Bournemouth 1 Southampton 1: Charlie Austin equaliser ensures 'New Forest derby' finishes honours even
Charlie Austin was a bricklayer playing football part-time at Poole Town when Swindon gave him his break in the professional game. On Sunday, eight years on from his non-league days, he scored the equaliser for Southampton in the Premier League in what locally has been dubbed “the New Forest derby”.
“The confidence of a striker is difficult to train, or buy. You need experience of scoring goals, and when you have a player in this form, it is good news,” said Mauricio Pellegrino, who has started the striker only twice in the league this season. Austin might have had more than his one goal after going close with two headers but the chance he did take, a low finish at the near post from Nathan Redmond’s cross, was enough to cancel out Ryan Fraser’s first-half goal.
A draw was a fair result after Wesley Hoedt’s calamitous attempt at a Cruyff-turn on the edge of his own six-yard box handed Bournemouth their lead.
“It was a good advert for the Premier League because I thought both teams went all-out attack for the win,” said Eddie Howe, the home manager.
Both sides had strong penalty claims turned down in the first half. Bournemouth when Adam Smith was booked for diving after Sofiane Boufal had gone to ground and not made contact with the ball, and Southampton when Dusan Tadic’s shot struck Simon Francis’ arm.
“I think it’s a clear penalty,” said Howe. “I can’t work out what the referee’s seen. I just said I wanted him [the referee] to have a look at it and give me his opinion.”
Both sets of supporters did their best to stoke up an atmosphere although Southampton fans did sing “there’s only one south coast derby”, referring to their better-known rivalry with Portsmouth. The first half was a cagey affair with the two goalkeepers distinguishing themselves with fine saves: Fraser Forster, when he showed impressive reactions to push Jermain Defoe’s point-blank effort round the post; and Asmir Begovic when he saved Austin’s header from James Ward-Prowse’s cross.
“It was a top, top save. It went at him really quickly,” said Howe of Forster’s stop.
The game seemed destined for a half-time stalemate but former Lazio defender Hoedt was robbed by Joshua King and Andrew Surman laid on a pass for the onrushing Fraser to sweep the ball low past Forster. “He’s upset but it’s part of our style of play and they pressed us well,” said Pellegrino.
Pellegrino had left Redmond on the bench but brought him on for Ward-Prowse at the interval. The impact was immediate as Redmond and Boufal, assisted by Ryan Bertrand and Jeremy Pied, tormented the Bournemouth defence.
Southampton were several times within a whisker of scoring, notably when Bertrand slid the ball across the six-yard box, forcing Begovic to save from Austin, and when Boufal set up Tadic.
But Redmond’s low cross from the right was expertly finished into the bottom-right corner by Austin just after the hour mark to give him his seventh goal in his last 10 Premier League starts.
It was Pellegrino’s men who then looked the most likely to score a winner as they continued to find joy from the wide areas.
Austin headed inches over from Bertrand’s superb cross, while the excellent Bertrand then opted to shoot across goal rather than play in Austin, who would surely have applied the finishing touch.
FULL TIME
Ake heads over with a free header in the box and that's it. A deserved draw. Neither manager will be unhappy with that, both teams wasteful.
90 mins +3
Bertrand tries to throw the ball into play and it skids out of his hands. He and the crowd laugh as Bertrand motions to the camera that he meant it to waste time. The crowd goes 'ooooohhhhhhhhhhh WAAAAY!' when he successfully throws it in the second time.
Afobe is on for the final few seconds! Bournemouth have a corner, send it long to the far post... and there's a foul in the box. What a waste. The crowd deflates.
90 mins
Cook is so calm under pressure. He keeps the ball moving again as Bournemouth players look a little hurried and start rushing their passes. Southampton are winning it back easily as a result and look the more likely to get a late winner.
Bertrand finds space on the left wing, crosses, it falls for Romeu who shouts to teammates to leave it... and bends a shot over the bar.
Bournemouth vs Southampton shots on goal
The finishing hasn't been of an elite level today...
88 mins
Howe is urging his team on, trying to get more out of them as the clock ticks to 90. Southampton clear their lines as Fraser cuts back in the box.
85 mins
Gabbiadini is on for the final few minutes, replacing Davis, who had been in a number 10 role since Lemina came on. Southampton look for him straight away but it's headed clear. Ibe fouls Boufal wide of the box, giving away a free-kick in a dangerous looking position.
83 mins
Cook lines up a shot... but it's a surprise pass! He chips instead and it hits the defender, giving Southampton the chance to break. Redmond sprints at pace, Austin moves ahead and runs onto the through-ball. But he's offside.
Ibe tries to force a cross from inside the box but it's blocked for a throw in.
81 mins
Bournemouth could be in here! King has space but has to shift the ball out wide to Ibe, who turns back on himself and is muscled out of it. Wilson takes on Bertrand for pace, loses and goes down. It's never a penalty and nobody really asks for one.
Bournemouth vs Southampton shots on goal
Boufal finds Bertrand on the overlap, he crosses to the near post and Austin IS THERE! Headed over. Great run but he's missed the target from six yards.
78 mins
Lemina is booked for pulling Cook's shirt. Ibe tries to turn his man but gives possession away. Boufal drives at goal, gets to the box and overruns it. Lemina is offside. There's still no real bite to this game, it's calm, both teams are wary of conceding the next surely decisive goal.
75 mins
Bournemouth are in control of the ball now and looking for a way in behind the Southampton defence. All that keeps happening is the ball goes into the striker, goes back, passed around and repeat .But now they are in behind! King is able to get a shot away from inside the area as it's cut back to him, he spins the defender and then watches Forster push it wide. Wilson is a half second away from reaching it for a tap in.
72 mins
Bournemouth enjoying a spell of possession. Ibe is wide right but keeps going backwards with his passes. Cook has been excellent in midfield, always available, always moving and looking to help shift the ball.
69 mins
Bournemouth make a change. Ibe on, Stanislas off. Defoe off, Wilson on.
And it's nearly 2-1 Southampton! The ball comes into the area and reaches Austin's head... and hits the bar! But the referee had already blown his whistle.
Possession: Bournemouth vs Southampton
The subs haven't changed the flow of the game yet, Southampton still in charge.
66 mins
Bertrand is in! But the ball's behind for a goal kick. That's so poor at this level - he had to square it for Austin! Instead, Bertrand's knee-high half cross/half shot fizzes past the far post. It should probably be 2-1. Southampton all over Bournemouth at the moment.
Pass: Bournemouth 1 - 1 Southampton (Ryan Bertrand, 64 min)
GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL
AUSTIN DOES IT!
Bournemouth 1 - 1 Southampton (Charlie Austin, 61 min)
Southampton have been pushing and get a deserved equaliser! It's another well worked move, Southampton playing some nice football and taking advantage of Cook taking too long on the ball. Romeu feeds Redmond, who crosses low for Austin to sidefoot home.
60 mins
Bournemouth are keeping the ball well, moving it around and getting men forward. Cook does well to go past a midfielder and spray the ball out wide, Stanislas tries to side foot a shot into the bottom corner but it's easily saved.
Southampton attack and try to get Austin for a tap in at the near post. Tadic has a cross/shot turned away by Begovic and then - somehow - Bournemouth scramble the ball over the bar to give away a corner.
Begovic punches it clear, Pied shoots way over.
57 mins
Ole! Great skill by King, who nutmegs his man with a little drag back trick. Romeu doesn't like it and fouls Smith as he sprints down the right.
54 mins
Southampton like attacking down the left wing with Boufal cutting inside but he's being well looked after by the Bournemouth back line.
51 mins
King draws a foul but the free-kick doesn't yield a chance at goal. The follow up does! Bournemouth keep the ball moving down the left, some intricate passing in the box opens up space and Stanislas is inches away from turning the ball in at the back post as it rolls across an open net! So close.
48 mins
The second half has started as the first ended. Bournemouth are sat ready to pounce on the counter-attack.
Southampton get the first shot away as Boufal finds space on the left and shoots across goal. Begovic saves well.
KICK-OFF 2
We're back!
Average positions
Average touch positions (half time)
Bournemouth set up on the counter-attack, Southampton want to dictate the game. Eddie Howe's strategy working best so far.
Possession
Possession: Bournemouth vs Southampton
HALF TIME
It's been a very even game so far but Bournemouth deserve their lead. Just.
45 mins
Great quick passing move from Southampton. Bertrand gets forward and looks up for the cross, spots Boufal's run into the box and cuts it back. He must score! But blasts his shot way over the bar. Poor.
Out: Bournemouth 1 - 0 Southampton (Sofiane Boufal, 45 min)
GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!
Bournemouth 1 - 0 Southampton (Ryan Fraser, 42 min)
King pounces on the mistake by Hoedt, steals the ball and plays it inside to Cook. They have men over, Fraser bursts into the box and finishes low to make it 1-0.
41 mins
Southampton can't quite break past the half way line and are forced back by the high Bournemouth press. And they've won it back here!
39 mins
Smith goes for the wonder strike, teeing himself up before a volleying a wild shot high and wide. Would've looked mega cool if that had gone in.
Begovic rises well to catch the ball in a busy penalty area from a Southampton free-kick.
DANIIIIEEEEELLLLLS! Oh my lord. Daniels sees the ball roll towards him and goes to replicate that amazing strike he hit against Man City, putting his foot through and across the ball to slice it towards the top corner at power. He is inches away from destroying the back of the net.
Out: Bournemouth 0 - 0 Southampton (Charlie Daniels, 39 min)
36 mins
Daniels tries an early cross from the left but it's too far ahead of any Bournemouth striker to get a head on.
That's one of Forster's super reaction saves from earlier.
33 mins
Is that a penalty?! No! The referee gives a free-kick to Southampton! Bournemouth players can't believe it, they're sure they should have a penalty as Smith goes down over the challenge of Boufal. Boufal dives into a slide tackle, catches the Bournemouth man but it does look a little like Smith is waiting for the contact and leaves his leg in. Tough call but probably the right one.
WHAT A SAVE! A tale of two goalkeepers! The ball is curled in by Ward-Prowse superbly to Austin's run at the back post. He heads at goal from close range and Begovic denies him. The follow up shot comes off a Bournemouth player and Southampton want a penalty they're never getting.
30 mins
Southampton attack down the left, Austin juggles the ball trying to bring it down in the area and Pied tries a long range effort which doesn't really trouble the goalkeeper.
Bournemouth run towards goal with King leading the charge but he's brought down while trying to thread a pass forward. The ball he plays is poor and the referee brings play back for the foul.
He could shoot from here actually. It's about 25/30 yards out and Stanislas lines the shot up... but doesn't get enough power on it. The ball hits the ball and ends up as a throw on the left.
27 mins
Whata pass by Daniels! He bends it around the Southampton centre-backs and wins a corner. Stanislas comes across to take it, it's fired into the near post and cleared.
Fraser loses control while trying to dribble inside and then fouls Boufal.
24 mins
Cook strides forward after a one-two with Stanislas and tries an ambitious effort from about 30 yards but it doesn't dip and flies over the bar. It's always worth a go but the England youngster's got that one wrong.
22 mins
Forster has to save again! Two wonder saves in a few minutes! Bournemouth so close to opening the scoring.
The tide has turned a little here and Bournemouth are putting the pressure on Southampton.
19 mins
Bournemouth threaten on the counter attack as Fraser is played in down the left but his attempted cross is cleared. The corner comes in and falls to Smith on the edge of the area. He shoots... it's deflected and WHAT A SAVE BY FORSTER!
16 mins
Now Tadic goes close. Southampton causing all the early problems here.
Miss: Bournemouth 0 - 0 Southampton (Virgil van Dijk, 12 min)
They're passing quickly, stretching the pitch, moving into space and winning the midfield battle.
13 mins
SO CLOSE VAN DIJK! He attacks a corner and turns his header onto the post.
Miss: Bournemouth 0 - 0 Southampton (Virgil van Dijk, 12 min)
Good effort but it pings behind for a corner.
12 mins
Bournemouth focusing play down the left, looking to get Fraser on the ball ahead of Daniels, who has been quite advanced so far.
Howe's team are pressing high but Southampton are committed to keeping the ball and do really well to pass around the press and come forward. Austin can't control a quick pass and ruins a promising attacking move.
9 mins
This doesn't really have the feel of a particularly heated derby. Both teams are measured, calm, trying to build play from the back.
Possession: Bournemouth vs Southampton
6 mins
Romeu and Davis are keeping things neat in the middle, Defoe catches the former with a late challenge and gives Southampton a chance to put the ball in the box from near the centre-circle.
It's put into the area, bounces around a bit and Davis tries a hopeful shot which goes out for a throw.
3 mins
Southampton in control of possession early on. Tadic gets into the box down the left and pulls it back... this is a chance! But it's blocked.
KICK-OFF
And we're off!
Here come the players
Both teams are in the tunnel. It's nearly time for a south coast derby!
The warm up
Managers' pre-match thoughts
Howe
Just to freshen the team up, three games in a week, I think we'll do very well. It's a good game for us, I think the crowd will get involved and at home against Southampton it should be a great atmosphere.
I really want an energetic high tempo game.
Pellegrino
Every single game is different but obviously with games in the middle of the week I will use most of them, people fresh, it will hopefully be different game. For us it will be important to keep same performance.
It's part of our job, but we have to see the positive. We were competing against the best team in the world at the moment. Hopefully we can bounce back from this performance and today in the derby we need to do the same to have something positive here.
Top scorers
Neither of these teams tends to score a huge amount of goals in any given game, and the top scorer for both teams only has three. That said, Southampton have Charlie Austin, Manolo Gabbiadini and Steve Davis all on three, while Bournemouth only have Callum Wilson to have scored over two. This might be a rather low scoring affair.
The goalkeepers' thoughts
Asmir Begovic
"I don't think we reached the levels we know we can on Wednesday but it's a big chance to put things right."
Fraser Forster
"I think we've put it behind us, there were positives to take, today's a new challenge, a different game and one we're ready for. We need the right mentality, important to be ready for the battle from the opening minutes. You've got to be ready for the fight from minute one."
Mauricio Pellegrino shooting a music video
Preview
Hello! Welcome to our liveblog for Sunday's big, early Premier League match between Bournemouth and Southampton, which according to Eddie Howe is basically a derby. Derbies are exciting.
Bournemouth will be looking to hit back after their 2-1 defeat to Burnley midweek, Southampton could just do with scoring some goals and providing some entertainment. Their season is very slowly becoming extremely medium.
Here are the teams:
Bournemouth
Begovic, A Smith, Francis, Ake, Daniels, Stanislas, L Cook, Surman, Fraser, King, Defoe
Southampton
Forster, Pied, van Dijk, Hoedt, Bertrand, Tadic, Oriol Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Boufal, Davis, Austin
