Bournemouth host Southampton at Dean Court on Saturday in the FA Cup quarterfinals. Just eight teams are left in the competition with four places available in the semifinals.
The Cherries reached the quarterfinals thanks to upsetting Burnley in the FA Cup fifth round.
Securing the W in style 😎Throwing it back to some Rickie Lambert magic against #AFCB for our @Vitality_UK Vital Moment: pic.twitter.com/yWejr8FF3S— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) March 18, 2021
Securing the W in style 😎Throwing it back to some Rickie Lambert magic against #AFCB for our @Vitality_UK Vital Moment: pic.twitter.com/yWejr8FF3S
Jonathan Woodgate took over Bournemouth in late February. He has done well enough as the team’s manager and has them fighting for a promotion playoff place. A win against Premier League team Southampton would be a major feather in his cap.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s team are struggling in the Premier League and are trending down toward the relegation zone. Despite their poor run of form since December, the Saints are playing well in the FA Cup and knocked out Newcastle United, Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Between 2015 and 2020, Bournemouth and Southampton met 10 times in the Premier League before the former’s relegation at the end of last season. The Saints won four times while Bournemouth posted two wins and four games finished in draws.
The Cherries reached the quarterfinals thanks to wins over Oldham Athletic, Crawley Town, and Burnley. They have experience beating a Premier League side in the FA Cup in the previous round and can certainly do it once more.
Hasenhuttl has five names on the Southampton injury list going into the weekend. Winger Theo Walcott is ruled out of the match with a thigh strain. Danny Ings is also ruled out of the game and isn’t expected back until April following the international break.
The manager is also without Michael Obafemi, William Smallbone, and Oriol Romeu. All three have injuries that will keep them on the sidelines for the weekend FA Cup quarterfinal fixture.
Three players occupy the Bournemouth injury list. Midfielder Adam Smith is suffering from an ankle injury that will keep him sidelined until April.
Midfielder Lewis Cook is ruled out until next season with an ACL injury. Midfielder David Brooks is unlikely to play following an ankle injury.
The Cherries are flying high going into the game. They thrashed Swansea 3-0 in midweek in the Championship and could take the spoils in the south coast derby against Southampton.
Four of the last eight games between the clubs ended with over 2.5 goals scored. Five of the last eight games between the teams saw both sides score.
Both trends should continue when Bournemouth and Southampton meet this weekend in the FA Cup quarterfinal. Which side will win?
Bournemouth should keep their hot streak going with a win at home versus Southampton in a thriller.