Jan Bednarek
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Jan Bednarek says’Difficult when you see the gap getting bigger’ as relegation looms for Southampton #SaintsFC

April 13, 2023
Hardly the greatest surprise, Saints were swept aside by Man City despite a promising opening half, and while the distance to safety remains at four points, Bednarek and his side are on the brink of being cut adrift in the relegation battle. Following victories over the weekend for Crystal Palace, Wolves, West Ham, and Bournemouth, there are now only three other teams within four points of Saints - Leicester in 19th, Nottingham Forest in 18th, and Everton in 17th. With fixtures still to play against Arsenal, Newcastle, Brighton, and Liverpool - the first of those three all away from home - failure to beat Crystal Palace on Saturday could spell the end of Saints’ realistic survival chances.  READ MORE: 'No conviction' - Bednarek laments Saints scoring struggles after Man City chance “It’s difficult when you see the gap is getting bigger,” Bednarek admitted after the 4-1 loss to Man City.  “But I think we just have to stay positive. We are a very young team, we are learning a lot, we have a very good coach. We just have to learn and live with it. It’s tough for everyone, we want to get results, and hopefully, next week we can do it.” Saints made life difficult for Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions in the first half at St Mary’s, in particular keeping Premier League top scorer Erling Haaland quiet as the Norwegian racked up the fewest touches of any player on the pitch through 44 minutes. But on the stroke of half-time, Haaland latched onto Kevin De Bruyne’s cross to head City in front before Jack Grealish doubled their advantage after the interval. Haaland then added a third with an acrobatic finish to finish the contest in earnest. “Every Premier League team has a lot of quality, every team has very good strikers,” Bednarek said of the challenge of coming up against Haaland who now has 30 Premier League goals in his maiden campaign in England.  “We can’t be too concerned about the opposition. Of course, we have to analyse them, have to know their strengths and weaknesses and this is what we try to do.  “We have to go into the game with a game plan and focus on what we can do. I think in the first half we did our plan very well, we knew what to do, I think we were very good but 45 minutes is not enough.” Crystal Palace will arrive at St Mary's with renewed momentum of their own under Roy Hodgson following last weekend's 5-1 win at Elland Road.
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton boss Ruben Selles claims ‘I don’t waste my time watching the table’ #SAINTSFC

April 12, 2023
Saturday's 4-1 defeat to Manchester City leaves Saints rooted to the bottom of the table, although the gap to safety remains at four points. However, with victories over the weekend for Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Wolves, and West Ham, Saints are threatening to be cut adrift. READ MORE: 'No conviction' Bednarek laments Saints scoring struggles after Man City chance But asked about that possibility, Selles responded: "No, I don't waste my time watching the table, I think this is for a lot of other people. "I look at my team, I try to get the very best of the situation. And we are still there, we are still alive, we can put some good performances on like today. "I believe in what we are doing. And we are going to continue doing and continuing with it. Because we know also it is just one game. In one game, we are there." Sandwiched either side of a tough away trip to league-leaders Arsenal, Saints host Crystal Palace and Bournemouth with the pair of St Mary's fixtures potentially decisive for their survival aspirations. "I think the positive thing is that we showed that we are a team that can compete against anybody for a big part of the game, and against anybody, we showed it before during the last two months," Selles added.  "I think it's also created for the unity between the technical staff and the players and we understand each other, they get the message and they execute the message. "So that means everybody is working hard. We are going to be together until the very end of the season trying to be the very best."
Jan Bednarek
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton defender Jan Bednarek on attacking issues after Man City defeat #SAINTSFC

April 12, 2023
Facing the reigning champions, Saints gave themselves a real chance with a diligent and spirited first half display but they failed to take the chances they created before Haaland headed the visitors in front just before the interval. From that point City cruised to victory as Jack Grealish doubled the advantage before Haaland made it 3-0 with his 30th league goal of the season. Sekou Mara got one back for Saints but the renaissance proved short-lived as Julian Alvaraz almost immediately responded from the penalty spot. READ MORE: 'Brilliant' - Man City boss Guardiola has say on Saints approach in eventual defeat The result leaves Saints bottom of the Premier League table, four points adrift of safety and despite any positive moments, it’s concrete results that they need. “Yes, it’s difficult for us,” Bednarek told the Daily Echo when asked if Saints are running out of time to save their Premier League status.  “We have a good game, we have moments when we play very well but I think we’re just not consistent enough. For the first 45 minutes we were very good but I think that’s not enough against top teams in the world. 45 minutes is not enough, 44 minutes is not enough. So this is what we have to learn as a team.  “We need to find a way to play like that for 90 minutes and to do that we need to keep the ball more, we have to have more possession. Because I feel like against those teams, we need to get them tired as well. "Because when they lose the ball they’re sharp enough and fresh enough to take it back and create chances. It’s a big lesson for us and we need to learn. We need to learn, improve, and stay positive. Jan Bednarek watches on as Julian Alvarez makes it 4-1 from the penalty spot. (Image: Stuart Martin) “I think we had a few really good chances that we could turn into a goal but it wasn’t enough because there was no conviction, we were not ruthless enough. And against top top teams, if you have one or two chances, you have to score a goal.” Only Everton have scored fewer Premier League goals than Saints this season while they have averaged less than a goal per game under Ruben Selles. Amongst a number of potential openings, Saints best chance of the first half fell to the feet of Kamaldeen Sulemana who only had Ederson to beat after bursting past Nathan Ake on a one-man counter-attack. But the Saints winger miscontrolled his touch at the crucial moment and City were able to clear. Saints were then brutally punished for their profligacy by Haaland and Guardiola’s expensively-assembled attack. “It’s tough, of course, it’s tough to play against Man City, they are one of the best teams in the world,” Bednarek added. “But I think you have to play with no fear and no respect and just do what you can do and have a good plan.  “I think that’s what we did in the first half. We played really well, we were brave with our high-pressing, I think we were too surprised with the chances we had. "If we were convinced and ready for the chances we had then I think we could have scored a few goals. So that was the main issue in the first half - the quality.  “At the end of the first half, the goal was the issue. In the second half, they had more chances, more space and managed the game really well. We have to keep on going and learn from it - that’s it.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil admires Chris Mepham for good performance against Leicester City #AFCB

April 12, 2023
Having played a bit-part role for much of last season, Mepham was a key figure for Cherries during the early months of this campaign. He missed just eight minutes of the club’s first 14 Premier League matches of this campaign, also penning a new contract in September, tying him to the club until 2025. However, following the World Cup break, during which time Mepham competed with Wales in Qatar, he has found himself in and out of the side. That culminated in a four-game run across March and April where the centre-back played no minutes, not even making the bench for games against Fulham and Brighton. Jack Stephens and Marcos Senesi have been the preferred defensive pair, with January signing Illia Zabarnyi the cover on the bench. But following an injury to Senesi, Mepham was brought out of the cold and straight back into action, impressing in Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Leicester City, with a couple of vital defensive interventions. Discussing the 25-year-old’s performance at King Power Stadium, after his spell watching from the stands, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “It is because of his reaction to being left out really. “We had everyone fit, pretty much, and we’re going to have to leave two big players out from squads at that moment. “It happened to be Meps for a number of reasons – tactical, what the opposition might bring, some of the other balance that we needed. “He reacted excellently from that moment. “He trained incredibly well last week and the way he approached it sort of made my decision for me (on Saturday), with who we put in to replace Marcos. “You only get a performance (on Saturday) like that if you’ve done the work. “Meps has kept himself ready and when his opportunity has come, he’s able to show what a good player he is.” Cherries climbed out of the relegation zone with victory at Leicester, the fourth time they have collected maximum points in their last eight fixtures. Asked what the mood was like in the dressing room at full-time on Saturday, O’Neil said: “They’re happy in there, they’re enjoying themselves. “A few cups a tea, a bit of music on. They’re having a good time!” “The lads have won four of the last eight games in the Premier League, so they’re in a good spot.” Cherries return to action on Saturday, with a trip to Tottenham Hotspur (3pm).
James Ward Prowse
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton captain James Ward Prowse reflects on ‘terrific’ support despite Man City loss #SAINTSFC

April 10, 2023
Their latest defeat leaves Saints rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table, four points adrift of safety with eight games to go. And despite the increasingly darkening situation, Saints fans once again turned out en-masse for their team, something that didn’t go unnoticed by Ward-Prowse. “I think they’ve been terrific all season,” the Saints captain told club media after Man City’s 4-1 win.  “We’ve not given them a lot to shout about and that’s down to us but we’ve still got a chance to put it right and we’ll make sure that we, regardless of the result, will give ourselves an opportunity and a chance to stay in the Premier League.” READ MORE: 'Works for Guardiola' - Selles has say on De Bruyne's Saints striker claim Saints held their own for much of the first half against the reigning champions before Erling Haaland headed the visitors in front shortly before the break. Jack Grealish then doubled the advantage before Haaland notched his 30th league goal of the season. Sekou Mara made it 3-1 with just under 20 minutes left to play but any Saints hope was short-lived as Julian Alvarez wrapped things up from the penalty spot moments later. James Ward-Prowse in action against Man City. (Image: PA) “Of course, it was a difficult game,” Ward-Prowse said. “We’re playing up against a world class side. You need everything in the game. You need a bit of luck. You need good defending, and you have to take your chances. “I think that was the only thing that was missing for us in the first half was just that killer instinct. I think we had a few good opportunities, but we have to take them, and the timing of their goal was crucial for them and took the wind out of our sails. “The game got away from us in the second half. It’s a disappointing day. “I think we always enjoy playing City because it’s a team that wants to play. It gives us an opportunity to press and be aggressive. I think we did that at times today and we put them on the back foot but in those crucial moments we need to take our chances and we failed to do that today.” Saints now have a week to prepare for another huge game in their battle to avoid the drop as Crystal Palace visit St Mary’s next weekend. With Saints still set to play Arsenal, Brighton, Liverpool, and Newcastle, there is immense pressure on Selles’s side to beat Palace and ignite their safety bid. “I think every game we debrief. We have a look at what went well and what we can improve so we’ll do that tomorrow and look forward to next week,” Ward-Prowse added. “Every game is crucial for us now. It’s important for us not to get too down today. Of course, you’re up against a world class side, you have to take the lessons and the learnings from it but get back together tomorrow and look forward to next weekend.”
chris mepham Bournemouth
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Chris Mepham on win over Leicester City in relegation battle #AFCB

April 10, 2023
Restored to the starting XI following the injury to Marcos Senesi, Welsh international Mepham put in an assured performance at centre-half to help Cherries defeat the Foxes at the King Power on Saturday. After being omitted from the squad for the fixtures directly preceding the trip to Leicester, a win over  Fulham and defeat to Brighton, the former Brentford man seamlessly slotted back into the side. Discussing the result with BBC Radio Solent, Mepham began: “It's a massive win. Although we lost last game, I think we're in a good place at the minute. “I think even against Brighton, we caused them some problems, probably not as much as what we would have wanted. “Coming here today, we know it's a massive game and it was important that we were at our 100 per cent best to get anything from the game. “And I thought from minute one, we stamped our authority. “I thought first half especially, we controlled the game, I thought it was in complete control. “And then second half, we knew they were going to come out with a reaction and it was just a case of, could we sustain that pressure and limit them to a few chances. “And I thought we'd done that very well. “I think any game’s obviously important, but when you're playing teams around you, there's a lot of people that see them as six pointers. “It is important and like I said, I think we can enjoy this week. I thought we worked really hard (against Leicester) and now we just need to make sure we keep our foot on the pedal and go again next Saturday.”A peripheral figure under Scott Parker in the Championship last term, Mepham re-established himself as a first-team regular before again losing his spot to Jack Stephens following the break for the World Cup in November. Asked about the challenges of being thrown straight back into the thick of it following a spell out of the team, Mepham replied: “It’s tough. It's a rollercoaster of emotions, and mentally, it's tough to go from sat in the stands to starting a game. “But I think one thing I've learned from this when I've been here before is that it's so important just to stay ready. “ I think you drop your standards in training, it will show in the match when you do get called upon. “So I think the way I've gone about it and the way I've trained since being left out of squads, I think it's given me an opportunity to, one, be in the squad and two, do well when I'm called upon. “And I think it's important that everyone sees it like that, however frustrating it is.”
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ruben Selles insists Southampton are ‘front-footed’ but cannot ‘go crazy’ #SAINTSFC

April 9, 2023
Manchester City scored four past his team as Sekou Mara posted one in response, in a 4-1 defeat at St Mary’s this weekend. Saints have scored six goals in eight Premier League games under Selles, including a 3-3 draw with Tottenham Hotspur before the last international break. Selles also started without a recognised number nine for the clash with City, which sees them remain bottom of the table and four points adrift with eight games to play. When speaking after the match, Selles was asked if his side will need to take their foot off the brakes and look to have more attacking intent if they are to win matches. “We always go on the front foot but we cannot go crazy on the front foot and open up spaces,” the Spaniard responded. “Like today, for example, we can go high and apply the pressure – but if we are not organised we will never do it. “We will still have the same approach really, we know we are competitive and know we can compete against anybody. “So it is to take the same approach, to believe in what we are doing and to try and play with what we think is the correct thing.” He added: “We know if we are a team that just kicks it long and goes for the second action we will go nowhere. “We have been building an identity now for two months and we have a team in which you can recognise how Southampton wants to do things. “That’s where we are, we need to be proud of what we do. I think we are, and the connections will be there and we will be competitive and get more points for sure.” Saints return to action on Saturday, April 15 (3PM) when they welcome Crystal Palace, managed again by Roy Hodgson, to St Mary’s.  
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil reaction to Bournemouth win over Leicester #AFCB

April 9, 2023
Cherries lifted themselves back out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win at King Power Stadium, thanks to Philip Billing’s first-half strike. The visitors had plenty more opportunities to kill off the contest against their struggling hosts, before having to survive some nervy moments in the closing stages. Discussing his team’s display, boss O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I was pleased with a lot of it. I think it should’ve been more comfortable probably, score-line wise. “But the by-product of it staying at 1-0 meant that in the end, Leicester are going to throw caution to the wind and you’re going to have to show a resilience and a gritty determination to make sure you leave here with three points that you definitely deserve. The lads managed to do that. “I was pleased with the football, up until maybe the hour mark and the chances we created. We just needed to be more clinical and then it could’ve been a lot more comfortable.” Reflecting on the chances squandered to double the lead, O’Neil added: “I can’t remember them exactly now, but it felt like there were some moments where you were feeling that’s got to go in that one. “And then the rebound was there for us as well. We played well. “We played through our structure very well. The lads understood it well today. “And then when we had to, because we didn’t take our chances, we managed to show, as we know the lads will already, they gave absolutely everything to a man to ensure that we came away with three points.” He added: “There is still work to be done, because we need to make sure that we take our chances. “On another day there could be a slip, there could be a set-play goal, a deflection, something that could happen that meant we only leave with one point, which would’ve been a travesty really from how comfortable we were.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil explains Dango Ouattara’s withdrawal against Leicester #AFCB

April 9, 2023
Ouattara struggled at King Power Stadium, with Marcus Tavernier warming up on the sidelines from early in the contest. O’Neil made the switch on 38 minutes, Tavernier coming on for Ouattara on the left wing. Two minutes later, Philip Billing scored what proved to be the only goal of the contest. Quizzed on why he made the early switch, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “It was just a tactical thing. I just felt it would be better for the team.” Asked if he regretted starting Ouattara, given Tavernier was seen out warming up early in the contest, O’Neil said: “I hadn’t asked Tav to warm up. I’m guessing the subs were warming up because they were just warming up. “Obviously we have to be careful with Tav at the moment. “I just decided at 33 minutes or whenever it was that wasn’t the time to be careful with Tav anymore and played him for maybe slightly longer than we should have. “But I felt there was a real opportunity for us today to grasp a big win. “So, nothing against Dango at all. He works his socks off, always. He’s an honest lad. “Obviously he’s only just arrived. He’s had an incredible impact on the group. His number of assists, his work-rate. Today I just felt like Tav would be able to give us something down that side.” O’Neil added: “I felt there was an opportunity of us in that first half. I felt we needed to show a little bit more of an urgency, even though we had control. “That was my thinking behind the substitution. Tav was generally only meant to come on at half-time, or later. “I just felt we needed some urgency and punish Leicester in that first half really, where we had so much control. “Because at half time they can fix a few things and the second half doesn’t always look the same. So it was important we managed to get a goal at that point.”
Jan Bednarek
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton’s Jan Bednarek admits loss to West Ham still hurts #SAINTSFC

April 8, 2023
Despite missing City’s last game against Liverpool with a groin injury, Haaland has since trained and is set to travel to St Mary’s to try to add to his 28 Premier League goals this season. In an exclusive interview with the Daily Echo, Bednarek said: “I think every week we have to face a very good and strong striker, so I’m not really trying to think about it or focus on Haaland. “I’m trying to focus on the opposition (as a whole). I need to focus on what I do in the game, but more importantly on how we perform and how we’re going to make it tough for them.” The Norwegian talisman will look to pile on the misery for a Saints side who are winless in four and sitting bottom of the Premier League with just nine games still to play. Bednarek reflected on last weekend's narrow 1-0 loss to West Ham, saying: “It’s a bit frustrating because fine margins decided the game. "I think we controlled the game and possession, but we were not creative in the final third. We missed some vision in the last third, but again, set-pieces decided it. "So we have to work on it, but the spirit is there - we believe we can get the result against City.” Despite only being 26 years old, Bednarek is one of the most experienced players in young Saints dressing room, and the Polish centre-back now has six seasons of Premier League experience after debuting under Mark Hughes in 2018. When asked about his senior duties behind closed doors, Bednarek called upon the younger players to show leadership too, saying: “I think every player needs to take their responsibilities. "Not only the older players but the younger players as well. We are in the Premier League and the standards that we demand from each other are very high. "We need to understand that just because someone is young, it doesn’t mean that they can’t do everything and play the best that they can. The older players try to help the younger ones, but we need the leadership and support from all of the players.” Only five home games remain for Saints in the Premier League run-in, with St Mary’s playing host to Crystal Palace, AFC Bournemouth, Fulham and Liverpool after the City fixture. Bednarek stressed the impact that the fans can have and called upon them to back the team through these tough fixtures, saying: “They are important for every game. “We need backup from the fans, there will be tough moments, especially against a team like City, so we need our fans on our side and hopefully together we can win this game.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil believes Marcus Tavernier is getting closer to starting line up #AFCB

April 8, 2023
Following a second spell on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury, Tavernier returned with a bang against Fulham last weekend. Introduced off the bench, the former Middlesbrough man smashed in a stunning equaliser as Cherries went on to win 2-1. Tavernier was again named among the substitutes on Tuesday night, coming on for the final half an hour of the 2-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion. Asked how close the 24-year-old now is to starting a game for Cherries, O’Neil said: “He’s closer. He’s had two decent sub appearances, so we’ll see how he’s feeling in the morning. “Hopefully we can get him in the starting XI soon.” Asked if he is erring on the side of caution to avoid Tavernier suffering a setback, O’Neil added: “We have people at the club who are specialised in that area. “So of course I’ll listen to the advice and speak to Tav himself, see how he’s feeling and try and make a real good decision on it. “Everyone would love Tav to have been available for 90 minutes in the last two games, of course. “But it’s also important that Tav is available for the rest of the season. “We need to handle it correctly, but he’s come through another good week. “There’s potential that he could play a big part at Leicester tomorrow.” Cherries’ head coach continued: “There’s a lot that he can bring that could be a difference. “The group has been doing okay already, but he’s a lovely addition to add to it. “He’s a great lad. He brings enthusiasm, a buzz around the place, as well as his quality, his athleticism. “He’ll be a big player for us, of course. He’s getting fitter by the day. He’ll be back in full throttle in no time at all.” Asked how much of a setback losing to Brighton was ahead of the big trip to fellow relegation-threatened Leicester, O’Neil said: “Performance-wise, you can win Premier League matches performing like we did on Tuesday night.”
Lloyd Kelly
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Lloyd Kelly reveals Bournemouth squad were angry after Brighton loss #AFCB

April 6, 2023
Following back-to-back home wins over Liverpool and Fulham, Cherries could not repeat the trick against Roberto De Zerbi’s in-form Seagulls. Brighton have now lost just one of 15 games in 2023, moving to within four points of the Premier League’s top four and booking their spot in the FA Cup semi-finals along the way. Goals from teenagers Evan Ferguson and Julio Enciso were enough to defeat Gary O’Neil’s men on Tuesday night, the loss plunging Cherries back into the relegation zone with nine games to play. Reflecting on the defeat at Vitality Stadium, Kelly said: “It was a tough game. We knew coming into the game it was going to be tough. “We know how they play, the philosophy that their manager wants to play. “I think it was a difficult first half, but saying that, we applied pressure second half and when you’re chasing the game like we were, you’re going to open yourself up to them maybe scoring a second. “But of course we’re angry at ourselves for the result and we’ve got to turn it around.” Asked if there was frustration over missed chances, with Hamed Traore squandering the clearest opening and Dominic Solanke also going close on multiple occasions, Kelly added: “For sure. When you look at the xG (expected goals) throughout the game, I think we were able to get in the final third and maybe it was just the last pass or picking someone out in the final area, the final third. “I think we got into those areas, but it’s just that final decision.” Of Cherries’ final nine games this season, six will come against clubs they are directly battling against to avoid the drop. That starts this Saturday, when O’Neil takes his side to King Power Stadium to face Leicester City. Asked if belief remains high among the squad of staying in the Premier League, Kelly insisted: “Yes, of course. “We’re disappointed with the result now, but it doesn’t waver our minds at all to be honest. “We know we have the quality to stay up this year and we’re going to give it our all until the very last game, if it comes to that.” After a spell out of the side due to injury, Kelly has started the last four matches at left-back. In February, boss Gary O’Neil opted to replace the 24-year-old as captain of the club, with experienced goalkeeper Neto instead taking the armband.
Neto
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Neto believes Brighton’s Evan Ferguson goal at Bournemouth was ‘really strange’ after defeat against them #AFCB

April 6, 2023
Cherries fell back into the relegation zone after a 2-0 defeat to Roberto De Zerbi’s Seagulls on Tuesday night. Brighton took the lead on 28 minutes, in-form striker Evan Ferguson improvising to turn home Kaoru Mitoma’s low cross. Julio Enciso then made sure of the victory in second-half stoppage-time, after both sides squandered earlier opportunities. Reflecting on the defeat, goalkeeper Neto told BBC Radio Solent: “Of course a little bit disappointed because we created many chances and had many opportunities. “I think until the end they (Brighton) didn’t create a lot. Of course, they always had the ball because that is their style. “But the three or four opportunities that we created, if we score, the game could be completely different. “We have to look forward, we have to keep going, we can’t stop here. We know what we are fighting for. It was difficult, they are a good team.” On Republic of Ireland international Ferguson’s opener, Neto said: “They scored a really strange goal, their first goal. “Then we start from 1-0 and create one or two and didn’t score. That feeling of the situation that we are living is not the best, but we have to keep going. “We created many chances. If we create these chances in another game, 100 per cent we will have the possibility to win. We depend just on ourselves. “The performance I think was very good. Our team ran and gave it 100 per cent, so we are frustrated about it. “Brighton are a good team. Not all teams play like them, they keep the ball. It is not good to play against them. We spent a lot physically and we had to run too much. “Saturday is a different game. It is a big final for us.” Cherries head to another side in the relegation zone in Leicester City on Saturday (3pm).
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton manager Ruben Selles responds to another bizarre VAR incident #SAINTSFC

April 4, 2023
Play was paused for over four minutes during the eventual 1-0 defeat at London Stadium, as VAR overturned an offside decision for West Ham’s winner. Nayef Aguerd climbed highest to head in from a Thilo Kehrer free-kick but after an on-field offside decision, VAR assessed the call for over four minutes. They eventually determined the goal would stand and Saints never got going again in the capital, after a promising opening 25 minutes in the relegation six-pointer. Speaking after the match that condemned his side to remain bottom of the Premier League, Saints manager Selles was quick to deflect talk from the official’s decisions. Asked if the lengthy delay affected his side’s mentality, Selles responded: “It should not. It should not because this is modern football with the VAR. Could've had a three course meal by the time VAR made a decision pic.twitter.com/XIsmuuALhD — West Ham Unofficial (@WH_Unofficial) April 2, 2023 “We know those situations are coming and we need to be ready for that and in the same way they can be for you and can be against you. “As I understood, I didn't want the goal back, but the referee told me that they were checking different angles because it was not clear that he was onside or offside.” Selles added: "We need to be ready to continue doing the things that we have been doing until that exact moment because they didn't change their approach. “So we need to be strong in those things. And I don't think it was the four minutes, I think it was the goal per se that changed our mentality." Some also suggested that Saints were unlucky for the awarding of the foul in the first place, which saw Duje Caleta-Car punished for the action on Jarrod Bowen. The England international ran into the Croat before going down, with the opposing suggestion being Caleta-Car could not reasonably get out of the way. West Ham players, some stood in offside positions, were then used to block the Saints defenders who travelled towards Aguerd and the crossed delivery. "Not any complaints,” Selles said, however. "We know how it is and we know that the decision was there, we need to defend the situation better and then we need to be able to take those blocks because we expected that. “So it's nothing that is coming new or anything. For me, and I say from the very beginning, referees do their job and sometimes the decision is going to go for you and sometimes it's not. “I don't think that anybody is trying to hurt us or anything. Today was a decision for them. We respect that decision and we will follow it and nothing to say about that."
Joe Rothwell
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Joe Rothwell on competition for starting spot #AFCB

April 4, 2023
After arriving on a free transfer in the summer following his departure from Blackburn Rovers, Rothwell is currently enjoying his longest spell in the Cherries team, featuring in all but one of the previous 12 fixtures and starting the last four games. Considering it took until October for the former Oxford United man to make his Cherries debut following a quad injury, it seemed like Rothwell would be a bit-part player this campaign. The arrival of further players in January seemingly reduced his chances further, but since the end of the window, Rothwell has earnt the bulk of his minutes this campaign. Asked if he took personal pride in earning a starting spot despite the influx of January signings, Rothwell told the Daily Echo: “Definitely. “It was a tough start to the season for myself, especially picking up the injury and then coming back with a break and then it was basically starting all over again. “But I always have I believe in myself. “I knew if I got in, I could give the manager a headache and try and force my way into the side and stay there. “Thankfully, at the moment, I've done that, but we’ve got some quality coming back now and the bench (against Fulham) was probably the strongest it’s been all season. “It's a fight for us to even get into the 20 now. “So I just go out there, give everything I've got every game and give the manager a headache.” With all but two players returning from injury, head coach Gary O’Neil has the unenviable task of leaving out at least five members of the 27-strong first team squad for a Premier League game. Rothwell continued: “Everyone's role fighting for the same goal at the end of the day, but internally, players coming back, it gives you a bit of a kick up the backside to perform every week. “You know if you don't, there's someone there to come take that shirt and it drives everyone on. “We've got a massive 10 games now to achieve what we want to achieve.” Cherries are in action again on Tuesday evening, hosting Brighton at the Vitality Stadium. “A brilliant team, fantastic with the ball,” began Rothwell. “We went there earlier on in the season. We were unlucky, I thought. “I felt we definitely deserved something out of the game and they just nicked it with one goal. “We'll sit down, we'll look at what their strengths and weaknesses are and hopefully put a game plan together that can end in a positive result for ourselves.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil comments on recent Premier League sackings #AFCB

April 4, 2023
Potter became the 12th managerial casualty of the Premier League this season when he was let go from his role at Stamford Bridge, news of his sacking coming out hours after Cherries’ relegation rivals Leicester announced they had parted ways with Brendan Rodgers. Asked for his thoughts on seeing the pair leave their roles, O’Neil responded: “My thoughts, firstly on Graham and Brendan is two incredible managers. “The work that Graham had done at Brighton and clubs before that, he did some incredible work there. “So disappointed for him that at a very big club like Chelsea, he didn't get as long as he would have liked. “But also 100 per sure that he'll bounce back whenever he's ready and show everyone what a good manager and football coach he is. “Again, Brendan's time at Leicester, obviously some real highs in there. “Has been there quite a long time and won the FA Cup, knocking on the Champions League door a few times. So, he has had a successful spell at Leicester. “I'm sure we'll see him back whenever he's ready.” Hired permanently in November after initially being appointed on an interim basis at the end of August, O’Neil has served as Cherries head coach for 216 days – long enough to make him the 10th longest-serving manager in the division. “I understand the nature of the job,” he continued. “Just because other people are losing theirs doesn't make me feel any differently around what it is. “I accept that if things don't go well, you lose your job. That's the nature of being a football manager. So, I’ve always understood that and accept that and then concentrate on doing the job the best I can.” Questioned if that highlighted the reality of management, O’Neil responded: “It seems to be. “I mean, I haven't checked the numbers, but it seems to be more so now than it ever has been. “I guess it's the nature of it. Obviously, it's my first go, so I haven't got much experience in it, but from my point of view, it isn't any more or less pressurised than I expected. “It's exactly where I thought it would be. I'll just take it as part of it. “Losing your job is a real possibility at any given moment if things don't go how you want them to. “So, yeah, let's try our best, see if we can achieve what the club set out to and enjoy the spell that we have.” Despite being thrust into his first head coach role somewhat unexpectedly, as admitted by O’Neil, the former Portsmouth midfielder stated the pressures involved had not come as a surprise. He continued: “I think I wouldn't have expected to start in the Premier League. “Of course, not many do, so the spotlight is obviously huge. The pressure is bigger. The level of coach you're up against, the level of team you're up against. “Any small mistakes you don't get away with too much when you're sat in this seat. “But, yeah, I'm enjoying it. I'm giving it my best go. “Lads are giving me absolutely everything. Fans are on board, as you saw at the weekend. “Everyone is pushing in the same direction and all desperate to achieve what we set out to in August.”
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton boss Ruben Selles claims goalless striker Onuachu can be ‘a big weapon’ #SAINTSFC

April 3, 2023
The Spaniard had commented ahead of visiting West Ham United that they had been working on how to suit Onuachu’s specific skill set in training. Selles admitted the six-foot seven-inch Nigerian international makes Saints “more direct” and sometimes “more defensive” because of his natural profile. Onuachu scored 19 goals in 16 games in Belgium’s Pro League before a deadline day January move to the Premier League – but he is yet to find the net for his new club. The 28 year old hit the woodwork with a header during the eventual 1-0 defeat to David Moyes’s Hammers, and Selles was asked about Onuachu’s contribution after the match. "We have been working on it in order to not be focused only on the long balls when we play Paul there,” Selles said.   “I think he was unlucky in the first two actions basically because the first two actions for him were after five minutes of defending set plays. “Then we bring him in, he was attracting defenders and we opened up more situations for crossing actions and that's where his chance came.” Selles added: “We are working on it. I think we managed better bringing a player like Paul into the pitch and we need to continue because it can be a big weapon for us if we continue." Onuachu cost over £15million to acquire as one of three attacking reinforcements added during the January window. Mislav Orsic, signed from Dinamo Zagreb, and Kamaldeen Sulemana, from French side Stade Rennes, both also still hunt their first goals in England.
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton’s Ruben Selles admits frustration after conceding goals in set play against West Ham #SAINTSFC

April 3, 2023
The Spaniard watched on as Nayef Aguerd scored the only goal of the game with his headed effort in the first half, while Saints registered shots on target but no big chances. Saints have scored five goals in Selles’s seven games as boss, and three of them came in one game versus Tottenham Hotspur last time out – which they still did not win. Speaking after defeat at London Stadium, Selles said: “It’s always frustrating when you concede a goal and especially set-plays. “We have been facing some good teams in the last games and we know it’s fine margins. We know it’s one goal that puts you in a game or out, up to the goal, nothing happened for them. “We showed how we are and how we want to play but the goal, the VAR decision is sometimes for you and sometimes not. Apparently, it was very tight. When you concede that you need to fight yourself back into the game.” Selles had spoken during the week about wanting to up the standard of his team’s counter-pressure, winning the ball back in dangerous areas after possession had just been taken off them. “I think we did the things we talk about and because of the positions we occupied on the pitch we were able to do this, but sometimes it’s a tactic and sometimes it’s a mindset,” Selles said. “I think their goal put us a little bit out of the game. We tried the game back to us, we tried a couple of variations of tactics but I need to analyse because maybe it’s some of the decisions I make. “There was a feeling we could get more from the game but we never make the last pass or the last action, so we should have been better in the second half.” Saints remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table and are still three points clear of safety, but West Ham have flown up into 14th – showing how tight the division remains. Selles continued: “I have told you many times that I am focused on the performances and what we do. "So I don’t look at the table as it has been there since the beginning for us. I think we can perform better and can become better, especially in moments like today, where the goal hit us. "In some other games, we have managed a clean sheet and that is the key for us. We need to keep a zero there and then get better with the decisions in the last third.”
Kyle Walker Peters
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton star Kyle Walker-Peters delivers ‘bluntly honest’ verdict after West Ham loss #SAINTSFC

April 3, 2023
Walker-Peters is referring to the match-winner, headed by Nayef Aguerd in the first half after Duje Caleta-Car had fouled Jarrod Bowen near the halfway line. Thilo Kehrer’s cross went over Jan Bednarek and fell before Moi Elyounoussi and Sekou Mara to land on the Moroccan international’s head for a 13th set-piece goal conceded in the league this season.   Saints remain bottom of the Premier League for another weekend and are now three points adrift of safety with nine matches to play, while other teams have a game in hand. “It's a game that you look at and think it’s probably one of the most important games, so you know, really devastated,” Walker-Peters told the club website. “I thought we played well and controlled the game but it’s just that final end product that we need to improve on." On the goal, Walker-Peters continued: "It was a good delivery, good header, and we have to just defend it better, to be bluntly honest. "Disappointed to concede from a set-piece when they had nothing. Every game in the Premier League is (about fine margins), every game is so tough. “The fine margins are the margins that count and unfortunately they didn’t go in our favour today. We’ve got to take our chances when we get them and turn things around.”
Dominic Solanke Bournemouth
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke’s reaction to Fulham win #AFCB

April 3, 2023
On a goal drought of 10 Premier League games without scoring, Solanke helped bundle the ball over the line in the 79th minute. Although Fulham defender Antonee Robinson seemed to get the final touch, as of the time of writing, Cherries’ talismanic striker has been credited with the goal, his fourth in the league this term. Cherries had trailed at the break thanks to Andrea Pereira’s 16th minute opener, before the hosts restored parity via a long-range Marcus Tavernier curler. Asked if he was claiming the winning goal, Solanke told the Daily Echo: “For sure - I need to take it! “So, yeah, I'm happy to get that goal, especially as it turned out to be the winner. “I think we deserved to win today. So, yes, it's a really good result for us.”In his last four starts against Fulham, Solanke has scored on each occasion, his goals effectively earning his team six points. He has only drawn a blank once against the Cottagers, in his first meeting with the London side, a 29 minute cameo appearance during the 2018/19 season. Asked if he felt more confident going into matchups with the Cottagers, Solanke replied: “I think so. “It just shows that, I've done it before so I can do it again. “But I think every game, obviously I look to try and score, but obviously my record against Fulham is decent, so I'm happy to add to that.”After a sub-par first 45 minutes, Cherries required significant changes at the break to spark the comeback, Gary O'Neil introducing Marcus Tavernier and Ryan Christie to the fray. “I think the second half we came out on top, started really fast,” continued Solanke. “Tavs (Marcus Tavernier) scored a screamer, got us back into the game and we built on it from there. “We're not in a position to sulk if we go 1-0 down, we need to make sure that we react. As soon as we came into the second half, we was on the front foot and we showed it.” When probed for head coach O’Neil’s approach to the half-time team talk, Solanke revealed: “Not too heated. I think it's important that we need to look at what we need to do better. “Obviously, we tell each other what we need to do better, but it's never a bad vibe in there. “But like I said, we're not in a position to be nice and take a step back right now, so, we need to carry on like that.”
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton’s Ruben Selles reveals admiration of Paul Onuachu #SAINTSFC

April 2, 2023
The Nigerian international is still looking for his first goal in Saints colours following a January deadline day move from Belgian outfit Genk – where he scored 16 in 19 this season. Onuachu, 28, has started just three Premier League games with his new St Mary’s employers and has featured for just 30 minutes combined across the last four outings. The six-foot seven-inch tall signing is reported to have cost over £15million to acquire but Selles has moved to explain why the dynamic he offers is not always what the Spaniard is looking to produce. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s visit to West Ham, Selles explained: “Paul as you can see is a very special and very specific player. He did well when I took the team against Chelsea. “For the Leeds game, the whole team was not performing well. I think Paul has his chances to play, like any other player. “He is training well, he is a good boy and of course, if Che (Adams) is not fit enough, he has the chance to play, from the beginning or coming into the pitch during the game.” Selles added: "I think he is a player who changes the dynamic of the game. You saw against Manchester United, immediately when we put him in and then Erik (ten Hag) changed his defence and put Harry Maguire on because they knew we had a more direct approach. "We have to introduce him in a way that can be a benefit for us, not being more chaotic if he steps into the pitch. It is the team that needs to adapt a little bit more to what Paul Onuachu needs when we are playing." Selles is sweating on the fitness of Che Adams, who scored last time out in a 3-3 draw with Tottenham Hotspur after he withdrew from Scotland’s international camp through injury and missed training this week. However, Selles had this week also claimed he wanted his Saints side to improve on set-pieces to face West Ham, who are particularly proficient in this area. Availability and suitability could come together to award Onuachu his first league start since February, at London Stadium this weekend. Sekou Mara also represents strong competition after some good cameos.  “Sometimes when Paul comes into the pitch the whole game changes to a more direct approach from us, and more defensive, but sometimes we need to adapt this,” Selles said. "Maybe from the very beginning against West Ham, he can attract two or three of the defenders, the centre-backs and sometimes we need to keep the structure. “In some of the recent games we have decided to keep the structure, but in some other moments, like the last ten minutes against Manchester United, we decided to have a more direct approach."
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil felt win over Fulham was ‘deserved’ #AFCB

April 2, 2023
A poor first-half performance was compounded by Andreas Pereira’s 16th minute opener, but changes at the break sparked Cherries to life, substitute Marcus Tavernier levelling five minutes before the restart. Dominic Solanke bundled home the winner 11 minutes from the final whistle, allowing Cherries to claim their seventh win of the campaign. Speaking after the game, O’Neil began: “There was a lot of work that went in today and it didn’t look like it for the first 25-30 minutes. “I spoke to the group before the game around the belief that I have in them. “And that I feel that energy now in the dressing room that even if went 1-0 down today, there would be a refusal to lose the football match. “We’re so determined to get to where we need to get to that I felt we would find a way to do it. And that was tested today.” O’Neil then went on to detail how he thought his side deserved to win the fixture, explaining: “It just felt, especially the way the goal came off the training ground, the second one, the way the boys played through the structure, I just felt it was what they deserved. “I didn’t want us to not get what we deserved today, because I would’ve been answering a very different set of questions I’m sure. “The lads believe already, but for me to have spoken to them today about it being a real test and that we will definitely find a way to get over the line today, I can feel it in the room, the quality we have and the belief we have. “Even if you suffer and you go 1-0 down, I know full well that this group finds a way to come back today. “For the lads to show the quality and the endeavour and to get what they deserved I thought was big.” Asked about his celebrations following Solanke’s winner, O’Neil replied: “Because we kept missing chances and it was bouncing around the goal. “I don’t celebrate goals very often, but that one felt like a ‘celebratable’ moment. “I don’t know if ‘celebratable’ is a word, but if it is, it was a ‘celebratable’ moment!”  
Marcus Tavernier
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Marcus Tavernier on goal against Fulham #AFCB

April 2, 2023
Brought on at the break with Cherries trailing to Andreas Pereira’s opener, Tavernier restored parity with a beautiful curling effort five minutes into the second period. Dominic Solanke bundled home with what proved to be the winner 11 minutes from time, lifting Cherries to 15th in the Premier League table. A summer signing from Middlesbrough, Leeds-born Tavernier has now scored four goals in his debut Premier League season. In an interview with BBC Radio Solent, he shared: “I knew as soon as the ball came to me that my first thought was to shoot. “I know my touch wasn't the best to start off with, but that was my first intention. “As soon as the ball left my foot and watching it go into the back of the net, that was an unbelievable feeling.” The goal marked the winger’s return from injury, with Tavernier having missed the last four with a hamstring complaint. He had scored in his last appearance, grabbing the only goal in Cherries’ 1-0 win at Wolves, his first start since the World Cup break after recovering from a different hamstring injury. He continued: “I've had a tough few months recently, being injured, coming back and getting back on the pitch there, so it's great. I've got to thank the medical team for getting me back again and now I've just got to stay fit and help the team stay in this league.” Hailed as a gamechanger for his goal-scoring appearance off the bench, Tavernier insisted that it had been a team performance that changed Cherries’ fortunes. “It’s about the team,” he restarted. “Some players have good individual games, but at the end of the day, it's about the team. “And the team performance in the second half was amazing. I think you've seen that with the reaction we gave and the way we pressed and played football. “It was great. We got the two goals and then we defended for our lives at the end.” Asked what was discussed at half-time, Tavernier responded: “It was just more of a calmness to us. “We know that it wasn't going in the way we thought it was, but the manager spoke to us about pressing and getting in the faces and I think we did a real good job of that in the second half. “We got up against them and caused them to make mistakes and played on the front foot.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil believes he deserves criticism for poor start against Fulham #AFCB

April 2, 2023
Andreas Pereira gave the visitors the lead on 18 minutes at Vitality Stadium, with the hosts facing a smattering of boos when they headed in at half time behind. But, sparked by the arrival of Marcus Tavernier off the bench, Cherries rallied after the restart. The former Middlesbrough man’s brilliant goal quickly levelled the contest, before Dominic Solanke’s bundled finish secured a 2-1 victory, which lifts Cherries out of the relegation zone. It is the second game in succession Cherries have started slowly, also falling behind early at Aston Villa last time out, before going on to lose 3-0. “Any credit I get for the turnaround, I equally deserve criticism for the way the game started,” O’Neil told the Daily Echo. “It was very different. I was disappointed with the lads for the start at Aston Villa, for a lack of intensity and losing duels. “There wasn’t anything tactical at Aston Villa, it was just we didn’t quite look like we were ready to go. “Whereas today I could tell they were ready to go and we made some errors tactically. “Very different, but of course you don’t want to start like that, giving a good side like Fulham a one-goal lead will cost you more often than not. “We managed to wrestle it back and win the game today, but we need to perform well for the whole 90 obviously if we can.” He added: “I didn’t expect us to start how we did. “But to come back the way they did in a stadium that started to get a little bit flat and grumbly, 1-0 down at home in a winnable football match, to show the bravery, the determination, the togetherness and the quality to produce that from that moment was impressive from them.” Asked what was said at half time to turn the game around, O’Neil explained: “The lads knew. Out of possession first half we were really poor. “We prepped really hard on it and the lads were managing to make some errors in it. When you play against a good side who know their patterns and their rotations with the ball, if you’re slightly off out of possession they cause you problems, and they did. “I was desperate to get to half-time, either obviously taking one of our chances or only being 1-0, because there was a bit of detail that needed to be given out of possession to help us. “Managing to fix that at half time and then introducing two fresh faces to change the energy a little bit gave us some momentum.” He added: “It looked like they weren’t getting up to things, it looked like they were a yard off the pace (in the first half). “It was more tactical really. It was more them making mistakes. “They were definitely trying and we managed to fix it. We gave Fulham a tough 45 minutes.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil ‘extremely confident’ Bournemouth will avoid relegation #AFCB

April 1, 2023
Cherries currently sit second-from-bottom of the Premier League table with 11 matches to play. They are one point from safety, ahead of hosting mid-table Fulham tomorrow (3pm). Cherries’ squad has been bolstered in recent weeks by players returning from injury. O’Neil is set to have 25 senior players to choose from to face the Cottagers, with only Ryan Fredericks and Junior Stanislas unavailable. With the final international break of the season now gone, two action-packed months await Cherries, notably April which features seven matches. Discussing the challenge ahead, O’Neil said: “There needs to be a real extreme diligence and focus into how important the next period is. That should drive how you perform, how focused you are, because you know the importance of it. “Hopefully we manage to do that as a team and then over the period, with games coming so quickly, how well we reset, as in physically and mentally from each result. “Whether it’s a good one that gives you a little high or whether it’s a bad one that gives you a low, how quickly we can move on from that and get ready for the next one, because the next one is always going to be the biggest one, regardless of what has happened before. “That will be really important for us.” Asked how confident he is Cherries will stay up, O’Neil added: “Extremely confident, really confident. “I have a huge belief in the group, as I always have, from the moment I took over as interim. “I never lost the belief in the group. They’re an incredible group and they will give absolutely everything. “I believe, with what we have in the room now, giving everything will be enough.” Cherries currently sit on 24 points from their 27 matches, with just four points currently separating the bottom nine clubs. Asked how many points he feels will be required for survival, O’Neil said: “I haven’t set a points target. “It’s impossible to know, because you could go off the current rate that teams are performing at and then you’d need 35 or 36. “But teams down the bottom generally start to pick up some wins as it gets closer to the end and things get a little more desperate. “It’s impossible to know how many you need. There are 33 still to play for, six of the games are at home for us, a lot against teams in and around us. Games that we need to be really positive in and have a real good go. “I’m really confident in the group what we have available in the room now, where they are mentally and physically that we can give this a real good go for the next 11 games and I’m sure if we do that and we do what we know we can, we’ll be absolutely fine.”