The giant displays intermittently promoting tickets for Southampton’s season finale seemed wishful considering. Southampton stay rooted to the ground of the Premier League after a feeble defeat at house to Bournemouth prolonged their winless run to 8 fits.
Was this the evening Southampton in any case ran out of lives? Mathematically they’re nonetheless in with a shout however with 5 video games to play they’re six issues from protection. The boos on the ultimate whistle steered supporters had been resigned to their destiny. At this fee, Southampton shall be relegated to the Championship lengthy prior to they host Liverpool at the ultimate day of a depressing marketing campaign.
By the time an ashen-faced Rubén Sellés trudged down the tunnel, this floor had almost emptied. Bournemouth’s touring supporters, regardless that, had been going nowhere speedy. “We are staying up,” they boomed on loop.
Marcus Tavernier scored the one objective of the sport to hoist Bournemouth into 14th. Southampton had been dead however would have equalized had the artificial Che Adams no longer strayed a toenail offside prior to discovering the online with a minute of ordinary time left to play.
The objective was once first of all awarded however overturned following a VAR take a look at. Adams appeared on in disbelief at a replay at the giant display screen. “I’m pleased we had a VAR check go our way for the first time this season I think,” stated Bournemouth supervisor Gary O’Neil. “It’s a big win for us, of course.”
As exhausting as it can be for the locals to abdomen, how Southampton should want they had been in Bournemouth’s sneakers. Bournemouth, now seven issues above the ground 3, are at the verge of securing their top-flight standing. Southampton, who consult with Newcastle on Sunday, glance doomed.
“It was a hard night,” Sellés stated. “We are going to try and put a performance in every game. We need to make the best out of it. We can’t do anything. We are professionals and we will fight till the very last point. I know the table looks difficult but we are going to give it a try.
The noises from Sellés after Southampton had to settle for a draw at Arsenal were surprisingly upbeat but failure to see out a precious victory only meant this game doubled in significance. The belief Sellés trumpeted before kick-off appeared in short supply and large pockets of empty seats in home areas suggests supporters are voting with their feet.
Perhaps, then, it was no surprise that this game was light on quality. Southampton were lackluster, naturally short of confidence as well as the thrust synonymous with their teams of yesteryear.
The reverse fixture, in November, was Ralph Hasenhüttl’s last win as Southampton manager and it is a damning indictment that the Saints have tasted victory on just three occasions since. The closest the hosts came to taking a first-half lead was when the Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi’s headed clearance looped towards his own goal and spiraled against the bar.
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Bournemouth were superior in all departments and apart from Neto denying Theo Walcott and Adam Armstrong inside the opening 13 minutes, they were comfortable and in control. Matias Viña had a first-half goal disallowed after Dominic Solanke, whose initial shot was repelled by Alex McCarthy, was ruled offside but it always seemed only a matter of time before he struck.
“We spoke a lot in the afternoon about showing a calmness in what was a big pressure situation and, beneath that, can we show a real grit and steel and a refusal to leave here without what we came for?” stated O’Neil. “It was a good performance but there is still room for improvement.”
Sellés’s daring tactical name to withdraw Carlos Alcaraz at half-time towards Arsenal was once the topic of a lot intrigue however his hand was once compelled right here as his captain, James Ward-Prowse, was once compelled off unwell on the damage. Five mins into the restart a brittle Saints protection was once damaged. Tavernier minimize in from the appropriate flank and past Duje Caleta-Car and his left-foot shot trickled into the a long way nook by the use of a deflection. McCarthy, making his first league get started of the season, had no probability.
Bournemouth smelt blood and Southampton went into their shells. A club-record eleventh house league defeat appeared a formality from the instant Bournemouth struck. The apathy within the stands and at the concourses stated the whole thing about what has been a sorry marketing campaign. Those tickets for the 2 last house fits will certainly turn out a tricky promote.
