Bournemouth 0-0 Southampton: Player ratings – 20/10/18
By Joe Mcindoe
Goalkeeper and Defenders
Alex McCarthy – Goalkeeper – 8
McCarthy had very little to do against a quiet Bournemouth attack. When the number one was called upon to act, he collected or punched the ball with very little fuss.
Cédric Soares – Right-back – 7.5
The Portuguese international has had a rough go of it this season, but recent performances have seen him step it up. In a defensive capacity the right back dealt with everything that was thrown his way, ensuring a frustrating afternoon for Bournemouth.
In return for Cédric’s contributions his colleagues made sure that Soares wasn’t left exposed on the post. A welcome change from the norm.
Jack Stephens – Centre-back – 8
The centre-back unit performed excellently this week, offering a usually potent Cherries very few openings. As part of the group, Stevens put in a solid shift.
Wesley Hoedt- Centre Back- 8
The player ratings have not been kind to Wesley Hoedt, but the day’s action showed his quality. In collaboration with his backline partners, the Dutchman dealt with balls into the box with a relative straightforwardness. Eddie Howe’s men had a couple of good opportunities, including a bullet header straight at the keeper, but in a top-flight game one or two good chances are to be expected.
The defender also put in a cracking challenge to deny Callum Wilson a certain goal-scoring opportunity. No flashy tricks on display, just good defending.
Ryan Bertrand – Left-back – 7.5
The captain didn’t do anything wrong at the back but could have stepped it up going forward. In one good-looking move, the LB made a clever overlapping run, beating the defender with his pace, and then wasting the build-up with a terrible cross. Not a bad day at the office, but one which won’t last long in the memory either.