Unbeaten in their last six matches, AFC Bournemouth are on the march.
The Cherries, who have won twice and kept two clean sheets in that time, returned to the Premier League in the summer and were instantly written off as one of this year's ‘yo-yo’ sides and would suffer an immediate relegation back to the Championship.
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It seemed like the wheels were in motion for this prophecy to come to fruition when Liverpool inflicted a record-equalling 9-0 defeat on Bournemouth at Anfield just four games into the season. That was the final match Scott Parker oversaw as manager before he was relieved of his duties shortly after.
Former Portsmouth and Middlesbrough midfielder Gary O’Neil was handed the reins on a caretaker basis and he has certainly taken care of things on the pitch. This impressive run that the newly-promoted side are on has stemmed from the interim boss. He has organised the team so that they are all on the same page which has made them more clinical in front of goal and more confident in possession.
Bournemouth have scored eight goals in the six games under his watch. Dominic Solanke and Philip Billing have been the main providers and the duo look to be improving game by game. Solanke has scored two and assisted three while Billing has scored three and assisted two - both players only got off the mark in the top-flight after O'Neil's arrival.
The entire group have been combative and they have had it drilled into them just how important each point available is in this ferocious division. Whatever O’Neil has introduced or tweaked over the past few weeks, it has been executed brilliantly.
Since their crushing 9-0 defeat, they are the only unbeaten side in the division in the matches that have been played since. In that time, only Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur (both 13) and Arsenal (12) have picked up more points than them (10).
Speaking of the march that the Cherries are on, they welcome Southampton to the Vitality Stadium in the Premier League this evening - a club synonymous with marching due to their nickname, the Saints, and the age-old song that goes with it.
However, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have not done much marching on the pitch as they have not won in their last five league games, with their last coming at the end of August in an imposing 2-1 triumph over Chelsea at St Mary’s.
O’Neil’s side will have a great opportunity to stretch their unbeaten record to seven this evening against a side renowned for inconsistency. If they approach the game with the same attitude and game plan, three points could potentially move them up to fifth.
With that hypothetical scenario in mind, how long will O’Neil have to wait to have ‘caretaker’ removed from his title? He has exceeded all expectations in the short time he has been in the dugout and it is clear that the players have bought into how he wants them to play, and they are reaping the rewards for it.
Obviously Bournemouth’s objective this term is to survive, but right now O’Neil has them operating in such a way that they do not look like they are in any imminent danger. Of course there is still a long way to go until the season concludes, but he has already shown that he has what it takes to get results at this level and deserves a shot at the job full-time.
The longer he remains the interim boss and the team keep picking up points, O’Neil will certainly pick up admirers at other clubs. He has already been linked to the vacant position at his former club Middlesbrough which highlights that EFL clubs are already taking notice of the excellent work he is doing.
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