Saints suffer double-defeat to Bournemouth for first time in history

Yahoo

15-02-2025

SAINTS succumbed to their second 3-1 defeat to New Forest neighbours AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League this season.
Dango Ouattara and Ryan Christie had the injury-depleted visitors two to the good by half-time as Saints produced an abject performance.
Ivan Juric's side improved after the break but the highlight of their afternoon was Kamaldeen Sulemana's first Premier League goal since May 2023.
Saints pushed for an equaliser with nearly 20 minutes still to play but substitute Marcus Tavernier killed the contest in the closing stages.
Following the 3-1 win at Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, unbeaten in seven on the road, were looking to complete a first-ever league double over Saints.
Lovely minute's applause in memory of Saints fan Ian Still observed here.#SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/sQ98U98EPb
— Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) February 15, 2025
Juric made four changes from the defeat to Burnley in the FA Cup, with Aaron Ramsdale, Nathan Wood, Will Smallbone and Paul Onuachu in.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Jack Stephens and Adam Lallana were all ruled out by injury, while midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu dropped to the bench.
Juric's side had taken the lead in four of their last six Premier League outings, once more than they did under Russell Martin, but went on to win just once.
It was Bournemouth who started the more alert of the two teams, forcing Saints to clear from two corner kicks within the first 60 seconds.
Onuachu did scuff a chance laid on by Kamaldeen, and Lewis Cook and Smallbone both went into the referee's book inside the first 10 minutes.
But Dango timed his run perfectly to glance an in-swinging Christie cross across Aaron Ramsdale's goal and put his side ahead in the 14th minute.
Bournemouth doubled their lead 120 seconds later as creator turned scorer when Christie unleashed a low strike inside the far post from outside the area.
"Say hello to Pompey," sang the elated visiting fans, with the prospect of a Hampshire derby in league competition since 2012 more and more likely.
Kamaldeen pulled wide with Southampton's only shot of the first half, as the visitors totally dominated possession, chances and set-pieces.
Juric made two changes at the break, moving Joe Aribo to defence to have Ugochukwu replace Wood, while Yuki Sugawara replaced Welington.
Ramsdale had to make a really smart save at his near-post to prevent a third but it was all Saints from there - particularly after Dibling's introduction.
Saints pulled one back in the 72nd minute when Kamaldeen lashed into the side netting from inside the area after he was smartly set up by Onuachu.
The goal and the overall improvement of the performance lifted the St Mary's crowd, who roared Saints forward with every subsequent attack.
The momentum was almost cut when a Walker-Peters headed backpass looked certain to loop in but for the intervention of the backtracking Ramsdale.
Tavernier ensured it was after Antoine Semenyo beat the offside trap to lay off his teammate, who rifled a powerful strike through Ramsdale.
Saints went close in six minutes of added time after a clever quick free-kick from Ryan Manning unleashed Cameron Archer, but Kepa Arrizabalaga saved.
Saints: Ramsdale; Bree, Bednarek, Wood (Ugochukwu, h-t); Walker-Peters, Aribo (Manning, 83), Smallbone (Dibling, 56), Welington (Sugawara, h-t); Fernandes, Kamaldeen (Archer, 83), Onuachu.
Unused subs: McCarthy, Bella-Kotchap, Taylor, Gronbaek.
Booked: Smallbone.
AFC Bournemouth: Kepa; Kerkez, Huijsen, Zabarnyi, Cook; Christie (Sinisterra, 88), Adams; Semenyo, Kluivert (Scott, 77), Brooks (Tavernier, 66); Ouattara (Jebbison, 88).
Unused subs: Dennis, Kinsey, Winterburn, Rees-Dottin, Akinmboni.
Booked: Cook, Semenyo, Tavernier.
Referee: Jarred Gillett.
VAR: Peter Bankes.