Premier League: South Coast Supremacy is Well and Truly on the Line!

Bournemouth vs Brighton and Hove Albion

Move over Southampton and Portsmouth – this is the new battle for south coast supremacy.

For so long, the Saints were top dogs in this part of the world with arch rivals Portsmouth also having their own moments in the sun – not least a glorious 2008 FA Cup triumph and an exciting run in Europe.

Yet things have altered somewhat in recent years.

Southampton have just been promoted back to the top flight at the first time of asking but are rock bottom of the Premier League and favourites to go straight back down.

Meanwhile, Pompey are making progress and, as last year’s League One champions, were promoted back to the Championship but are still some way off a Premier League return – the financial outlay which sparked their impressive form in league and cup (they also reached the FA Cup Final in 2010, the same season they were relegated) leading to years of struggle and time in the doldrums, including four seasons in the bottom tier.

So that leaves us with Bournemouth and Brighton!

 

Talking Points 

The Seagulls have well and truly taken over the mantle of top seasiders in recent years.

Just look at this list of some of the players (Moises Caicedo, Ben White, Marc Cucurella, Leandro Trossard and Alexis Mac Allister amongst them), managers (Graham Potter, Roberto De Zerbi) and key staff (Dan Ashworth) who have left the club in recent years and you have to wonder just how they have continued to upset the big boys, even qualifying for European football last term.

So far this season, they have already seen off champions Manchester City, Man Utd, Spurs and held Arsenal.

Bournemouth haven’t caught the attention in quite the same way but they are certainly making more people sit up and take notice over the past 12 months.

Under the management of Andoni Iraola, they have markedly improved and their scalps so far in 2024-25 include last season’s top two, City and Arsenal.

Their character has also been to the fore as shown by their Houdini act which preyed on the anxiousness of Everton in late August.

Against this backdrop then, you could argue (tongue in cheek) that Saturday afternoon’s encounter is also an unofficial bid to be south coast champs, given both sides have defeated City in recent weeks!

Brighton turned the tables on City a fortnight ago when their young manager Fabian Hurzeler ordered a fearless approach from his players, demanding their total belief that they could beat the country’s top side.

Premier League duly followed to leave them on a high heading into the international break.

Last season, their campaign was beset by injuries galore and their infirm list has now hit double figures this term as Jack Hinshelwood (knee) and Yasin Ayari (ankle) both picked up knocks against City, while Tariq Lamptey (calf), Carlos Baleba (knee) and Ferdi Kadioglu (toe) could not join up with their countries either.

Baleba and Hinshelwood have good chances to play this weekend, while Lewis Dunk (calf) is “close”, according to Hurzeler.

Bournemouth have key men missing of their own with Alex Scott (knee), Julian Araujo (hamstring) and Luis Sinisterra (thigh) all absent and doubts over a number of players including Dango Ouattara (adductor) and Antoine Semenyo (knee).

Iraola will also need to make a change in the middle of the park with Ryan Christie serving a one match ban.

As with so many of the clubs punching above their weight, the Cherries also lost a key man of their own this summer but have largely coped well without frontman Dominic Solanke for whose services Spurs were prepared to pay more than £60 million.

Absent friends will not be in the minds of either team on Saturday as the 2024 versions of Bournemouth and Brighton go head-to-head. It should be compelling and bragging rights, as well as Premier League points, are at stake.

 

History

These two sides have been locking horns for 101 years now and there’s never been too much between them.

The very first meeting came in the former Division Three South in December 1923 when the then Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic defeated Brighton by a solitary goal.

Brighton gained revenge a week later with a 5-0 home win of their own.

All their meetings were in that division until 1963 in what was then League Division Three, a contest won 1-0 by away side Bournemouth.

Again, any meetings were reserved for that league until a third round FA Cup tie in 1988 which triggered a period of matches in Division Two.

A top flight game didn’t materialise until 2017 when Bournemouth ran out 2-1 winners at home –Drew Surman and Jermain Defoe scored the goals after a Solly March opener for Brighton.

This fixture last season was more one-sided as Marcos Senesi, Enes Ünal and Justin Kluivert found the net in a 3-0 victory.

Brighton won 3-1 on home soil themselves though.

After Solanke opened the scoring, the Seagulls hit back through an own goal and a second half double from lively winger Kaoru Mitoma.

Overall, Bournemouth have 45 successes to date, Brighton 42 and there have been 29 draws.

 

Betting Tip 

It’s hard to separate these two sides with the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds.

With 1X2 odds, Bournemouth can be backed @ 2.40 with Brighton very close by @ 2.59.

Likewise with Asian Handicap, how about the hosts -0.50 @ 2.40 or Brighton 0.00 @ 2.16?

A repeat of the corresponding fixture from last season is on offer @ 28.00 with Correct Score 3-0.

I think this will be a lot closer than that and have been tempted by the 1X2 Draw @ 3.33.

Given there have only been four goalless draws between these two in the past century – and not one since 1994 – it may be a good time to consider Correct Score 0-0 @ 16.00 or total goal 0-1 @ 3.83, rather than 2-3 @ 2.01 and 4-6 @ 2.57.

I am expecting a few goals and I think the Cherries will edge it which is why my ** prediction is Bournemouth Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 2.40.

   

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