Bournemouth vs. Southampton: Opposition threat – 20/10/18

Southampton will be traveling to the Vitality stadium this upcoming  Saturday, with the fixture being the fourth in the last five in which the Saints play away from St. Marys.

After a 14 day break, Bournemouth will be looking to keep their good start to the season going, with the Cherries only losing twice in this campaign – and dropping only two points on home soil. The 16 points that the red and blacks have accumulated in the opening eight games have lead them into a European spot, sitting in 6th, above Manchester United and only two points off Tottenham and Arsenal.

Currently sat in 16th with just one win all season, the Saints are already 11 points off of their most local premier league rivals, and have not won a league game since the start of September.

With the two clubs having such contrasting fortunes, Southampton are probably Cherry picked opponents for Eddie Howes men – especially due to the fact that this is Southampton’s worst start to a premier league campaign in six seasons. Despite this, Saints fans can take slight hope in the fact that Bournemouth have had a hiccup this season in a bout that would have seemed easy on paper. Although away from the Vitality, struggling Burley were able to take all three points at Turf Moor – obliterating the Cherries by four goals to nil – picking up their first win of the season at the time.

In extension, Southampton’s head to head Premier League record with Bournemouth is one to boast, with the red and whites only losing once in six meetings both home and away, winning on three occasions, and sharing the points twice – equalling 11 points from a possible 20.

However, the odds are still in the home teams favour for the upcoming game and for good reason. Combined with their home form – not losing at their own ground since late April, there philosophy of not being scared of any team and always wanting to attack with pace would worry any team.  With that being said, who are the three main players that could hurt Southampton this Saturday afternoon?