Eddie Howe went through the full range of emotions on Sunday during Bournemouth‘s agonising 2-0 defeat to Southampton at the Vitality.
Danny Ings gave the visitors the lead before seeing a penalty brilliantly saved by Aaron Ramsdale and Sam Surridge’s injury-time strike looked to have sealed Bournemouth a point.
Devastatingly for the Cherries’, Surridge’s goal was chalked off for a Callum Wilson offside and moments later Southampton rubbed salt into the wound by scoring their second through Che Adams.
Howe’s deflated reaction seconds after the final whistle laid bare Bournemouth’s devastation but their dreams of remaining in the Premier League are not quite over yet.
Bournemouth are relying on others to drop points but if they are able to rouse themselves and win against Everton at Goodison Park, they could complete a miraculous great escape.
Here is what Bournemouth need to extend their stay in the top-flight into a sixth season.
Final day fixture
Whereas Watford face Arsenal at the Emirates and Aston Villa take on a West Ham side not completely safe, Bournemouth take on Everton with nothing to play for.
The Toffees are currently 11th in the table but cannot move into the top half and will fall no further than 12th.
That could potentially play into Bournemouth’s favour as their motivation to win will surely be higher than Everton given their position and the lack of home fans in attendance.
Bournemouth will have to create history if they are to secure the required three points, though, as they have never won at Goodison Park and lost all four Premier League fixtures there.
Relegation permutations
Things look pretty grim for Bournemouth as they are three points behind Watford in 18th and Aston Villa in 17th following the latest round of results.
Consequently, Bournemouth have to win while hoping that Watford are beaten by Arsenal and Villa lose to West Ham.
All three teams have a remarkably similar goal difference, with Bournemouth and Watford both on -27 and Aston Villa on -26.
If Bournemouth were to win and the other teams both suffered defeats, that would naturally result in them having the best goal difference of the three clubs ensuring their survival.
Team news
Howe will be desperate to get Nathan Ake on the pitch for what would almost certainly be his final appearance for the club with a £35m move to Manchester City reportedly in the pipeline.
Ake missed Bournemouth’s defeat to Southampton with a groin problem and Howe admitted that he doesn’t know if he will recover sufficiently to face Everton.
Adam Smith will be in contention to play again after suffering a concussion during the 0-0 draw with Tottenham on 9 July. Charlie Daniels, Chris Mepham and Simon Francis are long-term absentees.
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from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/39i9O1A
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