Match Pack: AFC Bournemouth vs Saints

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

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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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