see Bournemouth host Southampton. Currently in the league standings, Bournemouth has 5 points from 1 win, 2 draws, and 2 losses, temporarily ranking 13th. Southampton, with 1 point from 1 draw and 4 losses, is temporarily in 19th place. The start of the new season has not been ideal for both teams, with Bournemouth having slightly worse luck, while Southampton genuinely lacks the technical ability. Even if Ramsdale had three heads and six arms, he could hardly withstand the relentless bombardment of over 10 shots per game from the opposition.

Bournemouth suffered a 0:3 defeat against Liverpool in the last round, following an undefeated streak of the first three rounds with two consecutive losses. In this match at Anfield, Bournemouth did not adopt the defensive tactics of clearing the field like Forest did, but instead pushed forward boldly, which gave the Reds multiple counterattack opportunities. The three goals conceded were well-deserved. However, after the break, Bournemouth shed their psychological burden, and as Liverpool gradually tightened their formation, it was only due to Caoimhin Kelleher’s heroic performance that they managed to secure a clean sheet by luck. After letting Solanke go, Bournemouth still had plenty of tricks up their sleeve in the front line, with several crosses leading to threatening attempts on goal. This is similar to their narrow loss against Chelsea a few days ago, demonstrating their ability to create chances but always encountering a good day for the opposing goalkeeper.

The worsening situation for Southampton has been temporarily curbed, ending their four-game losing streak with a 1:1 draw against Ipswich, another newly promoted team, in the last round. In this match, the Saints took the lead within five minutes, and maintained their advantage until stoppage time. Just as they were about to pocket the three points, Ipswich’s Moise turned the 3 points into 1. Four consecutive losses are already frustrating enough, and now being robbed of three points at the last minute feels even more infuriating than losing the three points outright. This round, due to Wolves’ defeat, Southampton still has a chance to escape the bottom spot.

According to statistics, the two teams have met 20 times historically, with Bournemouth winning 5, drawing 6, and losing 9, slightly at a disadvantage. In their last five encounters, Bournemouth won 2 and lost 3, still getting no benefit. If it’s a home game for Bournemouth, their record is 3 wins, 2 draws, and 5 losses, showing no signs of turning things around. They have not won at home in the last six meetings. If this trend continues, Southampton may welcome their first win of the season. However, looking at the current form of both teams, such expectations exist mostly on paper. Bournemouth’s performance is far richer than Southampton’s, as only two teams have taken more shots than them this season.

According to the arrangement, the main referee for this match is Michael Oliver, with Simon Hooper as the fourth official, and Paul Tierney as the VAR referee. The referee selection can be described as elite. This season, Oliver has refereed five matches, issuing a total of 29 yellow cards without showing any straight reds or awarding penalties. Among these five matches, one involved Bournemouth. In the opening round, during Nottingham Forest’s draw with Bournemouth, Bournemouth’s Cook, Korkut, and Kluivert each received a yellow card. However, in the last round’s focus match between Manchester City and Arsenal, Oliver controversially sent Trossard off with two yellow cards.

Adams is currently the only injured player in Bournemouth’s squad, confirmed to miss this match. Moreover, Bournemouth’s manager will not be able to command his team from the sidelines in this game, as Iraola is suspended for one match due to accumulating three yellows. At the pre-match press conference, Bournemouth’s manager did not agree with the view that Southampton is a relegation favorite, believing it’s too early to draw conclusions. He also admitted that his team’s offensive efficiency is low, and expressed great admiration for Southampton’s 18-year-old player Debling.

Southampton has gone 18 consecutive Premier League matches without a win, spanning seasons. The team’s manager, Martin, seemed distracted during the pre-match press conference, possibly related to recent rumors of a managerial change. His only hope is to secure a victory.

Due to geographical factors, this match has been dubbed the “New South Coast Derby” by British media, adding new highlights and a sense of rivalry to the match. Will Bournemouth halt their decline in time? Will Southampton secure their first win of the season?

>>”>For more predictions and analysis for this match, click >>>