Jack Stephens
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Jack Stephens speaks after defeat to Manchester City #AFCB

February 27, 2023
Southampton loanee Stephens played the full 90 minutes of the 4-1 defeat on Saturday evening, with City capitalising on Cherries’ errors at the back. ANALYSIS: Cherries' game plan against City was the right approach but let down by mistakes Two loose passes paved the way for two of City’s three first-half goals, Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden the beneficiaries from Hamed Traore and Phil Billing’s misplaced balls. Those strikes sandwiched Erling Haaland’s goal, which came about after Cherries had been split open by Nathan Ake’s ball from deep. A second-half own goal from Chris Mepham was further damage, before Jefferson Lerma restored some pride with a late strike. Discussing the game, Stephens told the Daily Echo: “Obviously, it's a tough one. “They're a brilliant side. We've tried to be aggressive with them and we did that, caused some problems, but obviously they punished us with a few mistakes and that's what they do, that's what they're really good at. “They're ruthless and that's what it's about. “I thought we stuck at it, we kept going. It's very easy to go under there, 3-0 down at halftime and 4-0 just after the break. Very difficult, but we stuck at it and got to take this one on the chin.” Stephens and Cherries had faced a very different proposition the previous weekend in a 1-0 win over Wolves. The Cherries defence had to sit deep and contend with multiple crosses into the box, whilst against City, they faced a Pep Guardiola side looking to keep the ball on the deck. Asked about the differing styles Cherries had faced in recent weeks, Stephens responded: “I think that's the Premier League. “Every challenge is different. Like you say, last week was a lot of balls in the box, under a lot of pressure defending the box. “Whereas (against City), strangely, you'd think that you'd be defending the box a lot more, but it didn't feel like that. “They obviously take you to places that are uncomfortable. “They drag you out. There's not so much long balls, everything's on the floor. “It's a lot of concentration and just trying to stay in it because you don't have the ball for long periods, you know that's going to happen. “They do that against every team that they play against. That's not just Bournemouth, you see it in the Champions League. They have 60, 70 per cent possession against top teams. “So you've got to accept that that's what they're going to do, and you need to stay concentrated. “And when we win the ball back, we try to be positive with the ball. “I think we obviously gave the ball away a few times first half, but like I said, they punished us with them, and then we tightened up. “I think we did tighten it up second half. The football was a lot better, and we did create chances, there's no denying that. “But unfortunately we've been punished and it’s 4-1, and we have to take that.”  
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil believes there were lots of positives after Man City loss #AFCB #MCFC

February 26, 2023
Sloppy Cherries defending saw City race into a 3-0 half-time lead, adding another after the break before Jefferson Lerma's late consolation strike. The defeat saw Cherries slip back into the Premier League relegation zone, one point from safety with 14 games to go. Asked what his side could have done better to make the contest closer, O'Neil told the Daily Echo: "Not pass to them twice in our half would’ve been a good one. "But I thought it was a decent performance. I thought we got punished for a couple of mistakes. I thought we were front foot. "Apart from the score-line, I thought it was uncomfortable for Manchester City. I thought they turned the ball over more than usual for them. "I thought we pressed well. I thought we gave it a real, good go. "We got heavily punished for a couple of mistakes, didn’t make the most of our opportunities. We arrived in decent situations a lot, and it took us a very long time to score a goal from that. "I thought there was lots to be positive about." He added: "I can sum it up fairly simply for you. We had a real good go, I thought. "We made mistakes that are uncharacteristic for us. We don’t turn the ball over a lot in those situations. I don’t think we overplay very often. "I think we generally mix it up fairly well. I don’t think we’re a team that takes huge risk playing out from the back. "But the boys obviously understand that every time the ball arrives at you as a footballer, you have a decision to make, whether you can secure it and make passes or whether you need to play forward. "We maybe got a couple wrong today, against a top, top side. They punished us heavily for that. "We kept going, we showed that we won’t stop and I thought that we caused them some problems."
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ruben Selles launches defence of goalkeeper Bazunu after defeat in Leeds fixture #SAINTSFC

February 26, 2023
The 21 year old shot-stopper has endured a tough first season in the Premier League having conceded 41 goals in 24 appearances – the most of any goalkeeper. On raw stats, Bazunu has by far the lowest expected goals prevented and the team’s two clean sheets is the fewest of any in the Premier League. Bazunu’s goalkeeping was called into question again during the 1-0 defeat at Leeds United, in a vital relegation six-pointer, as Junior Firpo’s shot squirmed through him. Some suggest Jan Bednarek was in his eyesight making the save more difficult, but the Pole had moved out of his way as much as possible. Bazunu is in his first season as a Premier League number one following a move from Manchester City in the summer. He had previously only played as high as League One with Portsmouth – where he was a standout performer – and needs time to reach his full potential as a keeper. "It's a goal that we all concede,” Selles said of the incident. "It's the main fault for me because I should be more gracious in the situation and give them more tools to solve the situations. Next time, we will try to be ready. "When we concede a goal it's not a Gavin problem or a centre-back problem, we concede the goal as a team. We should have removed those situations earlier in the game. We trust Gavin but we know we can lose a football match. The disappointing thing is we lost a little bit of our identity." Bazunu last week told the Daily Echo that he would not trade his first season’s experience for anything. Selles has now backed the youngster and insisted his mentality will carry him through difficult spells. "If you know Gavin, you know he's a very strong character and a strong personality,” the Spaniard said. "I have no doubt about him and I have no doubt about his personality to get over this. “It's true that he's the goalkeeper in Europe under 21 who has played the most minutes. It's true that we concede some goals and he was there when we conceded them as he's been number one all season. "But we need to remove those situations much earlier and it's not on one person. The mistake is in all of us. I know sometimes it looks like nobody takes responsibility, but the responsibility is my responsibility. So if somebody should be blamed for the goal then it is me."
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ruben Selles reaffirms belief Southampton are Premier League level #SAINTSFC

February 26, 2023
Junior Firpo scored the only goal in a 1-0 win to seal a massive three points for Leeds United at Elland Road, as bottom-placed Saints visited the club just above them. Selles’s charges were lucky not to lose by more and did not test Illan Meslier in the Whites's goal, just seven days after the victory at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge. The result leaves them in 20th and now four points adrift of safety, with three points between the St Mary’s side and the next closest rivals. Saints have now lost 10 games by just one goal this campaign. However, Selles, speaking after his first match as permanent manager of the club, was keen to calm concerns. “You can see the point from different perspectives, for me it shows we are there. We are there in every game and we have the possibility to perform and win the game,” he said. “We are not a team that is conceding a lot and is out of the game and therefore not competing. We are competing, we are there and we are Premier League level. We’re doing things and performing at that level, but what we want to do is give some kind of net for our players to feel comfortable and perform. “Obviously what we need to do is make the net even stronger, with even more solutions. But this is down to me and is our responsibility, we are trying to create this net where they feel more comfortable. “When you are making a process like we are building now there is going to be some errors. We need to be ready for the next step.” Asked what he can say to supporters, who feel their 11-year stay in the Premier League could come to and without rapid improvement, he added: “I just say we need to keep working, we are doing good things. “The week has been fantastic in terms of work but unfortunately we didn’t perform and we will need to do a review. I take responsibility, if we didn’t perform well it is probably because I didn’t explain all of my points and I need to do it better. “It is not about how we are building a process for the long-term, any coach who comes in here would tell you the same. We need to build into the idea and grow to find the connections. “Sometimes this is quicker than not, but we were not the best last weekend when we won and we are not the worst today. We are just a team that is continuing growing and sometimes to grow you need this kind of accident.” Don't miss a moment with our Saints morning briefing email.
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil admits Manchester City “Ask a lot of questions” during premier league games #AFCB #MCFC

February 25, 2023
Defending Premier League Champions City visit the south coast chasing a third successive top-flight title whilst also fighting for further glory in the FA Cup and Champions League.   Pep Guardiola’s men trail Arsenal by two points in the battle for the Premier League, with Mikel Arteta’s Gunners also boasting a game in hand. Cherries have never beaten Manchester City, losing their last 11 Premier League games to the Cityzens. Discussing the test, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “They ask you a lot of questions, tactically, Man City. “So they'll test how far you want to come in on things, test if you're brave enough to come out. If you do, they'll try and exploit the space you leave. “They ask you an awful lot of questions. Physically, they ask you questions. Generally, all their players are quick and strong as well. So, yeah, they are the biggest threat you can face in this country in my opinion.” With a trip to league leaders Arsenal on the horizon, O’Neil quipped: “Obviously, Arsenal going very well as well. We get to try that one next week! “But, yeah, (City) ask a lot of questions.” Wary of the threat Cherries’ upcoming opponents pose, O’Neil believes his side are ready to face the challenge of City. “The boys are well prepped, they're in a good place,” he continued. “I have full belief in them with the game coming tomorrow that they're going to go out and give it a real good go, and hopefully we can take a positive result.”  Despite grabbing 32 goals in 32 games across all competitions, Erling Haaland has scored just once in his last six City appearances. This has led to speculation that the Norwegian international is not a natural fit to City’s possession-based style, an assertion O’Neil does not agree with. Asked about this theory, Cherries’ boss replied: “No, I think his goals record is fantastic. “I think they're still a threat from so many different areas of the pitch that they can hurt you with the ball, they can hurt you by being direct and behind. “Good set plays, they can play round you or they can play over you. “So, yeah, it's still a very good side and most of the metrics, they're the best side in the league. “So, yeah, now I feel like they'll feel like come to the end of the season, everyone will see them pretty much where you expect them to be.”
Pep Guardiola
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Man City boss Pep Guardiola’s praise for AFC Bournemouth duo Dominic Solanke and Philip Billing #MCFC

February 25, 2023
The Premier League champions head to Vitality Stadium tomorrow, looking to extend their run of wins against Cherries to 13. Cherries have never got the better of City in the club's history, but have showed promising signs in recent weeks with a draw against Newcastle United and victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend. Asked for his assessment of Gary O'Neil's men, Guardiola said: “I saw many good things I like about Bournemouth. “They got good results. The game against Wolves. They draw against Newcastle, with how tough it is. The defeat at Brighton but in the last minute. “They are so intense. If they do it away, imagine at home - so intense in high pressing. Really, really good. "After they defend compact, they want to try and play to play in different shapes. “They link really well with (Dominic) Solanke, the wingers and (Philip) Billing has huge quality. “My people help me a lot to discover what they do and I am quite impressed. “They do really good things. “I had the feeling that this season until the end, for all the clubs not just for us, that every game will be so tough. I don’t know why but that is the feeling I have this season, particularly.
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ruben Selles says ‘It is a pleasure for me, but I don’t need to prove anything’ #SAINTSFC

February 24, 2023
The 39-year-old Spaniard took charge of his first league game as caretaker boss last weekend in the 1-0 win at Chelsea, and on Friday morning he was confirmed as Nathan Jones’ successor until the end of the season. Saints have been in the bottom three since Jones was appointed in November, with only one victory from his eight Premier League games in charge. After pulling off an unlikely win at Stamford Bridge, Saints now sit just three points off 17th place as they prepare to head to fellow strugglers Leeds, who are also under new management. The appointment of Selles, who has held various coaching roles across Europe during his career, comes after Southampton failed to agree a deal with former Leeds boss Jesse Marsch. Nevertheless, having also been part of the backroom staff under former boss Ralph Hasenhuttl, Selles feels a sense of continuity can help guide the club back towards top-flight stability. “It is a pleasure for me and I think all of the technical staff deserve this, they have been amazing and working hard together,” said Selles. “We are one mission and we are all in for that, so there is not much time to take the focus away from that. “I am very thankful with the owners to give me the opportunity until the end of the season and with all the support that I got from the fans. “Once the club decided that I was the person to take it until the end of the season, I just continued, doing nothing special, continuing the good work that we have been doing for the last two weeks.” Selles told a press conference: “I have the job full-time. It is not an opportunity, it is just what it is. “It is the Premier League, it is a challenge and it is a way to lead a great organisation into a good moment and that is how I am going to take it. “I do not need to prove anything. I just think that we have a very, very, very good group inside to work and it is my pleasure to lead. “It is not about that I have been appointed as manager, it is about the technical staff and the group working in the same direction. “The players have been working hard the last two weeks and have made that position for me, so it is about all of us.” Selles maintains the squad must stay focused on producing consistent performances rather than worry about what the end of the season might bring. “I don’t think in the long term. I am just thinking about the game tomorrow and about how I make my boys to have the best chance tomorrow to perform,” he said. “If we perform well we can have the chance to win, and that is going to be our philosophy. “Then in the end of the season we will say this is enough for us to stay (up), but what we need is just to be proud of everything we do and that is what we are doing.” Saints will be without forward Che Adams and Croatian winger Mislav Orsic, because of concussion protocols, for the trip to Elland Road, but Mohammed Salisu has been able to return to training this week. Javi Gracia will take charge of his first match with Leeds, having been brought in as Marsch’s replacement earlier this week and now received his working visa. Selles said: “Javi is a great coach with a long career in Spain and also here in England with Watford. “He has a little bit different style than Jesse in Leeds and of course, as any manager, he will try to bring his own philosophy. “I think they will look a little bit different tomorrow than they looked before. Let’s see what they prepare for us.” Don't miss a moment with our Saints morning briefing email.
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil working to ‘blend’ short and long-term goals at Cherries #AFCB

February 23, 2023
O’Neil’s performance as interim head coach saw him handed the reins on a full-time basis in November. But the 39-year-old had a long wait to record his first win in permanent charge. A run of nine games without a win saw Cherries knocked out of both the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and slip to 19th in the Premier League table. They arrested the slump with a vital 1-0 triumph at Wolves on Saturday, a result which lifted Cherries out of the bottom three. During the poor run of form, some fans have expressed their dissatisfaction with the direction the team was heading in with O’Neil in charge. Asked if he had been given any assurances by those above him that they were happy with the job he was carrying out during the recent struggles, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I speak to Richard Hughes (technical director) more regularly, but Neill (Blake, chief executive) as well. “I haven’t had any discussions or I haven’t asked for any assurances. “I’m doing the job as asked, as I was before the transfer window and as I was before the break. “It’s just head down and try and win the next football match.” When Jonathan Woodgate was drafted in as interim boss at Cherries in 2021, a move which eventually became permanent, he revealed he leaned on the vast experience of Harry Redknapp for advice to help him during the early stages. Asked if there was anybody he had turned to during Cherries’ tough spell, O’Neil replied: “There are people that I trust and whose opinion I value. “I do think it’s difficult sometimes, you hear opinions sometimes of people that aren’t close enough to it to know what is actually going on. “You need to make sure you take the right opinions of people that have a knowledge of what’s going on in the football club. But I’m happy to take advice from people I value.” Quizzed on if his remit when taking the job on a permanent basis was just based around avoiding relegation this season, O’Neil explained: “There’s a few things attached to it. “I won’t go into too much detail, but there’s a few things that needed progressing at the football club. “We’re working hard, everybody, not just me as the head coach, as you saw in January with the type of players we tried to recruit, the age of them, the profile. “It wasn’t just a short-term transfer window where we were trying to fix things for the here and now. There was a lot of planning that went in. “Obviously new ownership as well with long-term plans. As always with football there are short-term needs and there are long-term plans. “You need to blend the two. You need to do well enough in the short-term to make sure you see the long-term. “But my work is always around both, making sure the club is in a good place, long term. And in the short term, trying to make sure we win every Saturday.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil talks about Marcus Tavernier #AFCB

February 23, 2023
The 23-year-old marked his first start since recovering from a hamstring injury with the game’s only goal on Saturday, helping Cherries to their first win since November. Former Middlesbrough man Tavernier had missed eight games prior to returning to first-team action off the bench in Cherries’ 1-1 draw with Newcastle. Injury came at arguably the worst possible time for the winger, Tavernier ruled out right before domestic football restarted following the World Cup. Before the Premier League break, the Leeds-born attacker had scored two goals and provided four assists in his last four appearances. Discussing Tavernier, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I thought Tavs did well to get his goal, but I felt you could see that he'd been out for a while. “I thought some of his decision making, understandably so, he’s been out for a very long time and the Premier League moves fast. “So, yeah, some of his decision making, some of his ball handling, maybe wasn't quite at the level that it was before the break. “But delighted to get him back.” Despite admitting his star was yet to reach full match fitness, O’Neil did credit Tavernier for making the required run to get on the end of Dominic Solanke’s cross. He explained: “We worked hard this week on trying to arrive (in attacking areas). “That sort of half space run that Dom produced for the goal and making sure we arrive in the goal frame. “And maybe some of our other wide players wouldn't have arrived, or some of our midfield players would have been on the penalty spot looking for cutbacks, and Tavs fully commits, arrives in the penalty area. “Tavs is a big player for us and big players sometimes come up with moments even when they've not been at their best.” Tavernier was replaced after 57 minutes at the weekend with a complaint with his other hamstring, with O’Neil stating precautionary checks would be carried out ahead of Cherries game with Manchester City this weekend.
Gavin Bazunu
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton FC’s Gavin Bazunu opens up on difficult ‘learning’ season #SAINTSFC

February 21, 2023
It wasn’t just that the 21-year-old - as of Monday - put in perhaps his most complete performance of the season against one of the league’s supposed elite. It wasn’t just that he made a crucial late save to deny Conor Gallagher and help his side keep their points. And it wasn’t just that he notched his second clean sheet of the season. It’s that he did all of that when Saints were at their most desperate, following a period fraught with collective - and personal - strife. When questions were asked of this entire Saints team and of Bazunu’s place in the side - and the league - the Republic of Ireland international stepped up in the only way he knows how: with calm assuredness and eye on whatever comes next. READ MORE: Fixtures confirmed for busy Saints April with FIVE of six games set for new times “I think it’s been difficult at times but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world," Bazunu told the Daily Echo of his first season in the Premier League.  "I’ve learned so much and I’m going to continue to learn. I think I always knew it was going to be like this, I knew it wasn’t going to be plain-sailing. "It’s the best league in the world, I’m coming in as a young goalkeeper, seeing these things for the first time and I think the most important thing is to not get caught up or get too disappointed about things and keep a level of confidence that I’m where I need to be and I just need to keep working hard.” Gavin Bazunu makes a save against Newcastle in the EFL Cup. (Image: PA) Saints spent upwards of £10m recruiting Bazunu from Manchester City this summer in part because of the immense talent he had already displayed on loan at Rochdale and Portsmouth. But also because of what he has the potential to become. And that potential is no doubt due to the way he thinks, not just what he shows on the pitch. Breaking into the Shamrock Rovers first team at the age of 15, Bazunu’s route to the top has been a lot longer than the age on his driving licence would lead you to believe possible. It’s this journey that’s helped Bazunu develop the mindset that makes everyone around him so confident he’ll reach the lofty heights expected of him. While he admits that he would have constantly replayed mistakes over in his mind earlier in his career, he’s managed to find focus as he’s gotten older. “I think that’s the whole reason I had the two loan spells at Rochdale and Portsmouth, to go out and gain that experience and learn what it’s like to make mistakes when points are needed," Bazunu explains. "Not just to have that experience on the pitch but to learn off the pitch how to move on from difficult games. That stood me well this season. Of course, there’s a bigger level of scrutiny playing in the Premier League but the processes are the same. "Once the game is gone, there’s nothing you can do. You can look back and try to learn from your mistakes but there’s nothing you can do to try and change the results - so you’ve just got to look forward to the next game.” Of course, Bazunu’s season has been far from perfect as he’s been part of a defence that has conceded in all but two Premier League games, letting in the third-most goals in the division. Mistakes from the youngster have cost his side. Equally, mistakes from his defence have cost him. Speaking on how he's dealt with the tough moments this season has provided, Bazunu said: “When times are tough and we were in a run of difficult results, I think the most important thing is to keep your circle small, listen to the people you care about and who want the best for you. They’re going to give you the advice you need to go forward. “To be honest, there’s no real magic words that people could say to stop you from feeling how you feel after difficult games or after making mistakes. There’s nothing anyone could say to make you feel better. "But there’s definitely people you can have around who will continue to point you in the right direction and continue to provide support. And to lean on those people when times are tough and trust their judgement, is the most important thing. “I’m not superhuman so your confidence will go up and down every now and again but I think the most important thing is to have people around you who will continue to allow you to stay as level as possible. Gavin Bazunu pictured in action against Brentford earlier this season (Image: PA) "This game is crazy, there’s going to be ups, there’s going to be downs. And to find that consistent level in between, I think the ones who can stay at those levels for the longest times are the ones who are the best.” When Bazunu arrived at St Mary’s as the club’s first signing of a busy and youthful summer rebuild, Ralph Hasenhuttl said it was no guarantee that he would start immediately ahead of the vastly more experienced Alex McCarthy. But an impressive pre-season saw Bazunu get the nod for the opening day’s fixture at Tottenham Hotspur and he’s started every Premier League game since, even as rumours swirled in the national media that Saints might be considering a change. “I don’t really look at those types of things and I wouldn’t be one to read into that too much,” Bazunu said of reports suggesting he could be dropped. “They’re from outside sources. In here, we have private conversations and we know where we stand. Every day I just go out onto the pitch to train as hard as I can and prove that I should be the one playing.” That faith in Bazunu - shown now by Hasenhuttl, Nathan Jones, and Ruben Selles - was rewarded with the fine performance he put in at Stamford Bridge. But Saints need consistency and that’s the new challenge. Not as if any of that is news to Bazunu. “There’s been a really good feeling and atmosphere around the training ground after a really good result. "But I think the most important thing is that we don’t get caught up in that one result and we make sure we work really hard this week to bring that consistency of performance and the level of performance that we showed and bring it into Saturday’s game.”
James Ward Prowse
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton FC captain James Ward-Prowse on week of ‘chaos’ and ‘noise’ #SAINTSFC

February 21, 2023
Saints haven’t had enough of those special moments this season. Approaching Saturday’s trip to West London, Saints had racked up just four Premier League wins all season while it had been 35 days since their most recent success away at Everton. But with a trademark swing of James Ward-Prowse’s right boot, Saints claimed a gigantic victory and the celebrations in front of the Stamford Bridge away end were merely a window into the scale of this win. READ MORE: Victory over Chelsea restores something long lost at Saints - we can see belief “That’s what it's all about,” Ward-Prowse told the Daily Echo of the scenes that greeted the full-time whistle.  “They work hard following us up and down the country. It’s not been a great season, we know that, and to give them those sort of moments… you see the joy and passion on their faces at the end.  “That’s what football’s all about, giving people that feeling and hopefully, we can give them that more consistently now.” Saints celebrate their win at Chelsea on Saturday in front of the travelling fans. (Image: PA) It’s a considerably different mood around the club now compared to last weekend when Wolves came from a goal down - with a man less - to beat Saints 2-1 and inspire a cacophony of boos at St Mary’s. The defeat marked the end of the disastrously brief Nathan Jones era at Southampton Football Club and after a week of rumours - most notably that Jesse Marsch was set to take over the vacant managerial role - it was Ruben Selles who led Saints to Chelsea. And it was Selles who was pushed to the front of the celebratory melee of Saints players and staff as Chelsea trudged off the pitch following the shock result.  “Huge win for us. It’s been a tough week, there’s been a lot of noise, a lot of chaos,” Ward-Prowse reflected.  “And for us to get through that in the way that we did, I think speaks a lot about the group that we’ve got and the way that we’ve been managed this week, and we’ve come away with a huge three points. “I think Ruben took over at a time of a bit of stress and he’s calmed everybody down and given us a familiar way of playing. So I’m incredibly pleased for him.  James Ward-Prowse was the hero yet again as Saints beat Chelsea on Saturday. (Image: PA) “He’s come in and shown a real passion for what he wants to do. I think there’s a lot of speculation around who’s going to take the job but he could only do what he did today and everybody wanted to play for him and give him a good chance.” Despite the win, Saints remain bottom of the Premier League table and Ward-Prowse is under no illusion about the challenge in store for him and his team to beat the drop.  “It doesn’t matter who the manager is, we have to perform and give 100% no matter what,” the Saints captain continued.  “But today is a springboard, now it’s just a question of being consistent with it to give ourselves a good chance for the next few games. READ NEXT: The state of Saints Premier League survival hopes after dramatic week at the bottom “I think there are a lot of things out of our control and we can’t control everything. But Ruben has steadied that this week, given us a bit of calm, given us a bit of belief in how we go about things.  “And now it’s about doing it on a consistent basis and not getting too carried away with the win today. Yeah, it’s fantastic, but we forget about it by tomorrow and look forward to next week.” Saints are back in action on Saturday when they head to Elland Road for another massive game in their season, facing Leeds United who sit just one place and one point ahead.
Marcus Tavernier
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Marcus Tavernier credits Cherries’ defence for Wolves win #AFCB

February 21, 2023
Tavernier returned to the starting XI for the first time since November, having recovered from a hamstring injury. The 23-year-old had a mixed afternoon, but did grab the game’s only goal before being substituted just before the hour mark. Wolves dominated possession and shots at Molineux, but Cherries’ defence held firm, with centre-back duo Jack Stephens and Marcos Senesi in particular singled out for praise by boss Gary O’Neil after the contest. “It's just good to contribute to the team and help us get a win,” Tavernier said. “It was massive. We've been saying in every other interview that we needed to build on last week (against Newcastle) and I feel like we did that, both in going forward and a big, massive thanks for the defence, for the performance they put in. “I feel us forward players (in the first half) could have could have been better in going forward and be more clinical on counter attacks, with the final pass and myself included, we could have been a lot better. “But the manager told us at half time to just compose ourselves and take that into the second half, and we did that. “And then the defence played the same way they did in the first half, keeping the ball out of net. And that's got us the three points. “It’s massive, always, to get the first goal, so you're not chasing the game and we've done that. As attackers, our job is to put the ball in the back of the net and we've done that. “The defence is there to keep the ball out and they were great throughout this game.” He added: “We've got a lot of belief in that changing room. And we know we can't get too high or too low in this league. “We have to just keep taking it a game at a time. And I think with the last couple of performances, we can be happy with that, but we can't get settled. “We have to just keep building on it and getting better each week.” The win lifted Cherries outside the relegation zone, sitting one point ahead of West Ham United with 13 games remaining. Cherries remain odds-on favourites with the bookmakers to go down, with their next three fixtures against the league’s current top two Manchester City and Arsenal, before hosting Liverpool. “I take no notice and we haven't got here by luck,” Tavernier said, when asked about people writing off Cherries’ chances. “It's not luck to get in this division so we have every right to stay in it and it’s just up to us to do that and make sure that happens.” Asked how confident he is of Cherries’ survival chances, the former Middlesbrough man added: “That's why we're here. We're in this league, like I said before, we're not in here by luck. “We've earned it. The boys did a great job last season to get promoted, and now it's our job to stay in here and it's not going to be easy. “It’s the toughest league in the world, but we’re here to fight and do that.”
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil speaks after beating Wolves #AFCB

February 20, 2023
Marcus Tavernier marked his first start since November with the game’s only goal to give Cherries a precious 1-0 win at Molineux. Victory was Cherries’ first in 10 games, adding a vital three points to their tally by finally converting improved performances into a result. O’Neil credited the win to Cherries’ ability to edge the game in their favour. Reflecting on the game, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I think (Wolves) was a big game for us -  as they always are. “I think since Nottingham Forest probably where we were really short players and we put in a good performance, unlucky not to win. “Good performance at Brighton, unlucky not to beat Newcastle. To go four on the trot where their performances have given us a real chance of taking something from the games. “Spoke a lot this week, I think I mentioned it in the pre-match (press conference) as well, that some things that we need to do to try and swing the fine margins our way, because it's not always luck. “I think you saw that (against Wolves). “I think the boys had a real focus around managing the game, certain situations that the boys did well, that doesn't look like a lot, but if you can just try and grab a centimetre here and there, it can make a big difference at the end. “And (against Wolves) felt like that. “I felt we weren’t too different to some of the other games we’ve just played in, but we managed to make sure that the fine margins fell in our favour.” Wins for Everton and Southampton, as well as an impressive draw for Nottingham Forest against Manchester City poured cold water on Cherries’ result. Asked for his thoughts on other side’s results, O’Neil replied: “I haven't seen any other results. “I'm not really too interested in those.”