Semenyo completes first-half blitz as Bournemouth sinks shaky Southampton | first division

Few doubted the great difficulties faced by Russell Martin at Southampton this season. This lesson in south coast superiority He only confirmed that. If the Saints manager has credit in the bank, his team's inability to learn from mistakes is starting to take its toll.

The best thing that can be said for the Saints is that there can be safety in numbers. This was the last chance for the promoted teams to get a top-six win. first division rounds.

Bournemouth had won once in their previous nine matches, but were a class above, and although they faltered in the second half as the Saints, with much of the pressure off, came into the game, they always kept the danger at bay. the counterattack.

Two altruistic coaches, who were not given to pressing the pragmatism button, faced each other and it was pressure that prevailed over possession. Before kickoff, Martin walked toward the visiting fans with his arms open in recognition. Andoni Iraola, serving a suspension, was confined to the stands to achieve a very welcome first home victory of the season that lifted his team. above Manchester United.

Ryan Fraser, the former local hero turned hated Covid rejecter, was booed at every touch. He Southampton Fans feigned indifference towards Bournemouth by declaring their rivalry with Portsmouth the only “south coast derby”. With five forwards on the Saints bench, 18-year-old Tyler Dibling led the attack as a false 9 and his team started brighter. Maxwel Cornet's shot was deflected behind and Fraser also finished when the ball came loose.

Southampton's Achilles heel all season has been vulnerability in possession and lack of care and attention after losing it. Bournemouth's first goal followed the template. Charlie Taylor's high shot from the left wing found its way to Antoine Semenyo, and when the winger was fouled by Flynn Downes, a quickly taken free kick by Marcus Tavernier found Evanilson. After five games without scoring, including a fateful missed penalty against Chelsea, the Brazilian made no mistake. His £40m commission and the £15m profit made from the simultaneous sale of Dominic Solanke had his first down payment.

Losing possession is not advisable against Bournemouth, who attacks in large numbers. As the first half progressed, Southampton found themselves unable to play Martin's prescribed possession game as Bournemouth tightened the game. The defense also became problematic. Semenyo burst into the box, checked and Lewis Cook's shot deflected off Dango Ouattara and past Ramsdale, the goalscorer playing in a defensive position against the ball-watching Saints.

Semenyo, rampant now, having roasted Taylor for that second, then turned around Lesley Ugochukwu and fired a low shot beyond Ramsdale's wingspan. The visitors were hunched over, despite Martín's continuous exhortations from the bench. Bournemouth, in five attempts, with four on target, were ruthless in exposing their team.

That Fraser was one of Martin's three half-time substitutions caused great joy among the home fans, with Ugochukwu and Cornet joining him. Beyond Dibling, most of the starting eleven deserved the hook after that horrible half hour, and two strikers arrived in Ben Brereton Diaz and Ross Stewart, Joe Aribo adding energy in midfield while Dibling moved to the right flank. Was a highly unlikely redemption on the cards? A low header from Taylor Harwood-Bellis gave the visitors hope.

As the laser yellow jerseys pushed forward, a comeback was not beyond the realm of possibility. Martin, his voice now muffled, and his assistants pored over their notebooks in search of another stepping stone to get back into the game. His team began to enjoy dominance of possession, Bournemouth and their fans were no longer so sure of themselves.

Bournemouth sent Justin Kluivert for Ouattara and Southampton's promotion began to falter. Semenyo could have finished off the contest, but he went wide after another overwhelming move. Cook then intercepted in midfield and threw the ball straight to Evanilson, this time unable to beat Ramsdale. Martin then sent on returning veteran Adam Lallana and was given 20 minutes to salvage a result.

Lallana shot wide but the best chances fell to Bournemouth, Ryan Christie shot wide and Luis Sinisterra forced a save from Ramsdale. If the Saints had shown improvement, it wasn't enough for this game or the challenges ahead.