Pelle helps Hak down Southampton’s south coast rivals Bournemouth
Sam Barnard, Assistant Sports Editor | November 1, 2015
Southampton 2-0 Bournemouth
- Returning Arter made Premier League debut
- Davis opens scoring after terrific build-up play
- Pelle heads home his ninth goal of season in all comps
- Wanyama sent off late on after second bookable offence
- Southampton now jump four places into seventh
- Bournemouth just above the drop zone by one point
- Coral’s bet of the day for Saints to win 2-0 comes in
Saints down south coast rivals
South coast rivals Southampton and Bournemouth faced each other for the first time in the English top flight, and in the end it was the hosts who predictably came away with all the spoils.
The Saints (9/4 top six shouts with Coral) started the game on top too, creating a couple of half chances, but were unable to really test Cherries keeper Adam Federici until just after half-an-hour, when Steven Davis scored a volley from close range.
Davis and Pelle find net in quick succession
Northern Ireland international Davis finished off a well-worked move, involving brilliant one-touch football, after being left unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box where Ryan Bertrand was able to pick him out.
Southampton’s lead doubled just five minutes later, in fairly similar circumstances, but this time it was Dusan Tadic with the cross from the left and Graziano Pelle with the goal – a header this time.
The Italian celebrated with a New Zealand style Haka, perhaps in recognition of the Kiwi’s Rugby World Cup win, incidentally against Federici’s Australia.
It was the Serb who had the best chance of the opening 15 minutes after the break, but his long-range shot was just wide of the post.
Junior Stanislas had Bournemouth’s first meaningful effort, in the 66th minute, however his free-kick couldn’t quite curl enough to beat Maarten Stekelenburg.
Wanyama sees red but Saints hold on
Hosts Southampton had to face a nervy end to the game with 10 men, with Victor Wanyama given a second yellow card for a rash challenge outside the area on 78 minutes.
However, they were able to hold on to stay unbeaten in their last five league games, despite a late close-range effort by substitute Lee Tomlin which Stekelenburg was equal to.
It was to be a third successive Premier League defeat for the injury-hit Cherries and a losing return for Harry Arter, who was subbed off in the 73rd minute.
Eddie Howe’s men now just stand one point above the drop zone, while Southampton leapfrogged four clubs into seventh place as they aim to get back into Europe by the end of the season.
We hope you were able to take and profit on our bet of the day, in which we predicted the 2-0 scoreline in the Saints’ favour – a 13/2 price at the time of writing.
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Take a look at our earlier reaction to the high-scoring Everton v Sunderland match too
