Despite Southampton being AFC Bournemouth’s closest geographical neighbours in the Football League, the Cherries and Southampton do not boast much of a history on the football pitch.
Prior to the turn of the 21st century, the two clubs had met just 18 times with all but two of those games coming over 58 years ago.
Over the past 8 years, the two sides have now met a further 10 times. The longest run of frequent games between the two south coast sides since the 1950’s.
But AFC Bournemouth have just won once, in those ten fixtures.
It would seem that no matter how good or poor the team from the other side of the New Forest are at the time the two clubs meet, AFC Bournemouth play the occasion rather than the opposition.
Last season AFC Bournemouth had a chance to start banging some nails in the Southampton Premier League coffin, but instead, gifted them their only (and still only) victory at St Mary’s of 2018. The Cherries then beat Swansea City, all but securing Southampton’s safety in the top flight of English football, smashing up the coffin for firewood in the process (something Southampton’s transfer policy meant that was sold off pretty smartish).
This season AFC Bournemouth and Southampton were separated by 11 points after just 8 games, the Cherries in the top six, Southampton loitering above relegation.
A gulf in class was discussed prior to the game. The headlines claimed AFC Bournemouth players believed the power had shifted to Dorset from Hampshire, on the pitch, however, there was little evidence leaving everyone frustrated.
AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe told afcb.co.uk…
“Well we really didn’t get going and we know we can play better than that.
“Southampton did make it difficult for us to get going and we have to look at ourselves, analyse why we didn’t reach those levels.
“We are frustrated that in a game of minimal chances, when they came we didn’t take them. But Southampton could probably say the same.
“A draw is a fair result.
Your say…
Sandman2 wrote…
Why do we never turn up against the Southampton? Doesn’t seem to matter who their manager is, they seem to have us sussed. I don’t know why but we always struggle to play our positive attacking game and one win in seven is a disappointing return against such a dreadful football team. – Join the conversation, click here.
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