Tommy Elphick says Bournemouth's 3-1 win against Southampton is the "performance that's been coming"
Tommy Elphick stepped up to managerial responsibilities in the dugout and in post-match press duties for AFC Bournemouth against Southampton. (Photo by Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth / Getty Images)

Bournemouth welcomed local side Southampton at the Vitality Stadium for a game of Monday Night Football in the Premier League where they were able to put three goals past ex-goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in the first half of the match.

The Saints were able to pull one back in the second half but were unsuccessful in making a redemption due to the Cherries' excellent first-half performance.

The Saints' winless streak in their return to the Premier League continues, therefore, and the Cherries' positivity in recent performances carries on as they face another recently promoted side in their next game, which sees them go head-to-head with Leicester this weekend.

Tommy Elphick led the post-match press conference and was more than happy with the team's performance.

  • Matching Martins's style of play

Russell Martin is well known for his dangerous style of play and Tommy Elphick explained that Bournemouth were more than ready for this. 

Elphick said: “When you come up against a different style, such a contrast in styles, it was built up quite a bit before the game. They have tried to obviously prove that our style was suited to the way they want to play.”

Elphick added: “So it was for us when we saw it. It was a time to go real aggressive and try to capitalise on that, which I thought we did to a T.”

  • The week leading up to the game

After the recent performances from the Cherries, their assistant head coach was more than happy with the performance which was put out by the side normally led by Andoni Iraola. 

Elphick said: "We have said plenty of times before now [that] it's the performance that's been coming. The way we have played in the last eight or nine games has come to fruition tonight."

"It was the game that we expected when we saw the team sheets come out as well. You know they were certainly going to try and overload in the middle of the pitch to try and play through us.

"It was a game that we were looking forward to, and the first 45 minutes was electric from our point of view."

  • Looking ahead to the next game 

Bournemouth will face Leicester at the King Power Stadium in their next game in their Premier League campaign, hoping to pick up another three points before the international break.

Elphick said: "We're in a good place, but we've got another massive game at the weekend and will try and go into the break with a healthier points tally. 

"I think the way we play and the style we play, we always look to go and win games, no matter who it is, but after the start we have had, these two games are massive."

"They were built up to us the minute we walked in the door after the Liverpool games; these were two massive opportunities to go into the break and you could be looking up the table or down the table after these two games."