Bournemouth got its business done early as Lewis Cook set up two goals and Evanilson scored his first Premier League goal in a 3-1 defeat of regional foes Southampton at the Vitality Stadium on Monday.
Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo also scored in Bournemouth’s three-goal first half, while Southampton could only manage a Taylor Harwood-Bellis goal early in the second frame.
Bournemouth leap into 11th with eight points, while Saints remain out of the Premier League cellar on goal differential alone. Southampton have one point and sit 19th.
Saints fans have insisted this is not a rivalry despite some labeling this a “New Forest derby” when Bournemouth were promoted a few years back.
It’s a second-straight Saints loss to Bournemouth, but Southampton hold a 6W-4D-4L record vs the Cherries in all competitions dating back to their first Premier League encounter in November 2015.
Cherries out-class rivals with cutting attack
Southampton struggled with Bournemouth’s passing patterns and explosiveness in the first half, and three goals in 22 minutes were rude but not undeserved. A quick restart helped Evanilson score a technical and pretty opener, and Lewis Cook cued up goals seven minutes apart from Ouattara and Semenyo. Cook finished with 10 passes into the final third and four created chances (fotmob.com).
Evanilson is expected to be the big man for Bournemouth, and he’s showing plenty of signs, but Semenyo may be turning into a star. The 24-year-old Ghanaian was tidy with the ball, passing at 17-of-19, and lashed four shots toward goal including his third goal of the young PL season. He was also credited with six recoveries and played with an edge.
There were no passengers for Andoni Iraola’s Cherries, and the manager would’ve been so happy with what he saw from the seats while serving a suspension.
Semenyo was asked whether this win could bring momentum to the Vitality Stadium. His answer was definitive.
“It’s definitely going to be something. The games we have coming up now, we have to get three points. We’ve got a good teams and we’re definitely going to cause problems.”
Bournemouth vs Southampton player ratings
Bournemouth vs Southampton player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Bournemouth vs Southampton player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Saints go to Arsenal at 10am ET Saturday, the same time Bournemouth kick off at Leicester City.
How to watch Bournemouth vs Southampton live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Monday
Venue: Vitality Stadium
TV Channel: USA Network
Streaming: Stream online via NBC.com
Bournemouth vs Southampton live updates — By Nick Mendola
Bournemouth vs Southampton final score: 3-1
Evanilson 17', Dango Ouattara 32', Antoine Semenyo 39', Taylor Harwood-Bellis 51'
Bournemouth seeing this out
Southampton’s changes have made an impact, especially the combustible pot-stirrer Brereton Diaz, but the Cherries have largely kept control as we’re into the 85th minute.
Cherries sub
Warm applause for Ouattara as he’s replaced by Patrick Kluivert in the 61st minute.
Southampton get one! Bournemouth 3-1 Southampton (51st minute)
One of the Saints’ promotion heroes gets them on the board.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis reacts well to a hard, deflected cross from Mateus Fernandes, nodding it inside the near post.
Saints make two subs at break
Cornet is a surprising switch. Ryan Fraser and Lesley Ugochukwu less so.
In go Joe Aribo, Ross Stewart, and the ornery Ben Brereton Diaz.
Halftime — Bournemouth 3-0 Southampton
It’s difficult to pick a Bournemouth performer who’s been above average. Maybe Maxwel Cornet or Mateus Fernandes, and the latter is on yellow and may need to be removed.
Shot attempts are 6-3 to the hosts, who’ve split possession and rung up 0.99 xG while conceding just 0.20 xGA.
There’s a lot of experience on the Saints bench in Adam Lallana, Kyle Walker-Peters, Ben Brereton Diaz, and Adam Armstrong. Russell Martin has to do something.
Cherries are on fire! — Bournemouth 3-0 Southampton (39th minute)
This is all so sweet from Bournemouth.
Semenyo takes the ball from Cook and shakes Lesley Ugochukwu not once but twice, then drilling a shot across goal and past Ramsdale.
This is ugly for Saints.
Dango Ouattara goal — Bournemouth 2-0 Southampton (32nd minute)
Kepa’s long ball is knocked down expertly by Evanilson near midfield, and Bournemouth are off to the races.
Lewis Cook rips a shot through traffic and it takes a turn off Dango Ouattara — at least that’s how it looks, it might’ve been Flynn Downes — to beat Ramsdale.
Evanilson goal off quick restart — Bournemouth 1-0 Southampton (17th minute)
Flynn Downes commits a foul in the Saints end.
James Tavernier quickly takes the free kick and Evanilson slashes it out of the air and past Aaron Ramsdale.
That’s a way to make your Premier League mark!
Early Saints corner
Maxwel Cornet rips a central shot that’s blocked out for a corner, and Saints will get a second corner after Evanilson blocked a near-post effort.
A foul in the Bournemouth box stops that one.
6'.
Teams are out!
Is this the day Porto export Evanilson breaks out? Might Tyler Dibling continue his rise to stardom? Will Aaron Ramsdale or Kepa Arrizabalaga flex their top-four experience? So much to settle this Monday afternoon.
Bournemouth lineup
Arrizabalaga, Kerkez, Senesi, Zabarnyi, Smith, Christie, Cook, Tavernier, Semenyo, Ouattara, Evanilson
Southampton lineup
Ramsdale, Sugawara, Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Taylor, Downes, Ugochukwu, Fernandes, Dibling, Cornet, Fraser
Bournemouth focus, team news
Evanilson’s club record transfer has made his slow start to the goals a little pressure-packed, but the ex-Porto man is finding chances along with his teammates. With Dominic Solanke finally firing for Spurs, unfortunate comparisons could start to pile up if the twice-capped Brazil youngster doesn’t score soon.
OUT: Tyler Adams (back)
Southampton focus, team news
So many interesting players dot Southampton’s roster, not the least of whom being Sporting Lisbon import Mateus Fernandes. The 20-year-old will need to have a big day in the middle of the park against Bournemouth, while Ramsdale will be busy on his return to Bournemouth and all eyes are on Dibling to see if the 18-year-old can deliver more magic.
OUT: Gavin Bazunu (Achilles), Kamaldeen Sulemana (ankle), Jack Stephens (suspension) | QUESTIONABLE: William Smallbone (thigh)
Bournemouth vs Southampton prediction
This could go either way, but the Cherries have better depth and, pound for pound, a longer history playing together. Throw in home field and Saints may have to wait a bit longer for a first Premier League win of the season. Bournemouth 2-1 Southampton.