Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil recalls Francis Benali incident as teenager before game against Southampton #AFCB

April 27, 2023
O’Neil came through the ranks at Pompey, featuring in three south coast derbies, winning one and losing two during the 2004-05 campaign. Now as boss of AFC Bournemouth, he takes his side to St Mary’s tomorrow for a key contest in the Premier League relegation battle. Reflecting on his memories of matches against Saints as a Pompey player, O’Neil said: “They were fierce. They still are fierce, I guess. “My first ever reserve game was against Southampton for Portsmouth at Havant & Waterlooville and there was about 3,000 fans in. “I was only 15, playing right-midfield against Francis Benali. And as soon as I tried to run in behind him from kick-off, he smashed me in the face with a cast on his arm. “I’d come straight from maths, gone to play for Portsmouth’s reserves and got a cast smashed in my face. I was like ‘this is what senior football is going to be like’. “And that was just a reserve game! “There was some fierce games between Portsmouth and Southampton. Obviously a real memorable one where we won when (Lomano) LuaLua scored two at home. “That was sort of a relegation battle as well, Portsmouth and Southampton were both involved in it. So some good fixtures. “We’ve had some good games with them as well since I’ve been at Bournemouth. “We’ve not managed to come out on top since I’ve been here yet, but we will try to change that on Thursday.” Asked if he will have a word with Benali should he see him at St Mary’s tomorrow night, O’Neil added: “I’ve spoken to him before. I think we did some TV stuff together and he doesn’t actually remember it. “But it definitely happened! If I bump into him, I’ll mention it again.” Given his allegiance to Pompey, O’Neil could be on the receiving end of a hostile reception from the home fans. Asked if he would welcome that ire to take some pressure off his players, Cherries’ boss said: “If the source of everyone’s focus could be on me and let my players go and perform then that would be a benefit, but I don’t see it like that. “We’ve had two away games at Tottenham and Leicester recently. Leicester were fired up for it, home fans knew it was a big game for them and the lads managed to put in a performance. “And a huge crowd at Tottenham, going 1-0 down and the place bouncing at that point and the lads managed to put in another real good performance. “I don’t know what sort of reception I’ll get. It doesn’t bother me too much either way.” Victory for Cherries tomorrow would push rock-bottom Saints closer towards relegation with just a month of the season remaining. But O’Neil insists that is not on his mind. “No feeling towards what it does to them at all,” he said. “Just purely us and what it means to us. I wouldn’t get any more pleasure out of beating Southampton than I would out of beating anybody else. “Hopefully we can go there and put another big result on the board for ourselves, the club, the players, the fans and if we do that, we’ll be in a really good place.”
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton boss happy with Bedanrek stand-ins after Arsenal draw #SAINTSFC

April 27, 2023
The central defensive duo have found opportunities limited under Selles thus far with Caleta-Car starting once in the Premier League under the Spaniard while Lyanco is yet to earn a starting berth. But both defenders were called upon from the bench at Arsenal last Friday, Caleta-Car replacing Jan Bednarek after he suffered a concussion before Lyanco came on for Charly Alcaraz when Selles switched to a back five during the interval. And despite Saints conceding twice late on to draw 3-3 with the Gunners, Selles feels the two defenders have now proven they are able to step in when necessary. “Duje and Lyanco proved the centre-backs that they are and that they've been working hard for their opportunity,” Selles told the Daily Echo.  “They got it. If some of them need to start tomorrow or both of them if we change to a back five, then they are ready.  “I talk about players being able to make an impact on the game and it's not just words. You can see immediately, especially in the Arsenal game, how players like Lyanco who have not been used enough this season, he stepped in and does a fantastic job.  “Duje in the West Ham game and on Friday. I have no doubt any of them can play from the beginning.” After keeping three clean sheets in their first four league matches under Selles, Saints are without such a defensive rearguard in their last six.  The status of Bednarek remains up in the air ahead of Saints’ meeting with Bournemouth as the Polish international gets set to clear concussion protocols Wednesday night before he’s assessed on Thursday ahead of the game.
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil on facing Southampton which could be relegation decider #AFCB

April 27, 2023
O’Neil side visit St Mary’s tomorrow (7.45pm kick-off) in a key clash in the battle for survival. Saints currently sit at the foot of the Premier League table, nine points below Cherries in 15th. Cherries are five points above the bottom three, with Saints’ gap to safety the same margin. Since Selles took charge of Saints, initially on a caretaker basis before being appointed permanent boss, Southampton have taken nine points from 10 Premier League fixtures. Asked about facing Saints, O’Neil replied: “It'll be a big challenge. They've made big improvements since the new head coach took over. “They've improved. They're not really in relegation form since he's taken the job. “I think they have nine points from nine games, so a decent return. “High energy, front-foot, aggressive, had some good results, fantastic performance at Arsenal and result. “So, yeah, it's not like we're going to a team that are losing every week and have been rooted to the bottom of the table because they're in terrible form. “They're putting in some real good performances, picking up some good results. “So, it'll be a real tough test. If anyone is in any doubt then I can assure them it'll be a really tough game for us on Thursday.”
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton boss Ruben Selles says return of Che Adams ‘absolutely helps’ rest of team #SAINTSFC

April 26, 2023
Adams has missed Saints’ last four Premier League matches after picking up a calf injury while away with Scotland on international duty but he has been deemed ready to return after joining first team training this week. The 26-year-old is Saints leading scorer in all competitions this season with ten goals but it’s his general work both on and off the ball that has made him such a vital absence over the past month. READ MORE: Failure to build has destroyed Saints - how will they fare in potential final chance? Now though, Adams is fit once again Selles says he has stayed in match-shape ‘surprisingly well’ while insisting that ‘it absolutely helps’ his Saints teammates having their focal point back available.  “Che has been working really hard in the last month since he's been out from the national team injury,” Selles told the Daily Echo.  “He has done really well in keeping his shape and keeping himself fit enough so when he joined partially in training in the last few days, he looked like a player ready to play.  “We'll look at whether he can start or come in from the bench. It's surprisingly well the way he has adjusted and kept himself ready for the games.” Saints celebrate victory at Bournemouth in October. (Image: Richard Crease) While Adams himself would admit that he should have scored many more Premier League goals than the five he’s mustered, the lack of alternatives at the club and the striker’s all-round game have made him a crucial component of the side. In Adams’ absence and with Paul Onuachu deemed an afterthought, Selles has experimented with Sekou Mara up front before shifting to a formation without a natural striker.  It remains to be seen whether Adams will slot straight back into the team as Saints prepare to face the side they beat 1-0 in October - courtesy of Adams’ early header. “Che is a player that knows the Premier League,” Selles added when asked by the Daily Echo as to how Adams’ return helps the rest of his team.  “He's played a lot of games, he scored against these opponents in the last game. It gives the team some kind of security when you have him around the team or even starting.  “That bit of familiarity or knowledge about the opponent and knowing the man on your right and left, it absolutely helps the other players to understand than with some other cases. So yes, to have Che is absolutely an advantage for us.” Saints enter the midweek round of Premier League fixtures bottom of the table, four points adrift of safety while they find themselves nine points adrift of Thursday’s opponents Bournemouth. With just six games remaining to save their top-flight status - three of those pitting Selles’s side against Newcastle United, Brighton, and Liverpool - the South Coast clash presents Saints with one of their final opportunities to close the gap on those ahead of them and spark a great escape.
Jaidon Anthony
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Jaidon Anthony calls on team to ‘get back to basics’ after west ham loss #AFCB

April 26, 2023
Gary O’Neil’s charges were reminded they are not safe from the threat of relegation by fellow strugglers West Ham on Sunday, the Hammers easing to a 4-0 win at Vitality Stadium. Once again Cherries were undone by set-pieces, West Ham opening the scores from a corner headed home by Michail Antonio. The Cherries defence did not cover itself in any glory for the second on 12 minutes, Lucas Paqueta ghosting in at the far post to score another header. Declan Rice caught the hosts out at another corner before the break, with substitute Pablo Fornals finishing the scoring midway through the second half. Speaking after the game, Anthony shared: “We're very disappointed with ourselves, first and foremost. “The way we executed the game plan. We weren't good enough in both boxes and we were punished for that. “Frustrated, but we got another game coming very fast and we’re looking to put it right. “Hopefully we can do that. “We know we have to turn up. There's no game that's going to be given to you in this league. We were punished for mistakes and for not being in the right position and stuff like that. We’ve got to learn from it, and bounce back on Thursday. “This league, it does that to you. You can never really predict what's going to happen. Obviously we're disappointed with how we performed. We didn't really get the basics right. We were punished for that.” Not first the first time this season, Cherries struggled to create clear cut chances despite enjoying a majority of possession. “I think every team will say so it's a lot harder to break a team down when they get bodies behind the ball, but we know we have the players to break it down,” Anthony explained to the Daily Echo.  “(Against West Ham) it didn't quite work out, but it's never easy when you have that many bodies in front of a goal to try and try and find gaps that they don't let you create.” Cherries face another six-pointer with a rival for survival in the form of Southampton on Thursday evening, with Anthony hoping his team can put right their wrongs from the weekend. He restarted: “You see in this league, there's always surprises in there and Thursday, I'm sure there'll be no difference. Another tough game that we're going to try and try and win and hopefully we will do that there. “We’ve had some good results recently and showed what a good side we are. We’ve just to get back to basics. Try and pick ourselves up, and getting going again Thursday. “We got another chance to try and put it right and be on the right side of a result, of a performance on Thursday.    
Gavin Bazunu
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton’s Gavin Bazunu reveals being level headed in tough premier league moments #SAINTSFC

April 25, 2023
The Republic of Ireland international briefly reflects on his own performances in the mixed zone at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, during his debut Premier League season. Bazunu is only 21 years old but he has played every single minute of the league campaign following his summer move to St Mary’s from Manchester City. It is less than an hour since his side had shipped two goals in the last three minutes of regulation time to give up two valuable points in a 3-3 draw with the league leaders. READ MORE: The three big things to take away from Southampton's draw at Arsenal Bukayo Saka’s equaliser was tapped in from Bazunu’s initial parry into a central area – not the first time that has happened this season but the most forgivable given the speed of the initial shot. “It’s obviously the top league in the world and I’m a young goalkeeper but I relish every moment of it,” Bazunu told the Daily Echo. “I keep a level head about everything because It’s the only way you can get through it, you have to keep confidence in yourself. “I can’t speak on behalf of the other players but for myself, with all the minutes I’ve had and experiences good and bad, I’m taking every bit of it for these last few games.” All goalkeeping metrics point to the fact Saints could have done with a more viable number two option to offer competition to young Bazunu throughout this season. But the hope remains that the Irishman will be an improved product year-on-year, having never played above League One before the start of this term. What league the team will play in is still yet to be decided. Following Saturday’s Leicester City victory, even a win at Emirates Stadium would have kept Saints bottom. They remain four points from safety with six games to play and a visit from AFC Bournemouth - the team Bazunu's first clean sheet came against - is up next. “I think the immediate feeling is disappointment at not picking up all three points but going into Thursday there are so many positives we can take,” Bazunu admitted. “We have come to the league leaders and scored three goals, been ruthless and shown the fighting spirit that we did.” He added: “We scored some great goals and showed fight and desire but we need to be as ruthless in the remaining games. “We’ve now got to look at the performance we put in and take the positives into Thursday, we’ve got to be confident with our ruthlessness and spirit.” Much of that ruthlessness looks like it could be coming through 20 year old January signing Charly Alcaraz – who has already scored three in the Premier League. It was the Argentine who opened the scoring beyond Aaron Ramsdale and assisted with a splitting pass for Theo Walcott and the side’s second. “It’s great, all season we’ve been a great team in the attacking phase but we’ve just not taken our chances,” Bazunu said, when prompted on the youngster, who still does not speak English. “In other games, we have not had the luck fall our way. With the quality we have up front, we’ve been able to be more ruthless. “I think if we can gain this confidence and our attacking players can find that clinical edge we’ll have no problem in the remaining games this season."
Joel Veltman
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Joel Veltman verdict after FA Cup defeat to ten Hag’s Manchester Utd #BHAFC

April 25, 2023
But he accepts a challenge still lies ahead to secure a top-seven spot. Veltman knows the ins and outs of European competition from his days with Ajax. READ MORE: SOLLY MARCH'S MESSAGE AFTER WEMBLEY PENALTY MISS He went on as sub in the semi-final against Manchester United. Asked whether the tie can benefit the Seagulls squad, Veltman said: “Yes, 100% it can be a good prep for next season if we make it to the European places. “The environment, everything is good experience for the younger lads. “We have the qualities to end in the top seven. I think we deserve it but we need to work hard for that. “It’s a good thing, I would say, that we have a game quite quickly. It’s another big game. “We’re doing well in the Premier League so we need to focus on that, we have to focus on that because we’re out of the FA Cup. “But I think we’re in a good place in the Premier League, we’re doing well, so time to focus for European places now.”   Get more Albion stories delivered to your inbox every day by signing up to our Albion newsletter Veltman’s former boss was impressed by Albion in the 120-minute stalemate. The defender said: “Erik ten Hag, I spoke to him, he gave a lot of compliments – how we played, where we are now in the Premier League and how far we came in the FA Cup, so lots of compliments. “For now, I don’t care because I wanted to be in the final. “But I think we’re in a good place.” Veltman left the recent win at Chelsea holding his thigh but was a surprise inclusion in the Seagulls’ 20 at Wembley. He went on during the second half in a bid to keep Marcus Rashford at bay. The former Holland international said: “It was kind of a surprise for me as well. “We did some scans and it was not too bad so I was always thinking maybe I could make it. “I trained (on Saturday), which was all good and I said to the gaffer ‘I’m ready to not start but, when you need, I’ll be ready’. “So I’m happy. I was not happy with the extra-time, to be honest! But that’s fine.”
chris mepham Bournemouth
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Chris Mepham admits surprise after defeat to West Ham #AFCB

April 25, 2023
Hammers opened scores after five minutes, Michail Antonio heading home unopposed at a corner, before the away side made it 2-0 on 12 minutes through Lucas Paqueta. Declan Rice crashed home a third from another corner minutes before the break, substitute Pablo Fornals adding a fourth in the second period. Talking to Sky Sports, Mepham shared: “Weird game really. “I felt like we probably felt in complete control, had a lot of the ball, started the game well and then just set pieces killed us. “It’s something we’ve put a lot of work into and we’ve been aware we’re not good enough dealing with them set pieces and today showed again – two balls in the box and two goals and you’ve got a mountain to climb against a very stubborn West Ham team. “We need to do more to make sure we’re not in that position but I felt like that was the difference today. I don’t think in general play there was much in it either way. Just shows the importance of set pieces at this level.”  
David Moyes
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- West Ham’s David Moyes feared potential AFC Bournemouth comeback #WHUFC

April 25, 2023
The Hammers raced into a 2-0 lead on the south coast, Michail Antonio opening scores on five minutes before Lucas Paqueta grabbed a second seven minutes later. Declan Rice made it three shortly before the break, with Pablo Fornals confirming the result on 72 minutes with the fourth and final goal. Despite his side’s relative control of the scoreline, Moyes shared that he had not counted his chickens before they had hatched, pointing towards recent comebacks in the Premier League. Last weekend Hammers came from two behind to draw with league leaders Arsenal, whilst the Gunners themselves overcame a two-goal deficit to draw 3-3 with lowly Southampton“It was an excellent win. Asked about Fornals’ goal, Moyes replied: “I was just thrilled we got it. Because even at three, if they get a goal - more so than ever, we are seeing teams coming from comebacks and we were 2-0 down last week. “We saw Arsenal Southampton, 3-1 and a comeback, you never know at the moment how these things are going.” Cherries head coach Gary O’Neil shared after the game that Moyes had told him he felt the 4-0 margin flattered West Ham, with the Hammers boss believing his side to have been “clinical” with their opportunities. “I thought Bournemouth put us under pressure, had a few opportunities,” he continued. “We were clinical when we got our opportunities. “We got off to a great start in the game and especially after the midweek game, it gave us a real lift. “I thought the players went into the game with a lot of confidence and self-belief from reaching another semi-final and obviously we had a really good comeback against Arsenal last week. “We defended the box very well. I didn’t like that we gave up so many opportunities. We did that part when we had to as well. “I thought Bournemouth had opportunities as well.”  
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Gary O’Neil explains ‘real reason’ why West Ham beat Bournemouth #AFCB

April 24, 2023
The resounding score-line marked Cherries’ heaviest home loss since defeat by the same score to Liverpool in the Premier League in December 2018. Early headed goals from Michail Antonio and Lucas Paqueta set the tone, before Declan Rose slammed in a third before half-time. O’Neil tried to change momentum with his substitutions, but Cherries could not pull a goal back, eventually conceding again through an acrobatic Pablo Fornals strike. Asked how he would sum up the loss, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “Not good enough in both penalty areas. “West Ham have a couple of real strengths and we weren’t able to cope with them, basically. “Whatever happened in between becomes irrelevant if you’re not able to deal with one of their key strengths. “David (Moyes) said to me afterwards obviously it was a never a 4-0 game. “We obviously dominated the ball. But West Ham have real strengths in that they attack set plays well, they’re physical, they’re good in the air and they can counter-attack. “If you don’t match their physicality in our penalty area for the first goal and even for the second goal, 12 minutes in, 2-0 down, you’ve not been able to cope with one of their key strengths and then you’ve set the game up perfectly for them to sit in as they wanted to and try and catch you on the counter. “And then on the flip side of that, we arrive in the final third, create a lot of chances and aren’t good enough to stick any away at the moment.” O’Neil added: “If you want to look at the real reason West Ham beat us today, it’s because their strengths, we couldn’t cope with.” Cherries slip to 15th with this defeat, five points clear of the relegation zone with six games to play.
Ryan Christie
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie cannot hide his frustration after defeat to West Ham #AFCB

April 24, 2023
Michail Antonio was left unmarked to nod home at a corner five minutes in, with the away side doubling their lead with another header seven minutes later, Lucas Paqueta the scorer. Declan Rice powered home a third after Cherries survived the initial cross at a corner, before Pablo Fornals added a fourth in the second period. Conceding from dead-balls has been a common theme from this campaign. Rice’s 43rd minute strike was the 20th goal let in from either a corner or a free-kick, with Cherries also conceding from six penalties. “It's not a good stat,” Christie replied when it was put to him by the Daily Echo. “At the same time, especially against the bigger teams, we've conceded a lot of corners as well. It probably accumulates to that. “Obviously frustrating to concede a goal anyway, but especially set-pieces, when we work on them every week and we worked them especially on Friday. “So West Ham again, probably a team that were focusing on that stuff like that coming into today's game. “And first one is really cheap. Second one, obviously, just kind of drops and it is a good strike. “Another day, somebody blocks that. “Frustrating, I think just because of the manner we concede in terms of how well we played in the first half.” Asked what the mood in the dressing room was like,  Christie responded: “It's alright, obviously frustrated. “Going into the game, we wanted to get a positive result, especially on the run of form we're on and after last week as well. “Sounds maybe a bit ridiculous, but we played all right first half. It was just two set-plays and an aimless ball in the box that killed us. “Probably makes it a little bit more frustrating. Half time I was going in thinking I couldn't believe we were 3-0 down. “But that's sometimes what the Premier League is, it comes down to each box. “And today obviously not our day, but still a massive week ahead, so can't be too down. We go on to Thursday.”  
Gary O’Neil
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Gary O’Neil on squad depth #AFCB

April 23, 2023
A return of 15 points from the last 24 available has seen Cherries rise up the league table, opening up a six-point gap over the bottom three at the time of writing. Cherries would do their survival chances no harm with a positive result over West Ham on Sunday (kick-off 2pm), David Moyes’ Hammers visiting the Vitality. In recent weeks numerous players have come from the fringes of the squad to playing key roles in recent victories, with O’Neil listing Welsh international Chris Mepham as one such example. Ryan Christie and Jack Stephens have also endured spells out of the starting XI, whilst Joe Rothwell has returned from injury to become one of the side’s most consistent performers. Asked whether he was impressed by the professionalism shown by his team, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “I think that's the way the game is now. “There's a 25-man squad and you need your 25-man squad to be full of people that are all capable of stepping in. “So of course, there are going to be certain lads that spend spells without playing as much as they'd like. “It's the way the game is. So, they've managed to stay ready. “I think obviously Meps (Chris Mepham) was a good example the other day, where he had a couple of games outside of the squad. “Kept himself ready to come in and put in two big performances. “It's important that everyone understands that you're always involved regardless of whether you're selected one week or not. “Things can change very quickly and you need to keep yourself in a place that you're ready to affect the games that you're selected. “I think the group are very good at that. I think we have a lot of leaders in the group who not only lead with voice but example. “Adam Smith, of course, is one – he works his socks off every day. No matter what the result is, no matter how he's feeling, no matter what we're doing, he'll always give everything. “I spoke about it a lot already, but they're a group that they don't take too much managing. “They're very good around their approach to our work and approach to each game and how we respond to negatives and positives. "So, of course we need to make sure we keep that up because we've still got six weeks to go.” O’Neil is now able to trust on a wide array of players to come in when called upon, which the head coach believes could be key as his side face three relegation rivals in the next eight days. After hosting the Hammers, Cherries travel over the county border to face bottom side Southampton on Thursday, before returning back to Dorset to host Leeds United the following Sunday. “Back a few, maybe longer than a few weeks, when we were really short and we didn't have enough senior players to fill the bench, going into a three-game week with that sort of group would have been tricky at that time,” O’Neil commented. “So now of course, there are players you can take in, take out. “As you saw at the weekend, we've been able to take Adam Smith out and put in another really good player. “So, three-game week, having more options is definitely a benefit.”
Ryan Christie
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- AFC Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie on proving doubters wrong as relegation battle is almost over for Cherries #AFCB

April 23, 2023
Heavily unfancied by most, Cherries have hit form at the right time, 15 points from their last eight games bringing them six points clear of the bottom three with seven games remaining. As a newly promoted side from the Championship, Cherries were viewed as likely candidates for the drop in pre-season by sections of the national media. Discussing proving people wrong, Christie shared: “Personally, I’ve kind of felt it since the very start of the season. On pre-season, the first media, everyone was talking about relegation for us. I was thinking ‘we’ve not even kicked a ball yet’. “So that’s nice. It gives us the feeling to keep everything in house and do it for ourselves and the travelling fans. “It kind of builds that feeling of us against the world almost. I think that plays into our hands. “A good run of form right now. Hopefully we can continue it into a big game Sunday and keep building on that.” Asked how Cherries were dealing with the congested lower portion of the table, Christie replied: “Probably just trying to do what we’re doing, which is putting a run of games together. “Three big games coming up, West Ham being huge. “If you can get another positive result in two or all three of them, I think that’s when we’ll probably notice the difference. “I don’t think many teams would have thought we were going to come (to Spurs) and pick up a result like we did. “It’s nice, hopefully other teams looking at that and cursing us a little bit. Hopefully a good win to push us on and get another few wins and get us safe.” Playing other teams in the relegation scrap not only gives Cherries the opportunity to add points to their own tally, but also to deprive positional rivals of picking up key results. “I think it plays into the fact more of how the league looks, just because there are so many teams in and around it,” continued the Scot. “When you can get a result against teams (near you), obviously we felt how big the Leicester win was, just to kind of create a gap between you and others. Obviously a big game coming up. “The West Ham game marks the start of a run of fixtures against fellow sides in the relegation battle. Cherries visit Southampton next Thursday, before welcoming the division’s most out-of-form team, Leeds United, to Vitality Stadium next Sunday.”
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton’s Ruben Selles admits disappointment and pride after Arsenal draw #SAINTSFC

April 22, 2023
The Spaniard made some big calls over the course of the 105 minutes of football at Emirates Stadium, which saw the home side steal a late point. Charly Alcaraz and Theo Walcott had opened the scoring for the visitors while goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Duje Caleta-Car saw a two-goal lead in the closing stages. But Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka – with Saints operating in a five-back defence for the entire second half – netted in the final three minutes of regulation time to level. READ MORE: 'Will probably determine' - Walcott accepts significance of upcoming Bournemouth game It kept alive Arsenal’s title hopes ahead of their meeting with Manchester City next week, while Saints missed the chance to climb off the bottom of the Premier League table. “I feel disappointment because of the two points we dropped at the end but very proud of the effort and the togetherness that the boys showed,” Selles admitted, after the match. “Sometimes it can feel like a disappointment because of the result but I think we need to go out of the stadium with our chests out. We put in a good performance. “We know what we need to do, we know the solutions in every single moment and they showed that they want to play and they want to fight for each other. That’s why when we went to our fans because they were very proud of us.” He added: “I think it feels like two points dropped because I think we were staying with our plan, we were doing what we wanted to do. “And I think it’s a double feeling. The feeling of dropping two points that will help us a lot but the feeling that we can do it against any opponent.” It was another positive result against ‘big six’ clubs after wins versus Chelsea and draws with Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United already this campaign. Saints now need to show the same fight against the so-called lesser teams, if they are to make up the points deficit and survive with just six fixtures left to play. “I think the desire is there,” Selles insisted. “What we need to find is solutions that put us in the best position and I think we are getting there. “I think the performances we’ve had in big parts of the game have been good performances in the last two but if we had the same behaviours as we had today with the finishing action then we would be talking about something different today.” Up next for Saints is AFC Bournemouth – who have managed to race nine points clear of Saints with this weekend’s game still in hand for them. Saints beat the Cherries away in October. “We always talk about habits. And our habit is to review the game, talk to the players, have a good recovery, have a good day off, and then coming in the third day we will prepare for the next game,” Selles said, looking ahead to the visit of the Cherries. “They will have the time for themselves and then we just go again. It’s just about habits and how we work, there’s nothing new in the season, it’s just about let’s go and take the very best from today for the next game. “My assessment is that I want to be fighting for survival until the last day and then making it on the last day - or hopefully before. That’s my assessment.”