Bournemouth climbed above Chelsea into fifth place in the Premier League with a dominant 3-1 victory over Southampton in the south coast derby.
While Saints aimed for back-to-back league wins for the first time since February 2022, their hopes were shattered by a blistering Bournemouth start.
Ryan Christie was the catalyst, delivering a pinpoint cross for Dango Ouattara to open the scoring before unleashing a stunning 22-yard strike to double the lead.
Southampton struggled to respond until substitute Tyler Dibling injected energy into their attack, setting up Kamaldeen Sulemana for a powerful finish that briefly sparked hope.
However, Bournemouth quickly reasserted control, with Marcus Tavernier sealing the win late on. The defeat marked Southampton’s 20th loss of a disastrous season, leaving them rooted to the bottom and 10 points adrift of safety, having played a game more than 17th-placed Wolves.
For Bournemouth, the victory secured their first-ever league double over their local rivals and kept their European dreams alive.
With fifth place potentially offering a Champions League spot, the Cherries’ fans could be heard singing about their possible European adventure—one that now looks increasingly within reach.