AFC Bournemouth’s development squad will face Southampton FC in the Premier League Cup at noon today.
In a rearranged fixture, the Cherries side take on their Dorset rivals, with a potential place in the last 16 of the cup at stake.
The South Coast side were put in the same group as their rivals, alongside fellow Championship club West Bromwich Albion and Premier League side Arsenal.
The home games have produced good results thus far, with a 1-1 draw against The Gunners and a 4-0 thrashing of West Brom.
However, the away games saw the Cherries beaten 4-0 by Arsenal and dispatched by The Baggies after a 2-0 win for the Midlands side.
The competition was established in 2013, as the U21 Premier League cup, then renamed in 2016 with the age range increasing to accommodate U23’s.
It was created as a tournament for clubs to play their academy sides in, to give young players experience ahead of potential first team callups.
Saints were victors in 2015, after beating Blackburn Rovers on aggregate, but success has eluded the Cherries, who will be looking to book a place in the last 16 for the first time since their 2019/20 tie against Wigan Athletic had to be called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to that, in the 2018-19 edition of the tournament, the Cherries were knocked out by Nottingham Forest 2-1.
Many talents have come through the academy at AFC Bournemouth and gone on to feature in the first team, such as current players Gavin Kilkenny, Mark Travers, Jordan Zemura and Jaidon Anthony.
It is sure to be an intense afternoon for the Cherries, after the last game against the Saints was called off due to heavy fog at AFC Totton’s Snows Stadium.
Southampton were leading 1-0 before the abandonment. Today’s game will be held behind closed doors at the Saints’ Staplewood Training Ground.
Stay tuned on our website for the full match report later this afternoon.
Wilko in Richmond Gardens has confirmed its closure in February