Southampton’s survival hopes boosted with nervy Bournemouth win

Dusan Tadic scored a brace as Southampton clinched a vital 2-1 win over Bournemouth to keep their survival hopes alive and end an eight-game winless run in the Premier League.

After a nervy start from the out-of-form Saints, they took the lead from a counter-attack with Tadic grabbing his sixth goal of the season.

Mark Hughes’ side dominated the rest of the half, with Mario Lemina bossing the midfield, but were thwarted by some outstanding saves from Asmir Begovic.

And they were made to pay when the Cherries equalised on the stroke of half-time when Josh King scored from a corner after the Saints went to sleep at the back.

The hosts were able to regroup in the second period and regained the lead through Tadic’s stunning finish, his first brace since 2016.

Eddie Howe brought on Jermain Defoe and Jordon Ibe in the closing stages, but the Saints held on after a string of outstanding saves from Alex McCarthy to move within a point of 17th-placed Swansea, who host Chelsea in Saturday’s evening kick-off.

Can Sparky pull off a miracle and keep the Saints up? After Huddersfield lost to Everton and Stoke drew with Liverpool, manager Hughes will be in a more optimistic mood. They delivered a strong performance against the Cherries both going forward and defensively to give themselves a chance. And with games against Everton and Swansea City to come, albeit away from home, they will fancy those chances after ending their losing run.

Alex McCarthy (Southampton): Tadic will grab the headlines for his goals but the goalkeeper kept Saints in the game with a string of outstanding saves, particularly with his feet. McCarthy looked unbeatable in the second half and kept his cool under intense pressure in the closing stages.

Southampton: McCarthy 9, Yoshida 6, Hoedt 7, Bednarek 6, Bertrand 6, Cedric 6, Romeu 5, Lemina 8, Redmond 6, Tadic 8, Austin 6. Subs: Long 6, Hojbjerg 5, Ward-Prowse n/a.

Bournemouth: Begovic 6, Ake 5, S. Cook 6, Francis 5, Daniels 4, Gosling 4, L. Cook 6, King 7, Wilson 6, Mousset 5, Fraser 5. Subs: Defoe 5, Ibe 5, Surman n/a.

25’ - GOAL! Southampton 1-0 Bournemouth. The hosts have a three on one following a Cherries corner, Lemina picks out Tadic who keeps his cool to slot the ball home.

31’ - GOOD SAVE BY BEGOVIC: The Cherries keeper scrambles across goal to keep out Austin's shot at his near post after the striker looked to put in a cross but changed his mind.

32’ - LEMINA STRIKE: Cracking strike from Lemina 20 yards out with the outside of his left foot, forcing Begovic at full stretch to palm the ball away.

44’ - GREAT SAVE! Bournemouth have a free-kick around 25 yards out. The ball is eventually crossed into the box, it falls for Ake who shows good skill in the penalty box and fires in a shot which McCarthy saves with his leg!

45+1' - GOAL! Southampton 1-1 Bournemouth. What a time to score! From a corner, Fraser whips it into the back post and an unmarked King volleys it in from three yards out.

54’ - GOAL! Southampton 2-1 Bournemouth. Tadic wins the ball 45 yards out, drives towards the area and toe pokes it into the corner from the edge of the box. What a finish!

68’ - WHAT A CHANCE! Austin's shot towards goal falls to Long, whose effort is saved by Begovic's foot. He should have found the net from there.

90’ - GOOD SAVE! McCarthy with a good save from Cook's effort with his legs and from the rebound King blazes his effort over.

90’+3 - GREAT SAVE! Bournemouth are throwing everything forward. The keeper comes forward for the corner, the ball falls to Fraser whose effort is brilliantly palmed away by McCarthy.

Tadic is now joint top scorer for Southampton with seven goals along with Charlie Austin.

Bournemouth's last league win was March 17th against West Brom.