Bournemouth 'on track' as Southampton stallpublished at 12:54 2 October
Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport senior journalist
Bournemouth’s stadium announcer Mike Botto found some unlikely national attention on social media after Monday’s 3-1 win over Southampton.
With the game in stoppage time and the Cherries strolling to victory, Botto’s announcement that the 11.15pm train back to Southampton had been cancelled, had away fans heading for the exit gates (if they weren’t already) and provoked one of the biggest cheers of the night, later circulated on video clips.
But on the pitch, Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth were the ones keeping their season on track, setting a fast pace along the rails like a slick TGV, while Russell Martin’s Saints remained frustratingly stopped at a red signal, awaiting their first win since returning to the Premier League.
Martin’s style of play, painstakingly playing the ball out from the back, seemed to play into Bournemouth’s hands as Iraola’s high-energy, high-pressing Cherries conjured a 3-0 lead by half-time.
Indeed, Martin’s managerial record against Bournemouth (taking in matches in charge of Milton Keynes, Swansea and Southampton) now reads: played four, lost three, drawn one, goals scored four, goals conceded 15.
As well as a comfortable win, Cherries supporters were also able to watch record signing Evanilson open his account for his new club, volleying in the opener after quick thinking and a delicate chip by Marcus Tavernier left the visiting defence flat-footed. The Brazilian striker was also involved in the five-player move that led to Antoine Semenyo’s third.
Looking at the table, Bournemouth in 11th place have so far lost to Liverpool (first) and Chelsea (fourth), drawn with Newcastle (fifth) and Nottingham Forest (10th), and beaten Everton (16th) and Southampton (19th).
And they will be hoping, trains permitting, it will be full steam ahead once more at Leicester (17th) on Saturday.