Southampton vs Bournemouth

Team News

Southampton

• Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has a number of injured players to check on ahead of Saturday’s match with south coast rivals Bournemouth.
• Shane Long scored the fastest goal in Premier League history in midweek, with OPTA clocking his strike against Watford after seven seconds. He picked up a knock later in the match and is a doubt here.
• Defensive duo Jannik Vestergaard and Matt Targett are also injury concerns, while Alex McCarthy has a small problem as well.
• Yan Valery at least returned from injury in midweek and will hope to earn back his starting berth this weekend.

Team News

Bournemouth

• Junior Stanislas was forced to play at right-back last weekend as Eddie Howe had no one else to call on and now he is out for four months with another knee injury. Adam Smith is again ruled out for the Cherries, while Nathaniel Clyne faces a late fitness test.

• Southampton start the weekend six points clear of relegation with nine points left to play for. They aren’t completely safe but it would be a shock if they were relegated from this point.
• After thrashing Brighton 5-0, Bournemouth then slipped to a shock 1-0 defeat to already-relegated Fulham. It’s that lack of consistency that will anger Eddie Howe the most.
• The reverse fixture was a 0-0 draw and both teams will be desperate to win the final derby of the season. Southampton are unbeaten in their last five home matches against Bournemouth (W4, D1) and will be out to prolong that streak on Saturday.