Southampton put their Premier League problems aside when they reached the FA Cup semi-finals by getting past hosts Bournemouth.
Nathan Redmond delighted the Saints, who have lost 10 of their last 12 league games, with two goals and one assist.
Visitors led the way as Moussa Djenepo chilled into Redmond’s precise pass after a drive.
Redmond’s stunning solo goal gave the visitors the lead at halftime before calmly steering in the third.
“We had an ambition to come to Wembley at the beginning of the season. It’s an opportunity for us to leave league form behind,” Redmond told BT Sport.
“It was something we always had to aim for. We knew we wanted a cup run this season.”
Southampton will find out their opponent in the semi-finals when the draw at halftime of the Leicester-Manchester United tie takes place live on BBC One on Sunday around 17:45 GMT.
The semi-finals will take place on the weekend of April 17th to 18th. The final will take place on May 15th at Wembley.
The saints march on in the FA Cup
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has made no secret of the club’s ambitions to go far in the FA Cup this season. After hitting the final eight against Shrewsbury, Arsenal and Wolves, it was a presentable opportunity to face the championship opponent. Final.
A pathetic run of form, to which a number of key player injuries have contributed, has dumped the Saints into the Premier League, putting them at risk of being drawn into a relegation battle.
However, the FA Cup has provided a welcome distraction.
A professional performance full of pace and determination highlighted the quality gap between Hasenhuttl’s side and a team from Bournemouth, which were inconsistent as they sought an immediate return to the top division.
The Cherries have also seen multiple injuries in the past few weeks, with Jonathan Woodgate’s side falling well below the required level to test their south coast neighbors.
“It was a very lively performance on our part,” said Hasenhuttl, who wants to be the second manager to lead the Saints to the FA Cup after Lawrie McMenemy in 1976.
“The mindset was important and we showed what we were doing and what we wanted to achieve. It was important to keep the pace up and play fast.”
After taking a break when Cameron Carter-Vickers’ early own goal was canceled by VAR, Bournemouth failed to use it as a stepping stone and gain a foothold in the game.
When the Saints came to life towards the end of the first half – thanks in large part to former England U21 international Redmond – there were few signs of the cherries making a comeback.
While it will understandably be dismayed not to be the first Bournemouth team to reach the FA Cup semi-finals, Woodgate’s side must now regroup to focus on their promotion campaign.
“The boys never gave up, but they are a good team. We are moving on now. We have nine big games and we want to go to the play-offs,” said Woodgate.
Man of the Match Redmond have scored two goals in a game for Southampton for the first time since April 2019
Statistics of the day
- Southampton have made their second FA Cup semi-finals in 18 seasons, most recently in 2017-18 before being eliminated by eventual winners Chelsea
- Bournemouth have lost three of their last five home games in all competitions (won two), as many defeats as in the last 18 (won 11, drawn four).
- Bournemouth have prevailed against high profile opponents in just four of their 30 FA Cup games
- Southampton have scored two or more goals (seven goals total) in each of their last three away games in all competitions, having failed to find the backbone of the net in five of their previous seven games on the road (four goals total).
- Moussa Djenepo’s start for Southampton was his first in 20 games in all competitions since meeting West Brom in October
- Nathan Redmond’s two goals against Bournemouth are as many as he has in his last 34 appearances for the Saints in all competitions
- Redmond was directly involved in three goals (one goal, two assists) in a single game in all competitions for the first time since May 2015 for Norwich v Fulham in the championship.
What’s next?
After the two-week international break, Southampton will focus on the Premier League again when Burnley – the team directly below them in 15th place – receives on Sunday 4 April at 12:00 CET.
Bournemouth, who are in seventh place two points outside the championship play-offs, will welcome Middlesbrough to Dean Court on Friday April 2nd (3pm).
Constellations
Bournemouth
formation 4-2-3-1
1Begovic
17thStacey18thCarter-Vickers3S cook21Rico
11Wilshere22ndPearson
20thRiquelme29Billing10Danjuma Groeneveld
9Solanke
- 1Begovic
- 17thStacey
- 18thCarter-Vickers
- 3S cook
- 21RicoReplaced byMephamat the 67 ‘protocol
- 11WilshereBooked at 84 minutes
- 22ndPearsonReplaced bySurridgeat the 56 ‘protocolBooked at 90 minutes
- 20thRiquelmeReplaced byAnthonyat the 56 ‘protocol
- 29BillingReplaced byKilkennyat the 77 ‘protocol
- 10Danjuma Groeneveld
- 9Solanke
replacement
- 6thMepham
- 14thSurridge
- 23By
- 26thKilkenny
- 32Anthony
- 33Zemura
- 38Saydee
- 39Moriah Welsh
Southampton
formation 4-4-2
44Ranger
2Walker-Peters35Bednarek4thVestergaard3Bertrand
17thArmstrong8thWard-Prowse27Diallo12thDjenepo
10Adams11Redmond
- 44Ranger
- 2Walker-PetersReplaced byRamsayat the 89 ‘protocol
- 35BednarekBooked at 30 minutesReplaced byStephensat the 77 ‘protocol
- 4thVestergaardBooked at 74 minutesReplaced bySalisuat the 77 ‘protocol
- 3Bertrand
- 17thArmstrong
- 8thWard-Prowse
- 27Diallo
- 12thDjenepoReplaced byTellaat the 85 ‘protocol
- 10AdamsReplaced byN’Lunduluat the 90 ‘protocol
- 11Redmond
replacement
- 1McCarthy
- 5Stephens
- 22ndSalisu
- 23Tella
- 31Ramsay
- 40N’Lundulu
- 47ferry
- 64Jankewitz
- 65watt
Live text
End of the game, Bournemouth 0, Southampton 3.
The second half ends, Bournemouth 0, Southampton 3.
Sam Surridge (Bournemouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Mohammed Salisu (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sam Surridge (Bournemouth).
Substitution, Southampton. Daniel N’Lundulu replaces Che Adams.
Substitution, Southampton. Kayne Ramsay is replacing Kyle Walker-Peters.
Che Adams (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Chris Mepham (Bournemouth).
Attempt saved. Sam Surridge’s (Bournemouth) header from the center of the penalty area is saved in the center of the goal. Assisted by Jaidon Anthony with a cross.
Foul by Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton).
Arnaut Danjuma Groeneveld (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Nathan Tella (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jack Stacey (Bournemouth).
Substitution, Southampton. Nathan Tella replaces Moussa Djenepo.
Jack Wilshere (Bournemouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Ibrahima Diallo (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Jack Wilshere (Bournemouth).
Ryan Bertrand (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Cameron Carter-Vickers (Bournemouth).
