AFC Bournemouth are continuing to enjoy a strong start to life under Gary O’Neil. The unbeaten run has extended to six games after a hard-fought draw away at Fulham. Despite twice taking the lead at Craven Cottage, Bournemouth were reduced to a draw, a point on the road which could prove all so valuable come to the end of the season.
Southampton travel to Bournemouth under pressure. Just six points so far this season leaves Ralph Hasenhuttl’s job in an insecure position, meaning he’ll be desperate to take three points off his local rivals. Southampton are not helped by injuries to several key players but will be undoubtedly determined to silence what is sure to be a lively crowd under the lights at the Vitality stadium.
Bournemouth injury update:
In his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Gary O’Neil confirmed that both Lloyd Kelly and David Brooks remain missing but otherwise has a full squad to select from. A full squad which includes recent absentees Joe Rothwell and Ben Pearson. Gary O’Neil pointed out that in recent games the bench tended to pick itself given the number of players missing, but now he has selection choices to make not only for the starting XI but also the bench. A problem that O’Neil admits is a nice one to have.
Derby(ish) day down on the South Coast:
Gary O’Neil enjoyed a successful playing career, including making 174 appearances for fellow south coast club, Portsmouth. As a result of this, O’Neil knows what this fixture means to both the players and the fans. On putting potential friendships aside for the sake of a game of football, O’Neil said he sees no issue: “I have friends at other clubs, I always did, and then as soon as the whistle goes you put those friendships aside and then when the final whistle goes you can be friends again.”
O’Neil was keen to emphasise how he wasn’t letting the pressure of a local derby get to his team but said: “I am excited about it, under the lights, local rivals coming down, so it’ll be a good game.
In recent games, Bournemouth have shown a willingness to break forwards with players who usually sat deeper. Asked by Nerve Sport if this was intentional, or if the squad have just got to know each other better, O’Neil replied:
“They are all individual cases, in certain games, Phil has been a bit higher, Jeff managed to break forwards a little bit more on Saturday mainly because of how we were pressing, we were slightly more aggressive at times with the press and it allowed Jeff to be slightly higher up the pitch than normal. It’ll be game dependent but sometimes the game plan just fits that.”
Nerve sport also asked O’Neil about the role he sees Jordan Zemura playing in his team. Zemura has seen Adam Smith (naturally a right back) start in the left back position recently, leaving Zemura’s role as more of an impact sub. O’Neil commented: “
I don’t give anyone a role, I don’t see any of them as starters or non-starters. JZ is a fantastic left-back who has qualities that we will definitely need. Sometimes that’ll be from the start, sometimes it won’t be, same as everyone really. Sometimes there’s a specific plan that I think Adam Smith can carry out better for us than JZ and sometimes I think that JZ’s strengths will benefit us."
O’Neil once again commented how he doesn’t want to comment on the line-up before teams are released on Wednesday night.
What would it mean for the table?
A win could see Bournemouth move up into 6th depending on how other results fall across the midweek fixtures, Southampton meanwhile would remain in the relegation zone should they suffer defeat and could be overtaken by Leicester depending on goal difference.
Bournemouth go into the game full of hope. The action kicks off at the Vitality Stadium at 19:30 on Wednesday.