Southampton FC vs AFC Bournemouth, Premier League 2022-2023, Today Match Prediction

Southampton FC vs AFC Bournemouth Match Prediction & Analysis

There remains a small amount of optimism surrounding Southampton, that they could pull off the seemingly impossible and stay in the top division next season.

In reality, that seems a long way off right now, with the club five points adrift of safety and without a win since early March. Ruben Selles has done a decent job, but his players are completely devoid of confidence.

They gave their absolute all against Arsenal at the weekend, charging into a 3-1 lead before conceding two late goals and dropping two points in the process.

Bournemouth, Southampton’s south-coast rivals, have done well to stay afloat of danger under Gary O’Neil. While they remain inconsistent, they are picking up enough wins to stay optimistic about their chances.

They have six games remaining this season, with a good chance of picking up points in most of them. This is one of them.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Southampton FC Preview

Reasons to be cheerful:

     Pushed Arsenal hard at the weekend and deserved to win

     Beat Bournemouth earlier in the season

Reasons to be fearful:

     Winless in their last seven 

     No clean sheets in any of their last six

If there was to be a turning point in Southampton’s season, it could well have been their game against Arsenal at the weekend.

Flying into a 3-1 lead, you wondered if this was to be the kickstart they needed, not to mention three points. It didn’t work out that way, of course, and one point isn’t enough for the Saints at this stage.

They need wins, but they haven’t had any of those in seven games now. 

Also disappeared is their ability to shut out the opposition – they have conceded 15 goals in their last six games, after keeping clean sheets in three of their first four under Selles.

Here, the Saints could be without Jan Bednarek, who suffered a head injury against the Gunners, although Che Adams and Maitland-Niles will return.

Star Man – Carlos Alcaraz

Alcaraz swept Southampton into a dream lead at the Emirates and has three goals from his 15 appearances for the Saints this season.

AFC Bournemouth Preview

Reasons to be cheerful

     Won their last two away games in the league

     One or two more victories should be enough this season

Reasons to be fearful

     Never won three Premier League away games in a row

     Lost seven games by three goals or more this campaign

Bournemouth are part of a group of three or four teams that are pulling away from the danger zone, but not yet assured of safety this season.

Alongside West Ham, Wolves and Crystal Palace, Bournemouth will be feeling confident of their chances of remaining in the Premier League next season, although need another victory or two to make certain.

The Cherries have won their last two games on the road, and while they have never made it three consecutively in the top division, they will fancy their chances of doing that here.

Defender Jack Stephens is ineligible here due to facing his parent club, while Joe Rothwell is a fitness concern.

Star Man – Philip Billing

The Bournemouth striker has been in better form away from home than at the Vitality Stadium this season, netting five of his seven goals on the road.