Our prediction for this FA Cup match:
A place in the FA Cup semis will be at stake when Bournemouth and Southampton take on each other at Vitality Stadium. The Cherries set up a meeting with the Saints by beating the likes of Oldham Athletic, Crawley Town, and Burnley, but they will have a big fish to fry in Saturday’s clash. Bournemouth’s main goal is to secure promotion to the Premier League; therefore, we do not believe that home win should be considered.
The Saints, on the other hand, are eager to save the season by going all the way in the FA Cup. Bournemouth want this win more than Southampton, and even though key attacker Danny Ings is likely to miss the game through injury, we are tempted to put our money on the visitors. In their previous meeting in a competitive match Southampton recorded a 2-0 win over Bournemouth.
Highlighted Player (Joshua King):
Joshua King is a Norway international who plays for Premier League side Bournemouth as a striker. King was born in Oslo on January 15, 1992 and he started his career at the youth team of Romsas. In 2006 the Norwegian footballer moved to Valerenga and two years later he joined Premier League giants Manchester United. Nonetheless, he did not see any game action at Old Trafford as he was immediately sent on loan to Preston.
Joshua King played for the likes of Borussia M’gladbach, Hull City and Blackburn Rovers on loan as well before signing a permanent deal with the Riversiders in January, 2013. The pacey attacker scored only three goals in 56 appearances in the league for Blackburn Rovers, but in 2015 Bournemouth chiefs decided to bring him to Vitality Stadium.
Joshua King impressed in the 2016/2017 Premier League campaign, with the Norwegian striker scoring 16 goals in 36 appearances for the Cherries. King provided two assists for his teammates in the process as well.
Highlighted Team (Southampton):
Southampton are an English football club that have been playing their home games at St Mary's Stadium since 2001. The Saints were based at The Dell in the past and the capacity of Southampton’s new stadium is 32,505. Southampton wear red and white striped shirts and the colour of the team’s away kit is navy and green.
The Saints have yet to win the Premier League trophy, but they did well to clinch the FA Cup title back in 1976, while participating in the final of the prestigious competition in 1900, 1902 and 2003. Southampton outplayed Manchester United in the 1976 FA Cup final and that is probably the club’s greatest victory ever.
The club are well known for their football academy and Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale is one of the players who began their football carrier at the St. Mary’s Stadium outfit. Southampton’s fiercest rivals are Portsmouth and the two teams square off against each other in the South Coast Derby.