AFC Bournemouth’s five-year stay in England’s top flight (the club’s first stint in its 121-year history) is almost certainly at an end following Sunday’s 2-0 loss to South Coast rivals Southampton. The match-winner was scored by Danny Ings, taking his total to 21 on the season and just two behind Jamie Vardy in the Premier League Golden Boot race.
In a must-win — or at least draw — match for Eddie Howe’s side, it was 12th-place Southampton that dominated proceedings and earned its ultimate reward in the 41st minute thanks to Ings' precise finish from 18 yards out.
Things went from bad to worse in the 59th minute when Ings stepped up to take a penalty following a Bournemouth handball, but goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale came up huge with the save (one of seven on the day) to keep the Cherries hopes alive.
But it’s the hope that kills.
With one minute of second half stoppage time remaining, Bournemouth looked to have found the equalizer through Sam Surride after a mad scramble in the box. However, the VAR check revealed that Callum Wilson had been offside in the buildup and it was disallowed.
Moments later, Che Adams gave Southampton its second goal to unilaterally crush Bournemouth’s spirit.
Bournemouth needs a lot to go its way over the next week.
In order to survive, Bournemouth needs Watford to lose to Manchester City on Tuesday before losing again to Arsenal next Sunday. Bournemouth, on the other hand, needs to beat Everton next Sunday. While those three things all must happen, Bournemouth also needs to match or better Watford’s goal difference. Bournemouth is now at negative 27, Watford at negative 23.
The only good news for Bournemouth is that Watford has just inexplicably fired manager Nigel Pearson after he engineered his side’s move from 20th in the table to 17th.
