Wilson fortunate not to blank at Southampton as scoring run continues

Southampton 1-3 Bournemouth

Goals: James Ward-Prowse (£5.8m) | Nathan Aké (£4.9m), Harry Wilson (£6.0m), Callum Wilson (£7.8m)

Assists: Che Adams (£5.7m) | Diego Rico (£4.1m), Philip Billing (£5.0m), Aaron Ramsdale (£4.5m)

Bonus Points: Ramsdale x3, Ward-Prowse x2, C Wilson x1

Callum Wilson (£7.8m) made it sixth consecutive Premier League matches with Fantasy returns as he scored a late goal in Bournemouth’s win over Southampton.

The centre-forward, who has dropped £0.2m since the start of Gameweek 1, now has four goals and three assists for a total of 39 points.

Across the six matches, Wilson has averaged 6.7 points per game and still has appealing fixtures on the horizon, West Ham at home in Gameweek 7, Arsenal away after that and Norwich visit the Vitality Stadium in Gameweek 9.

However, it must be said that Wilson was largely anonymous for much of Bournemouth’s 3-1 victory on Friday night, his late goal coming from some calamitous Southampton defending.

Perhaps influenced by a slight ankle issue sustained towards the end of the first half, until the 94th minute, Wilson had not even registered one shot on goal. That changed when a long-ball out of defence from goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale (£4.5m) was poorly dealt with by Angus Gunn (£4.5m) and Jan Bednarek (£4.5m) who eventually clattered into each other.

That left Wilson with the freedom of Southampton to amble towards goal and slot in his latest strike.

Whether he is worth owning moving forward is perhaps still up in the air for some people.

He has registered just seven shots this season, the same number that Gerard Deulofeu (£6.2m) and Tom Cleverley (£4.9m) each managed against Arsenal alone, and yet has the same number of attacking returns.

Those numbers certainly suggest that his output is unsustainable, but the upcoming fixtures do look nice for him. As per usual, it means that Wilson has Fantasy managers perplexed, which we should probably be used to by now.

“In the first half, we were okay. I don’t think tonight we hit the heights we know we’re capable of. I thought it was scrappy at times. We weren’t as good on the ball as I wanted us to be but I thought we had the spirit and desire and determination to win.” – Eddie Howe

It was Joshua King (£6.3m) who scored higher in the eye test than Wilson, even playing on the left side of midfield.

The Norwegian international played in Ryan Fraser‘s (£7.3m) usual position, the diminutive winger dropping to the bench for the second match in a row.

King had by far the greatest presence in the Southampton penalty area compared to his colleagues although this was probably helped by Ralph Hasenhüttl’s perplexing decision to play left-footed centre-back Kevin Danso (£4.5m) at right-back.

Much of Bournemouth’s attacking work came down this side of the pitch in the first half, King slotting in a fine finish after Dominic Solanke (£5.4m) spotted his run from the left, only to see it disallowed for offside.

King was then unfortunate not to win a penalty in the second half when he was taken out by Cédric Soares (£4.9m). Had the spot-kick been awarded he would have almost certainly taken it given his history from 12 yards.

Hasenhüttl had no choice but to replace Danso with left-back Ryan Bertrand (£4.9m) at half-time, pushing Cédric to the right, given the way Bournemouth went 2-0.

The men to fully capitalise on the Southampton manager’s tactical error were Philip Billing (£5.0m) and Harry Wilson (£6.0m).

The central midfielder found himself in space on the left, vacated by Danso, and had a host of options queuing up in the box to dispatch his cross.

It was former Derby County midfielder Wilson who found himself on the end of it, finishing with ease.

“I think we lost this game in the first half with a really not good performance. Even if their first goal was a set-piece the opponent didn’t have that many chances but we also didn’t play as committed and as stable as we have been the last games. It was not a coincidence that we went two down in that moment and a few weak defeating situations where we could do it better and against an opponent who was very aggressive when we went two down. We changed the shape in the first half and it didn’t work and we changed the shape at half time and I think it worked better and we took the risk with 4-2-3 and were very aggressive.” – Ralph Hasenhüttl

That was Wilson’s third goal of the season, again highlighting his potential as a differential option for Bournemouth’s upcoming appealing run of fixtures.

Having said that, this was the Liverpool loanee’s first goal scored inside the penalty area, so Fantasy managers may want to see more action in the box before considering him over the likes of Mason Mount (£6.4m) and Daniel James (£6.2m).

His first goal in Bournemouth colours was a wonder-strike from distance at Villa Park in Gameweek 2, while he fired in a direct free-kick against Manchester City the following match.

Also of note was Billing’s first assist of the season was accompanied by his introduction into Bournemouth’s direct free-kick pecking order.

In the 85th-minute, with Harry Wilson off the pitch, but substitute Fraser on the field, Billing took the set-piece, sending it over the bar.

At St Mary’s there was further development in the budget defender category as Diego Rico (£4.1m) got his second assist in as many matches.

The left-back has been involved in Bournemouth’s corners with Fraser on the bench for the last two matches, his 10th-minute cross directed into the net by Nathan Aké (£4.9m).

Admittedly, there was really poor marking for the corner from Southampton, but Rico’s role in set-pieces will not go unmissed by Fantasy managers on the hunt for value in defence.

However, they should keep an eye on what impact Fraser has on Rico’s corner count if the Scottish international can claw his way back into the team.

Furthermore, Bournemouth remain a side that does not look likely to keep clean sheets on a regular basis.

Despite a pretty abject start to proceedings, somewhat hindered by Hasenhüttl’s selection, Southampton still posed plenty of threat, especially in the second half. In fact, they finished the match with a total of 25 shots, more than four times as many as Bournemouth.

“In the second half (we had) 25 shots on the goal and a lot of chances and every second ball for us and very dominating and if we are two down it is difficult to come back and we could score more than once in that situation.” – Ralph Hasenhüttl

In the first 45 minutes, Sofiane Boufal (£5.5m) went close in the 20th minute, before Ramsdale was forced bat away a Nathan Redmond (£6.3m) effort from range.

In the second, James Ward-Prowse (£5.8m) had a hatful of chances but sent most of them blazing over the crossbar, perhaps reminding Fantasy managers that his goal threat largely stems from set-pieces.

He had the chance to prove that in the 51st minute when Steve Cook (£5.0m) brought down Che Adams (£5.7m) in the penalty area.

At this stage in the game, a spot-kick was more than just rewards for Southampton’s improved efforts after the restart and Ward-Prowse dispatched it ruthlessly.

“After the changing of a back five in the first half we had a period with 10-15 minutes a better position in the game and more possession and created a few chances for us also and a few good moments in the first half. When we found better the game came the next hit for the second goal and it’s not easy to stand for the team. At half time we had to be clear in the mind and try to find the right decision and I think we took the right decision at half time because the second half was a massive reaction for us.” – Ralph Hasenhüttl

Southampton continued to offer hope of an equaliser in the closing stages, Redmond coming the closest in the 73rd minute.

After a great cross from Cédric, a loose ball fell to the former Norwich man, unmarked in the box. He probably should have scored with his powerful finish but Jack Stacey (£4.4m) was on hand to throw his body on the line and produce an all-important block.

“We weren’t good in the second period. We were very reactive, we looked tired and that’s where we had to show our heart and determination to see the game out. There were some heroic blocks and a really good save from our goalkeeper.” – Eddie Howe

Members Analysis

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Southampton XI (4-3-2-1): Gunn; Cédric, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Danso (Bertrand 46′); Højbjerg, Romeu, Ward-Prowse; Boufal, Redmond (Armstrong 88′); Adams (Ings 77′).

Bournemouth XI (4-4-2): Ramsdale; Rico, Aké, S Cook, Stacey; J King (Surman 90+3′), Lerma, Billing, H Wilson (Fraser 63′); Solanke (L Cook 76′), C Wilson.

Lessons learned from Gameweek 6:

• Southampton 1-3 Bournemouth
• Leicester City 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
• Burnley 2-0 Norwich City
• Everton 0-2 Sheffield United
• Manchester City 8-0 Watford
• Newcastle United 0-0 Brighton and Hove Albion
• Crystal Palace 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
• West Ham United 2-0 Manchester United
• Arsenal 3-2 Aston Villa
• Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool