Southampton has a chance to redeem their campaign when they take a short trip to the South Coast to take on Bournemouth in the FA Cup quarter-finals. The match schedules for Saturday at Vitality Stadium, with kickoff at 3:15 pm.
The Cherries advanced to the quarter-finals following a 2-0 victory over Burnley in the previous round, whereas Southampton registered a 2-0 win over Premier League outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Jonathan Woodgate looks forward to maintaining a playoff charge for the Cherries, with promotion hopes still available. However, a FA Cup semifinal will come as a breath of fresh air for the Vitality faithful after a strong run in the cup so far.
It has been a tough road for Woodgate, who had to register wins over Oldham Athletic and Crawley Town at home before securing a 2-0 win over Burnley in the fifth round. Their success at Turf Moor sends them to the quarter-finals for the first time since the 1956-57 season.
After a win over Sheffield United boosted their chances of a top-half finish, back-to-back defeats to Manchester City and Brighton have seen the Saint’s continue their woeful 2021 campaign. Ralph Hassenhuttl takes the FA Cup run as a saving grace for the past couple of months. Their last run in the competition was back at Wembley in the 2017-2018 FA Cup campaign run.
Bournemouth vs. Southampton Head to Head
Both sides have 14 games against each other, with Bournemouth takes home two wins while Southampton has eight wins. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
Bournemouth 3-0 Swansea City
Bournemouth 2-3 Barnsley
Preston North End 1-1 Bournemouth
Bristol City 1-2 Bournemouth
Bournemouth 1-0 Watford
Away
Southampton 1-2 Brighton
Man City 5-2 Southampton
Sheffield United 0-2 Southampton
Everton 1-0 Southampton
Leeds United 3-0 Southampton
Bournemouth Team News
Midfielder Jefferson Lerma remains unavailable for selection after picking two bookings in the tournament. It means Ben Pearson will have to fill in the void. Shane Long is unattainable for a feature against his parent club and remains cup-tied. Lloyd Kelly remains a doubt after picking adductor problems last week.
Southampton Team News
Minamino remains ineligible for this tie who remains cup-tied after featuring for Liverpool. Fellow attackers Theo Walcott and Danny Ings might not return to action till the international break. Che Adams is on a roll after getting a Scotland call-up.
Prediction and Odds
Southampton has a chance to redeem their season with a strong FA Cup finish but will face some heat.
Correct Score: 1-2
Goals Over 2.5
Che Adams to Score
