Big Game Focus: Southampton v Bournemouth

Southampton and Bournemouth are looking to win back-to-back Premier League games for the first time this season. Bet on the match here.

The Saints picked up where they left off when club football resumed at the weekend, having won two of out of three games in the run-up to the international break. The narrow 1-0 win over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane secured Southampton’s second clean sheet inside three Premier League contests.  It is worth noting that this was against two of the division’s lowest teams in Brighton and Sheffield United during that time.

Bournemouth registered an impressive 3-1 win over Everton at the Vitality Stadium in their last outing, a result that continued their recent trend of high-scoring games. With this being a derby, we expect this tussle to reach similar excitement levels.

Betting preview

Southampton and Bournemouth rank fifth and sixth highest respectively for average shots conceded per game to date in 2019/20. From the foregoing, both defences offer up chances to score at a noticeably high rate. Odds of 1.60 looks really good for Both Teams to Score seeing that the same has landed in all of Bournemouth’s last five league outings.

Bournemouth’s front-line breached Southampton’s defence to score three times when the clubs last met at St. Mary’s. That marked the beginning of a string of entertaining Premier League away fixtures for Bournemouth, who have seen Over 2.5 Goals in their last five away fixtures. You can back Over 2.5 Goals at odds of 1.70.

Southampton and Bournemouth have shared the spoils in three of their last five Premier League meetings, and in two of their last three encounters at St. Mary’s. We don’t think the home team wants to lose this one but we are just not sure they have enough to win. Therefore, backing a Double Chance Home Win looks really good at odds of 1.30.

Team news

Southampton are without Moussa Djenepo whilst Nathan Redmond will be assessed closer to kick-off. Kevin Danso is expected back from suspension, though if Ralph Hassenhuttl continues with a three-man system, then the Austrian may be forced to settle for a spot on the bench.

Lewis Cook made his return from injury in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Everton and could keep his spot. Simon Francis and Lloyd Kelly are both lacking in match fitness and could have to wait longer for consideration. Bournemouth’s injury list is easing, so Eddie Howe looks set to name the same XI that started Sunday’s victory.

Possible line ups

Southampton: Gunn, Bednarek, Yoshida, Vestergaard, Soares, Romeu, Hojbjerg, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse, Boufal, Adams.

Bournemouth: Ramsdale, Stacey, Cook, Ake, Rico, Wilson, Billing, Cook, King, Wilson, Solanke.