Saints ready for south-coast set-to
RALPH Hasenhuttl is determined to underline Southampton’s place as the south coast’s number one side at embattled Bournemouth today.
Saints have long been safe from Premier League relegation – a position few could have foreseen when they lost 9-0 at home to Leicester at the end of October.
But Hasenhuttl has overseen a remarkable turnaround at St Mary’s, and his side have impressed lately despite having very little to play for.
The Austrian’s push to end the season strongly continues at neighbours Bournemouth, who can ill-afford defeat in their penultimate match of the season given they are three points from safety.
“Every player has his own story for why we want to win against this club,” said Hasenhuttl, who oversaw a 4-0 win at arch south-coast rivals Portsmouth in September’s Carabao Cup clash.
“Like always, you want to show who is number one on the south coast.
“After the first game we were far behind them in the table and now we are high above them.
“But I always like to concentrate on the things I can change on the pitch, to find tools that give you a chance to win the game.
“This is for me very often more important than finding the motivation to beat them. It is not necessary in this game I don’t think.”
Saints lost the reverse fixture 3-1 at St Mary’s in September, when Bournemouth moved up to third in the Premier League and celebrated wildly.
The Cherries are looking for their first league double against Southampton, with the way Eddie Howe’s men won against Leicester last weekend and then pushed Manchester City close underlining their threat.