Match Pack: AFC Bournemouth vs Saints
It’s Emirates FA Cup quarter-final time as Southampton travel to AFC Bournemouth for an all south coast affair. Get ready for the fixture with our Match Pack, in association with eToro…
THE MATCH
AFC Bournemouth vs Southampton
Vitality Stadium
Emirates FA Cup
Saturday 20 March, 12:15pm GMT
THE OFFICIALS
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Assistant Referees: Stuart Burt and Constantine Hatzidakis
Fourth Official: Simon Hooper
Video Assistant Referee: David Coote
Additional Video Assistant Referee: Nick Hopton
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Both sides will be looking to secure a place in the FA Cup semi-finals.
Since being relegated from England’s top-flight last season, the hosts have had a turbulent season in the Championship.
They currently sit seventh and just outside the play-off places, but there’s no doubt success in the FA Cup would be huge for the club and its fans.
2021 has been a difficult year for Saints in terms of league success, their form in the FA Cup seemingly the opposite.
Overcoming Shrewsbury, Arsenal and Wolves on their route to the quarter-finals, Saints will search for victory on the road at the Vitality Stadium.
TEAM NEWS
Shane Long, who is currently on loan from Southampton at Bournemouth, is cup-tied so cannot feature.
David Brooks and Lewis Cook are also absentees for the Championship side.
Ralph Hasenhüttl declared there are no fresh injury concerns for Southampton.
Danny Ings, Theo Walcott, Oriel Romeu, Michael Obafemi and Will Smallbone remain sidelined with injuries.
FORM GUIDE
Bournemouth:
Swansea City (h) 3-0 (Billing, Latibeaudiere, Groeneveld)
Barnsley (h) 2-3 (Groeneveld, Solanke)
Preston North End (a) 1-1 (Groeneveld)
Bristol City (a) 1-2 (Carter-Vickers)
Watford (h) 1-0 (Groeneveld)
Southampton:
Brighton & Hove Albion (h) 1-2 (Adams)
Manchester City (a) 5-2 (Ward-Prowse, Adams)
Sheffield United (a) 0-2 (Ward-Prowse, Adams)
Everton (a) 1-0
Leeds United (a) 3-0
THE MANAGERS
Ralph Hasenhüttl: “For us, for the players, for the staff, for the fans, this is maybe the most important game of the year.”
ONES TO WATCH
Arnaut Danjuma Groeneveld: Danjuma has scored in four out of the last five fixtures for Bournemouth.
The winger has excelled this season and is always a threat on the attack.
James Ward-Prowse: With the Saints captain getting an England call-up this week, it’s clear he has impressed on a wide scale this season.
His ability with a dead-ball is unrivalled and he’ll be hoping to get on the scoresheet on Saturday to see Saints through to the FA Cup semi-finals.
TOP PERFORMERS
AFC Bournemouth
Goals:
Solanke, Stanislas 11
Arnaut Danjuma Groeneveld 10
Sam Surridge 5
Assists:
Adam Smith 6
Solanke, Danjuma Groeneveld, Brooks 5
Stanislas, Rico, Kelly 4
Southampton
Goals:
Danny Ings 9
James Ward-Prowse 8
Ché Adams 7
Assists:
James Ward-Prowse 5
Adams, Armstrong 4
Ings 3
HEAD TO HEAD
Played: 31
Bournemouth: 8
Draws: 9
Southampton: 14
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
July 2020: AFC Bournemouth 0-2 Southampton
September 2019: Southampton 1-3 AFC Bournemouth
April 2019: Southampton 3-3 AFC Bournemouth
October 2018: AFC Bournemouth 0-0 Southampton
April 2018: Southampton 2-1 AFC Bournemouth
DID YOU KNOW?
- Southampton are unbeaten in their last four away games against Bournemouth in all competitions (W2 D2), since a 0-2 Premier League loss in March 2016.
- Southampton have progressed from 21 of their last 23 FA Cup ties against sides from a lower division, losing against Bristol Rovers in February 2008 and Derby in January 2019.
- Only one of the last 13 FA Cup quarter-final ties to see a side from a lower division face top-flight opponents has ended with the lower-ranked side progressing – then Championship side (and holders) Wigan Athletic knocking out Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City in March 2014.
KEEP UP TO DATE
We’ve got you covered! We’ll bring you all of the action from the Vitality Stadium, as well as a host of behind-the-scenes access.
Check out our interactive match centre at southamptonfc.com, with all of the live in-game updates and free audio commentary of the match, and be sure to follow us on social media for further updates and exclusive content:
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