Southampton v Bournemouth: Cherries’ woes to continue at St Mary’s
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This weekend sees the first ever top flight south coast derby between Southampton and Bournemouth take place but it seems unlikely to be a memorable occasion for the Cherries.
Eddie Howe’s side make the short trip up the M27 without top scorer Callum Wilson, captain Tommy Elphick and summer signings Tyrone Mings and Max Gradel, with all four set for lengthy spells on the sidelines.
The missing personnel have played a major part in the Cherries’ recent struggles with the Dean Court outfit now winless in five games in all competitions, losing four of those and conceding 14 goals in the process.
No such problem for Saints though, with Ronald Koeman’s men tasting defeat just twice in their last 14 and last losing to Bournemouth in 1987.
This form is reflected in the odds, with the hosts 8/15 favourites to claim all three points and Bournemouth billed as 5/1 underdogs.
The draw can be backed at 3/1 but with the match being shown live on Sky Sports there is better value out there thanks to Ladbrokes’ famous Sharp Shooter offer.
Back any player to score first and Ladbrokes will pay out at double the odds on any winning selection that scores within the first 25 minutes.*
Graziano Pelle looks the man most likely for the hosts, with the Italian netting four goals in his last five outings.
The former Feyenoord man is the 7/2 favourite to open the scoring, meaning Ladbrokes will pay out at a whopping 7/1 if the Sharp Shooter boost is activated.
Glenn Murray is the shortest priced Cherries player to open the scoring at 8/1 but after a solid showing against Liverpool in midweek forgotten man Junior Stanislas could prove a shrewd selection.
The former West Ham and Burnley winger was a constant threat against the Reds and made way in the second half – perhaps with one eye on this weekend’s derby.
Stanislas is billed as a 16/1 shot to fire first but the chance to get 32/1 on the trickster to catch Southampton cold is too good to ignore.
* For full Sharp Shooter T&Cs click here
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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