Bournemouth climbed above Chelsea into fifth place in the Premier League after securing a convincing 3-1 victory over struggling Southampton in the south coast derby.
Southampton had been hoping to record back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since February 2022, but their ambitions were quickly dashed by Bournemouth’s electrifying start. Ryan Christie was at the heart of the action, delivering the cross for Dango Ouattara’s opening goal before adding a powerful strike from 22 yards to double the lead.
Southampton offered little in response until substitute Tyler Dibling made an impact, and Kamaldeen Sulemana gave the visitors a glimmer of hope with a powerful finish. However, the goal only seemed to ignite Bournemouth’s attacking play, and Marcus Tavernier sealed the win with a late strike, putting the result beyond doubt.
For Southampton, this defeat marked their 20th of a disappointing season, leaving them languishing at the bottom of the table. Their neighbors Bournemouth, on the other hand, deservedly claimed local bragging rights and secured their first-ever league double over Southampton. Ivan Juric’s struggling side now sit 10 points from safety, having played one more game than 17th-placed Wolves.
As for Bournemouth, their rise to fifth place puts them firmly in contention for a potential Champions League spot. The fans, who were heard chanting about a European adventure throughout the match, are hopeful that with their exciting team, a place in Europe could soon become a reality.
