Henry Hardwicke’s picks for Monday’s night’s south coast derby include a positive result for the visitors in a low-scoring game.
Monday night’s Premier League match is a clash between two south coast rivals as Southampton make the short journey to Bournemouth for a 20:00 kick-off.
The Saints are still on the hunt for their first Premier League win of the campaign, but Russell Martin’s men can take heart from their 1-1 draw against Ipswich last time out.
Bournemouth have just the single top-flight victory to their name this season and the Cherries have failed to score a single goal in their last two matches.
Andoni Iraola’s side are 8/13 to win at the Vitality Stadium, Southampton are 15/4 and the draw is available at 10/3.
Selections
Southampton to win or draw
7/5
Under 2.5 goals
17/10
Cherries could be picked off
Southampton haven’t won a Premier League match this season, but that’s a rather harsh reflection on their efforts in their opening five games.
The Saints suffered a pair of narrow defeats when going down 1-0 to Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, while they had 63% possession, 18 shots and eight corners in a 3-1 loss at Brentford.
Even a 3-0 defeat to Man Utd wasn’t without promise and Russell Martin’s men should be buoyed by their 1-1 draw against Ipswich last time out.
A dramatic last-gasp 3-2 victory over Everton is the only top-flight success Bournemouth have managed this season and the Cherries have failed to score a single goal in their most recent defeats to Chelsea and Liverpool.
Of course, the Reds and the Blues are superior sides to Southampton, but the Cherries have looked a little short in goalscoring terms with Evanilson failing to fill the void left by the departure of the prolific Dominic Solanke.
The 8/13 on offer about a Bournemouth victory appears mighty short given the lack of goalscoring potential and punting Southampton and the draw on the double chance market looks a value alternative.
Bournemouth lacking goalscoring potential
Dominic Solanke scored 19 Premier League goals for Bournemouth last season, but the England forward departed for Tottenham in a big-money summer move.
The hope for the Cherries was that Evanilson would fill the goalscoring gap left by Solanke, but that has yet to materialise.
The Brazilian forward has failed to score in five appearances for Bournemouth this season and Andoni Iraola’s men have drawn a blank in their last two Premier League matches.
Southampton have also struggled to convert their chances this term, and while the Saints are fancied to avoid defeat at the Vitality Stadium, it may not be the high-scoring contest the market anticipates.
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