Dangerous game from Ryan Fraser. The Bournemouth winger casually knocks the ball back towards his keeper Asmir Begovic, but the pass is loose and a trio of red and white shirts are lurking. But Begovic is sharp and boots clear.

Efan Ekoku
Former Nigeria & Bournemouth striker on BBC Radio 5 live

Tadic and Redmond will be important for Southampton today. They have good protection in Lemina and Romeu in midfield, so Mark Hughes, I would hope he said to them they have less defensive responsibility, and that this is a game where attack is the best form of defence.

That's got St Mary's rocking...

Much better from Saints! Dusan Tadic dances into the box on the left, beating a couple of defenders and then pulling back to Ryan Bertrand.

"Shooooot!" is the cry. That's what he does, only for Steve Cook to bravely block with a despairing dive. Oriol Romeu's follow-up is also blocked by Simon Francis and Bournemouth survive.

Image source, PA

John Collison: Come on Saints. Need a positive start. No time for nerves.

Image source, Reuters

Luckily for Jan Bednarek, Bournemouth can't make that corner count. Saints clear, Bednarek breathes a huge sigh of relief.

Ooooh, jingle jangle. Those Saints nerves have not been settled. Cherries forward Lys Mousset knocks in a hopeful cross from the right and Saints defender Jan Bednarek, without a Bournemouth shirt near him, plants the ball out for a corner...

Image source, Getty Images

Groans from the home crowd after an early opening is wasted. Nathan Redmond scampers into space in the left channel, looks up to see Charlie Austin in support, only to play the pass too far in front of his forward partner. Bournemouth clear.

Easy pickings for Saints keeper Alex McCarthy. The corner is played short by Lewis Cook to Ryan Fraser, who lays the ball back to skipper Simon Francis. His cross is too close to McCarthy though, and he leaps to gather comfortably.

Callum WIlson peels off down the right flank, whipping in a cross which is diverted out for a Cherries corner. First one of the day...

After a moment's pause, referee Anthony Taylor decides that challenge from Lewis Cook warrants further punishment. The Cherries midfielder sees his name written into Taylor's notebook. Harsh.

Image source, Reuters

Ouch. Dusan Tadic has an anguished look on his face. He's caught late by Lewis Cook - accidentally I think - but goes down in pain and clutches his ankle.

Saints enjoy an early bit of possession, without getting across the halfway line. That ends when Wesley Hoedt spoons a pass out of play under pressure from Lys Mousset. Nervy.

"Oh when the Saints go marching in...."

The home fans stretch their vocal cords as Bournemouth's Dan Gosling has the honour of kicking off the action.

Game on!

Steve Wilson
Match of the Day commentator

These two South Coast neighbours have never played a more important match. Southampton's survival almost certainly rests upon them winning this game and their visit to Swansea in early May, at the very least.

They finish their season at home to Manchester City, so good luck if they need to win that.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth are looking for another top-half finish despite having been in the bottom three - five places below Southampton - at Christmas.

Eddie Howe's team have since taken 22 points, compared to Southampton's 10. Is Howe a contender for the manager's job at Arsenal? For the good of English coaching you'd like to think so - though Cherries' fans will certainly hope not.

Blimey, St Mary's has filled up quickly. Barely a spare seat in the house now as the players march out.

The home fans have only seen one league win here since November. That must change today you feel if they are to avoid a return to the Championship after six seasons in the top-flight.

Jermaine Jenas
Former England midfielder on Football Focus

I feel weirdly positive about Southampton, I think they've played well for periods of games in the last couple of weeks - they just need to perform for a full 90 minutes. But saying that, it's a big, big ask, and if they don't win today I won't be feeling so positive anymore.

Seven Nation Army is pumping out of the PA system to get the Saints fans - many armed with plastic clappers - going. Jack and Meg White must have made double their money from football clubs in the past few seasons...

No head nodding in the St Mary's tunnel as the two players line up side by side. Only game faces.

Image source, Getty Images

The relegation battle has drawn in everyone up to 11th spot, with even Bournemouth still wary of their top-flight future.

"This game is huge on many levels, the fact of who we're playing and what it means to the football club but, more than that, for our season," said Cherries boss Eddie Howe.

"(I'm) desperate for us to consolidate ourselves as a Premier League club. We've still got to get over the line.

"We haven't beaten them at their stadium and I think that's another motivation for us, it's another thing we would love to do."

Still a sea of red seats in the main stand at St Mary's. Imagine those bums who are going to occupy them are still troughing on some hospitality grub.

Those who are sitting outside are wrapped up in big coats, woolly hats and scarves in the main. It's almost May. May.