Bournemouth 1-1 Southampton: Match Recap

Southampton fought back from a half-time deficit to deservedly draw 1-1 against Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon.

Ryan Fraser’s strike just before the break gave the home side the lead, but in-form Charlie Austin’s goal after an hour meant the game finished all square after 90 minutes.

Manager Mauricio Pellegrino made six changes from the midweek loss to Manchester City, with Charlie Austin, James Ward-Prowse, Jeremy Pied, Steven Davis, Dusan Tadic and Sofiane Boufal all coming into the line up; Pied making just his second ever Premier League start for the club.

The team reverted to the more offensive 4-2-3-1 formation that had seen his side demolish Everton 4-1 a week previous.

Saints started brightly, and almost took the lead in the contest after 11 minutes. Jeremy Pied won a corner down the right after good build up play, and James Ward-Prowse stepped up to deliver to the front post area. Virgil van Dijk found himself with a free run at the ball but couldn’t direct his strong header on target.

The away side were then thankful to keeper Fraser Forster for keeping the scores level halfway through the first period. A driven effort from Bournemouth right-back Adam Smith was diverted goalwards by Jermain Defoe, but Forster produced a brilliant instinctive reaction save to turn the ball over.

The game was now starting to open up, and action at both ends would come before half-time. First, Bournemouth thought they should have a had a penalty when Smith was tripped in the box by Sofiane Boufal when contesting a loose ball, and then home keeper Asmir Begovic kept out Charlie Austin’s header.

However, Southampton were architects of their own downfall as they went behind on 41 minutes. Wesley Hoedt was caught dallying on the ball under pressure and this allowed Bournemouth to the work the ball to the free Ryan Fraser, who fired under Forster.

Boufal should have levelled the scores before the break however when he received a cutback from Ryan Bertrand, but could only sky his shot well over the bar from an excellent position.

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However, a strong spell of pressure from Saints at the beginning of the second-half would see them get the equaliser that they deserved.

Good play in and around the Bournemouth penalty area for the first 10 minutes had seen Saints go close, but Charlie Austin would get his third goal in two games to level the scores. Second-half substitute Nathan Redmond produced a low cross to the front post area, and Austin was on hand to turn the ball home after 61 minutes.

Fraser Forster had to be alert to keep his side from going behind again though. Home forward Josh King was allowed space to swivel and strike low towards the corner of the net, but the England international got down well to turn the ball away to safety.

A great chance for the in-form Austin would then go begging with 10 minutes left. Full-back Bertrand, who was having an excellent game, got to the byline and produced a powerful cross. It was an identical move to the one that produced Austin’s first goal against Everton a week earlier, but this time he could only head over when he perhaps should have done better.

From that point on, both sides thwarted opposition attacks and spells of pressure well, and the match finished with a point a piece at the Vitality Stadium.

The result means Saints climb one place to 11th in the table on 17 points ahead of next weekend’s home clash with Arsenal.