Bournemouth’s brutal season continues as Saints ease to Wembley semi final

Bournemouth missed out on a place in the last four of the FA Cup but it wasn’t without fight, ultimately, their brutal Championship campaign has caught up with them.

They do boast one of the best squads in the Championship but they were without regular starters, Lewis Cook, Adam Smith, Lloyd Kelly, David Brooks, Junior Stanislas and Jefferson Lerma for the 3-0 defeat to Southampton at the Vitality Stadium.

They couldn’t even call upon the experience of striker Shane Long due to the Cherries coming up against the Republic of Ireland international’s parent club, Southampton.

Injuries are part and parcel of the game and have been more common for a lot of clubs this season but you can’t help but feel if they had of had some of those key men available to them, they would have been more competitive.

There are some real promising youngsters coming through at the club and due to the options being stretched, a lot of these players were involved but they could only name eight replacements, with the most senior of these being Chris Mepham who is just 23-years-old.

Jonathan Woodgate did introduce Mepham, Sam Surridge, Jaidon Anthony and Gavin Kilkenny in the second period in hope that the younger, fresh legs could have made a difference but it proved not to be the case.

Whilst the club were easy winners in midweek against Swansea City, their opponents Southampton had a full week to prepare for the clash and it definitely came into it, particularly in the second half.

As much as the Cherries missed their key players, Southampton showed their Premier League quality. largely in the form of Nathan Redmond who scored two and laid on the other in a superb performance from the 27-year-old.

Since Woodgate has been in charge of the side, there has been just one free midweek and it has ultimately taken its toll in recent weeks with the squad being heavily depleted. However, the two weeks off for the international break should offer the Cherries’ boss an opportunity to get a lot of those back to fitness.

Woodgate admitted in his post-match press conference following the game that his side are feeling the affects of a brutal Championship campaign and have now played 43 games in all competitions.

“The players are absolutely knackered, to be honest with you.

“We’ve played Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Wednesday for God knows how long. It’s been difficult.

“They’ve got some exceptional players in their team. We just looked knackered, out on our feet to be honest with you.

“Southampton were more clinical in the box and showed some exceptional finishing.”

Woodgate’s side began the clash strongly, particularly in the first ten minutes but Saints’ quality showed as the first half grew with Redmond in particular proving to be the difference between the two sides.

Despite being three goals to the good on the hour mark, it was Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side who were looking for more goals as the Cherries recent schedule, which has seen them play 15 times in just 54 days since the last week of January, proved costly. The looming break will undoubtedly be most welcome by Woodgate.

This was the first meeting between the two sides since the penultimate game of last season when the Saints claimed a 2-0 victory. but the Cherries squad was incredibly stretched in this cup tie and you almost felt that this was a game too far for the Dorset club who will be thankful for the two week break which is now coming.

They now have nearly two weeks to get set for a crucial clash against Middlesbrough at the Vitality Stadium on Good Friday, knowing that they should have a number of players back available for selection as the run in to the end of the season begins.

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