Southampton secured all 3 points against Bournemouth

Che Adams scored the only goal of the game as Southampton claimed a much-needed first win in six games to end Bournemouth’s unbeaten run.

The striker took his tally to five goals for the season in all competitions when he converted a ninth-minute header from Romain Perrault’s goal.

There was still a long way to go and Saints had to defend for much of the second half – even before an injury to Kyle Walker-Peters left them helpless on the right flank – but it was an honest, old-fashioned display of grit and determination that ended the Cherries’ six-game unbeaten run, which at the start of the game was the longest in the Premier League.

Ralph Hasenhüttl made a forced change to his starting lineup with Doug Chaleta-Car replacing the injured Armel Bell-Cotchap in the center of the Saints defense, as he had done three days earlier against West Ham at St Mary’s towards the end of the first half.

The game started in frantic fashion, with both teams very much on the attack, so it came as no surprise when the game opened up early.

Mohamed Eliounoussi became the architect of the win when he patiently ran the 18-yard line and then found Perrault on the left, whose first-half header was collected by Adams, who expertly headed the ball in at the far post from 12 yards.

This brings the striker’s tally to five goals this season, three of them in the Premier League.

At the other end, Gavin Bazounou had to be involved for the first time after Perrot’s dismissal when he brilliantly saved Philip Billing’s shot from a corner, but the offside flag was raised anyway, so Saints were relieved not to concede a corner and Bazounou was annoyed that his save did not count.

On the opposite flank, Bazunu made a brilliant save off a Jefferson Lerma header, but the Saints were also dangerous on the counterattack thanks to Adam Armstrong and Joe Aribo.

Aribo was the Saints’ most attacking player when Walker-Peters launched a typical attack from the sideline and put the former Rangers player behind the goal, but he stretched to reach the ball and couldn’t find the strength to punch goalkeeper Neto.

Interim coach Gary O’Neal moved forward Billing, traditionally a supporting midfielder, and he created more of a goal threat. This was demonstrated once again when Bazunu was sent to his right to prevent another shot, this time from distance.

Although there were fewer chances by the end of the first half, it didn’t look like Hasenhüttl was expressing his displeasure on the sideline over a poor Bournemouth free kick before Chris Mepham outmuscled Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

The Saints player had already left the field and was trying to keep the ball in play when a defender caught up to him with a vicious lunge, a low blow that forced Maitland-Niles to react, causing both players to look each other in the eye and referee John Brooks showed them both a yellow card.

Mepham could have been even more unpopular with the furious Saints fans when he sent Lewis Cook’s corner kick into the net early in the second half, but the Welshman missed his chance in a very decent scene.

The Saints struggled to deal with Bournemouth’s balls, and Dominic Solanke was the next culprit, missing another Cook pass from the same side.

Hasenhüttl responded to the increased air pressure by switching to playing three defenders, sacrificing Aribo in attack and introducing Lianco to bolster the defense in the 20th minute of the second half.

But just after the Saints had switched systems, Walker-Peters suffered a hamstring injury, prompting another reshuffle, with Eljunussi given an unlikely role at right-back and Stuart Armstrong coming in as a midfield substitute.

While Bazunu remained largely immobile after the break, the Saints struggled to mount attacks as the home crowd cheered their team on.

The neighbours became increasingly agitated when Junior Stanislas’ centred ball struck Mohamed Salisu on the arm, but the defender slipped to block the ball and could not have avoided contact even if he had tried. Fortunately, the VAR agreed.

It was Adams’ relentless tackling that kept the Bournemouth backline at bay, while the striker continued to win balls he never had in front of him, keeping possession even in the most difficult of conditions to ease the pressure on his teammates.

His efforts were almost rewarded with another goal, thanks to another assist from Perrot, as the Frenchman’s cut-back was deflected but straight into the chest of Bournemouth striker Adam Smith, before Eljunoussi’s calmness allowed him to take another shot.

Saints had another chance to ease the pressure in the extra five minutes, but substitute Moussa Genepo capitalised on Neto’s inaccurate run and then Salisu had to make a crucial save in his own six-yard box as a deluge of balls poured in towards Bazounou’s goal, but it was impossible to break Saints’ stubborn resistance.

Substitutes not used: Stacey, Pearson, Anthony, Zemura, Travers

 Substitutes not used: Mara, Edozie, Walcott, McCarthy 

Scorers:

Bookings:

Match Stats:

Possession

AFC Bournemouth 53%
Southampton 47%

Total Shots

AFC Bournemouth 15
Southampton 9

Shots on Target

AFC Bournemouth 3
Southampton 3

Corners

AFC Bournemouth 8
Southampton3

Fouls

AFC Bournemouth 7
Southampton 3

Attacks

AFC Bournemouth 138
Southampton 101

Dangerous
Attacks

AFC Bournemouth 69
Southampton 43

Referee: John Brooks

Venue: Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth

Player of the Match: Che Adams (Tottenham)