Bournemouth survived a second-half fightback to secure a first ever victory at Southampton and move into third place in the Premier League before the weekend’s games.
Eddie Howe’s side produced a superb first-half display to establish a two-goal lead as Nathan Ake headed in Diego Rico’s corner in the 10th minute and Harry Wilson’s sweeping finish from Phillip Billing’s pass crowned a superb move.
The Cherries also had a goal from Joshua King ruled out for offside by the video assistant referee as they were in complete control for the first 45 minutes.
Southampton snatched at a lifeline when James Ward-Prowse scored from the spot eight minutes after the break following Steve Cook’s clumsy challenge on Che Adams.
Bournemouth felt they had a credible penalty claim ignored by VAR when Cedric Soares tangled with King but they came through in relative comfort and wrapped up the win with virtually the last kick of the game when a misunderstanding between Southampton goalkeeper Angus Gunn and Jan Bednarek left Callum Wilson with an open goal.
Bournemouth’s travelling fans celebrated wildly and acclaimed manager Eddie Howe at the final whistle as this impressive victory lifted them to the lofty heights of third in the Premier League.
And for all Southampton’s huffing and puffing in the second half, the Cherries were by far the more composed, powerful and clinical team and fully merited the three points.
Bournemouth overpowered Southampton during the first 45 minutes, taking full advantage of a lacklustre Saints showing by demonstrating class in midfield and pace in attack to establish a stranglehold on the game.
Their approach was symbolised by the slick passing move that led to Harry Wilson’s goal after 35 minutes. King played in Billing, whose perfect reverse pass was met by the youngster arriving with perfect timing to complete the job to score for the third time since joining on loan from Liverpool.
Bournemouth were resolute when Southampton finally roused themselves after the break, as they had to do, but that ever-present threat on the counter was their most potent weapon and was evident even before that communication breakdown between Gunn and Bednarek left Callum Wilson to complete the formalities.
This was impressive stuff from Bournemouth, who deserve to enjoy what may be a brief spell in the top three – but the fact they are never even mentioned as a club that may struggle in the Premier League is simple testimony to Howe’s work.
Southampton gamely battled their way into contention in the second half and occasionally threatened to grab what would have been an undeserved draw but they paid the price for a mess of a first 45 minutes.
Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has had plenty of praise since arriving on the south coast but only he can explain the muddled thinking that left Saints totally unbalanced and a shambles for that crucial period.
The Austrian mysteriously played Soares, a Portugal right-back, at left-back and a central defender in Kevin Danso at right-back – with an England left-back in Ryan Bertrand on the bench.
The results were predictably chaotic as King ran Danso ragged and Soares, understandably, looked out of sorts in his accustomed position.
Hasenhuttl made the predictable adjustments at half-time, sending on Bertrand for Danso and putting Soares on the right, where he performed admirably.
Sadly for Southampton, the damage had been done and Hasenhuttl must take his share of responsibility for this disappointing defeat.
