Match Day Southampton v Bournemouth, Saturday 1st April 17:30

[SALTIRE]

Match chat.

 

[Jamie_SFC]

1-1.

 

[PDS]

Two wins in a row have given us great momentum (we always seem to suddenly become incredible in March), the international break came at a bad time because you just want to keep going in those situations.

A win would be very welcome, considering we have Liverpool and Chelsea in the next seven days, but considering both our away from this season and our away record at St. Mary's, you'd certainly take a draw. As always feel reasonably confident we can score, but going the other way it's a bit of a lottery what you're going to get.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Oh no it isn't / oh yes it is Derby. Don't we all love it.

Saints turned on an excellent second half performance at Dean Court before Christmas to take a 3-1 win, with Davis and Rodrigues looking like world beaters for 45 minutes. I'd guess Rodrigues will be up front again tomorrow given Gabbiadini's injury so we'll need to deal with him far better.

We're doing ok at the moment, 7 points from 3 games has given everyone a real lift and realistically speaking has put us within touching distance of safety. As PDS says, this is a time of year that Howe sides normally turn up the heat, so here's hoping we can continue the tradition. And our upcoming games are tough, so something from this would be nice. Although we're already in a better points position than I thought we'd be in at the middle of April never mind the start.

We've got a few injury knocks, namely Fraser and Arter. Maybe expect Gosling and Surman in the middle again, Surman returning to his boyhood club of course. Not sure if we'll supplement them with Wilshere, or leave him on the bench and go two up front with Afobe and King. Good options to have.

Making this a late kickoff ensures there'll be 3300 or so absolutely hammered Bournemouth fans showing up tomorrow, so that should be fun for all concerned. And with trains running so frequently between the two through the afternoon, there's plenty of options for us.

I would absolutely take a draw now, given how our record there is terrible over the years. Haven't even scored a goal I don't think? I was worried we'd be coming into this game needing a win given the upcoming fixtures, but these last few results have given us the breathing space to hopefully enjoy tomorrow whatever may come.

Edit: ffs Eddie Howe just got manager of the month. That's tomorrow buggered then!

 

[Jamie_SFC]

I suspect it will be Long upfront tomorrow Mark. Rodriguez's Southampton career is pretty much over, he just makes the odd appearance from the bench now. It was a surprise he started against you in December and gave us false hope that he was going to rediscover his form he had before that injury.

 

[Jamie_SFC]

Loads of Police about. You'd think we were playing the blue shite today.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Lots of police yes, although it's been similar every year. But it feels far far happier and drunken silly this time, rather previous years, far less agressive. Which bodes well.

 

[Benji]

Started quite open and interesting. No Wilshere again, are we basically at the point where he isn't good enough for Bournemouth?

 

[HarvSFC]

We've been massively let off by Afobe and Arter today. Our season's over.

 

[Jamie_SFC]

Lucky to draw in the end. Glad Arter missed. Never a penalty in a million years. Made even more funny by thousands of adult Bournemouth fans in replicas celebrating it like a goal.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Really disappointed to draw, Saints so poor second half they were there for the taking. Several gilt edged chances missed. That pen is embarrassing.

But we'll have more opportunities in future seasons. Although likely few better than today.

Jamie has absolutely nothing to crow about when it comes to adults in replica kits. Saints have more than most, and when under the cosh their support is so poor. The left side of that ground from our perspective was hilarious, spending more effort chanting "you're fucking shit" as us all game than supporting their side. Shit? Really?

All in all its the old fashioned 'would have taken a point beforehand but annoyed all the same'.

Tough games now, so in the grand scheme something today was needed. It'll just need a few days before it feels like a point gained rather than 2 dropped.

 

[Jamie_SFC]

Your support was fucking shit to be fair. All I heard was a section singing where were you when you were shit, laughable given your attendances in the lower leagues compared to ours.

We have loads of shirtys at home games, as do most clubs but it's minimal at away games.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Ok Jamie. I'm sure your stone Island clopper looks great!

 

[Jamie_SFC]

Ok Jamie. I'm sure your stone Island clopper looks great!

Only if I show the correct arm toward the camera when a photo is being taken.

 

[HarvSFC]

With 30m being banded around for Deeney and Mane currently, might sound mad but of the two I think I'd prefer Deeney! Not as naturally talented, but more effective and consistent. Both valuations are crazy though and it's probably a sign of things to come.

 

[PDS]

We were awful first half and should have been behind. They were awful second half and should have been behind.

Both teams need to practice their finishing because some of those were beyond sitters, mentioning no names *CoughBenikAfobecough*

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Harv- Mane has improved his consistency significantly under Klopp since leaving you. Granted it might be slightly easier in a slightly better side. Deeney has had a poor season this time, but was a beast last. I'd still take him if he became available!

Waking up still feeling down about only drawing at St Marys. Weird. But hopefully a sign of progress. Yesterday was a good day on the whole.

Ideally we sign a striker in the summer and send Afobe on a half season loan to the championship to rediscover some composure in front of goal. He doesn't look the same bloke in the box who was the highest goalscorer of any division in England just the other year. Still so young, he's been around a long time. Has plenty to contribute in his career for us if we persist. A confident Afobe finishes his chance and then smashes the penalty in himself.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Started quite open and interesting. No Wilshere again, are we basically at the point where he isn't good enough for Bournemouth?

No doubt about his technical ability, but he just doesn't fit in a two man central midfield, too much of a luxury there. At least for a club who doesn't have the other talents elsewhere that say Arsenal do. Number 10 isn't quite his position either, so I'm really not sure where he should be playing.

 

[Jamie_SFC]

Something fishy about that penalty spot. Turf moved just as Arter was about to kick the ball, same thing happened with Harry Kane.

Not really sure what the referee or linesman has seen for the penalty either. We've been fucking shat on by officials so far this year.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Thr pen incident live looked soft. Spoke to my old man earlier who watched on tel, so had the benefit of replays. Said it was debatable and that he'd have been angry for it to be given again us. Although my mate who's Saints and was there somewhere yesterday, said he thought it was probably right. The ref certainly took a few seconds to make up his mind.

In terms of being shat on, another couple of nasty stamps yesterday I see, to add to a couple before the international break. I look forward to all the 5 match bans the FA will dish to be nice and consistent. Oh, they weren't on Zlatan Ibrahimovic though so...

Pictures doing the rounds comparing the moment both Arter and Kane struck their respective penalties, showing an identical divot of turf coming up. Obviously an issue with that particular section. I won't sign up to any tinfoil hat conspiracy just yet. Even so, if you're taking a pen on an unfamiliar spot, why not keep it low?