Five super south coast derby tips as Saints and Cherries scuffle

Holly Thackeray | October 30, 2015

Tasty bets abound as Southampton host local rivals Bournemouth

There were two high-profile Premier League derbies hogging all the attention last matchweek, so Coral experts were not about to let this subsequent south coast clash slip under the radar.

Southampton welcome new boys Bournemouth to St Mary’s for the first time ever in the top-flight, an excellent occasion which is well worth marking. So, here are our five picks for punters from this plum clash between the Saints and Cherries…

Southampton to retain fierce St Mary’s record

If Bournemouth are to best the Saints on home soil they will have to battle history, which is stacked emphatically against them in this fixture.

As the red and white striped south coast club have never been beaten by Bournemouth on their own turf, it’s tough to see past a triumph for the hosts here. Yet, the plucky Cherries have not been whitewashed in the league since the beginning of the season, scoring in all of their past seven top-flight frays.

As Southampton have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last five domestic division outings, then, it makes perfect sense to back the home side at 23/10 to win with both teams to score.

Ronald Koeman and co to clock-up three or more

Eddie Howe’s beleaguered Bournemouth boys have conceded a whopping 10 goals in their previous two Premier League showings, as Manchester City and Tottenham totted-up five apiece against the injury-plagued Cherries.

The guests’ goal leakage, 22 in 10 so far this season, unluckily coincides with a purple patch for Saints, who last drew a blank way back in December. Odds of 19/10 for Ronald Koeman’s guys to score three or more against their porous opponents are therefore generous.

Glenn Murray to be among the goals anytime

Pre-match focus may be on former Southampton stars Artur Boruc and Andrew Surman, with both now turning out regularly for rivals the Cherries, but on the pitch it is recently rampant Murray Saints should keep an eye on.

Thrust back into the limelight following Callum Wilson’s unfortunate injury, marksman Murray has been on target in two of his three starts since, making him a terrific 2/1 to find the goal again anytime. He may have been surplus to requirements at Selhurst Park, but the sharp striker will be needed at St Mary’s.

Sadio Mane for a magnificent return

There’s no doubt Mane let the side down by seeing red at Anfield, but Saints came through their Capital Cup clash unscathed without the star anyway.

Canny Koeman will surely install his exciting Senegal international back into the starting XI, however, as the 23-year-old should be raring to go after a rest. Having fired in three and assisted four from his last seven appearances, Mane is a magic 5/1 price to bag a brace or better on his south coast comeback.

Graziano Pelle to be a protagonist

Alert Italy international Pelle has opened scoring on four previous occasions this campaign, across all competitions. Central to Southampton’s swashbuckling form and streak of six games unbeaten, the superb striker is 7/2 to fire in first again.

Related

Delve into our Southampton archive, or read more about Bournemouth as the south coast clash approaches

Coral’s top tip: We fancy Mane at 5/1 to come back with a bang and bag a brace or better