Southampton vs AFC Bournemouth: Where the game will be won and lost
By Edward Waugh
Bournemouth’s Defence
Eddie Howe’s men tout one of the poorest defensive records in the league; the 5th worst having conceded nine goals in their five opening games. Only Wolves and Watford (10), Chelsea (11) and Norwich City (12) have conceded more in their current campaign.
When you look into these stats even closer it also shows how the Cherries are yet to keep a clean-sheet in this space of games, and with Howe’s preferred centre-half pairing of Nathan Ake and Steve Cook likely to start this game against Southampton; then it is hard to discredit that Hasenhuttl’s team will score.
To add to this, the form of attacking outlet’s Moussa Djenepo and Sofiane Boufal suggest that Southampton will manufacture a high amount of chances. The former having scored two wonder goals so far this campaign whilst the latter has had a hand in two assists; this despite the finishing of Che Adams yet to take full flourish.
In terms of key passes a game; the Saints have players such as the mentioned Boufal, James Ward-Prowse and Danny Ings all contributing 1-1.3 key passes per game – which in tale would again suggest that this team has the potential to rip any given team apart once chances are finished more consistently.