There were few who questioned the immense challenge Russell Martin faced at Southampton this season. This display of south-coast dominance only reinforced that notion. If Saints' manager had any credit left, his team's repeated failure to learn from errors is starting to take its toll. The best one can say for Saints is that they might find solace in numbers. This was the last opportunity for the promoted teams to secure a win in the first six Premier League rounds. Bournemouth, having won just once in their previous nine matches, were a class above. Although they wobbled in the second half as Saints, under less pressure, began to assert themselves, they always posed a threat on the counter.
Two high-minded managers, both averse to pragmatism, clashed, and it was pressing that triumphed over possession. Before kick-off, Martin marched to the away supporters with arms wide in acknowledgment. Andoni Iraola, serving a suspension, watched from the stands as his team secured a much-needed first home win of the season, lifting them above Manchester United. Ryan Fraser, the former fan favorite turned COVID refusenik, was booed with every touch. The Southampton fans, in a show of indifference to Bournemouth, declared their rivalry with Portsmouth as the true 'south coast derby'. With five strikers on the bench, 18-year-old Tyler Dibling led the attack as a false 9, and his team started brighter. Maxwel Cornet had a shot deflected, and Fraser also took a chance as the ball became loose.
Southampton's Achilles heel this season has been their vulnerability in possession and lack of care after losing it. Bournemouth's first goal followed this pattern. Charlie Taylor's long ball from left-back found Antoine Semenyo, and after Flynn Downes fouled the winger, Marcus Tavernier's quickly taken free-kick found Evanilson. After five matches without a goal, including a crucial penalty miss against Chelsea, the Brazilian made no mistake. His £40m fee, and the £15m profit from the concurrent sale of Dominic Solanke, saw its first return. Losing possession is ill-advised against Bournemouth, who attack in numbers. As the first half progressed, Southampton found it impossible to play Martin's possession game as Bournemouth tightened the screws. Defending became problematic too. Semenyo surged into the box, checked, and Lewis Cook's shot deflected off Dango Ouattara and beyond Ramsdale, with the scorer played onside by ball-watching Saints.
Semenyo, now rampant, next turned Lesley Ugochukwu inside out and drilled a low shot past Ramsdale's reach. The away team's morale had plummeted, despite Martin's continued encouragement from the bench. Bournemouth, with five attempts, four on target, were ruthless in exposing his team. Fraser was one of three half-time changes by Martin, causing great delight to the home fans, with Ugochukwu and Cornet joining him. Most of the starting XI deserved to be substituted after that dismal half-hour, and two forwards, Ben Brereton Díaz and Ross Stewart, came on, with Joe Aribo adding zip in midfield as Dibling moved to the right flank. Was an improbable comeback on the cards? Taylor Harwood-Bellis's header gave the visitors hope.
As the laser yellow shirts surged forward, a comeback was not out of the question. Martin, his voice now hoarse, and his assistants scrutinized their notebooks for a way back into the game. His team began to dominate possession, and Bournemouth, along with their fans, no longer felt so secure. Bournemouth brought on Justin Kluivert for Ouattara, and Southampton's ascendancy began to wane. Semenyo could have sealed the contest but dragged wide after another sweeping move. Cook then intercepted in midfield and arrowed the ball straight to Evanilson, who this time could not beat Ramsdale. Martin next sent on Adam Lallana, the returning veteran given 20 minutes to salvage a result. Lallana dragged an effort wide, but the better chances fell to Bournemouth, with Ryan Christie firing off target and Luis Sinisterra forcing a Ramsdale save. If Saints had shown improvement, it was not nearly enough for this game or the challenges that lie ahead.
