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By Tom Prentki Published: 06: 54 AEST, 1 October 2024 | Updated: 08: 51 AEST, 1 October 2024 6 View comments Russell Martin signed a three-year contract extension in the summer after guiding Southampton back to the Premier League at the first time of asking. It was, undoubtedly, an impressive feat after they so dismally fell out of the Premier League and underwent a huge turnover of players. The Wembley Playoff win against Leeds in May must now feel like a lifetime ago for Martin, whose team still have only a solitary point after this latest damaging defeat at South Coast rivals Bournemouth, who were 3-0 up by half-time. That Southampton nosedived so spectacularly after Bournemouth’s £40 million man Evanilson opened the scoring will be of grave concern for Martin. His team simply capitulated as Dango Outtara and Antoine Semenyo quickly went on to take the game beyond them. Southampton’s final fixture before the next international break is at Arsenal – hardly the game Martin would have chosen to kick start his team’s season. There is no suggestion that the club are planning to use that break to change their manager but Martin will know that time is running out. Antoine Semenyo celebrates following his goal for Bournemouth against Southampton Semenyo got Bournemouth's third goal of the game as he found the net in the 39th minute Evanilson was jubilant after his goal put Bournemouth in front in the 17th minute Evanilson showed impressive composure, with his goal giving Bournemouth the lead Southampton's defeat will serve to increase the pressure on manager Russell Martin The last time Southampton came here, they were in a dismal run of form with Ralph Hasenhuttl rumoured to be one game from the sack, before Che Adams’ goal proved enough to give Saints a precious win and Hasenhuttl a stay of execution. In the end, it all proved academic. Hasenhuttl was sacked, so too Nathan Jones his successor, and Southampton finished bottom. Their first season back in the top-flight is threatening to end in the same way with the situation becoming ever more grave after this devastating defeat. Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Kepa 6; Smith 6, Zabarnyi 7, Senesi 7, Kerkez 7; Cook 7, Christie 7; Semenyo 9 (Sinisterra 89, 6), Ouattara 7 (Kluivert 61, 6), Tavernier 7 (Scott 76, 6); Evanilson 7 (Unal 76, 6). Subs: Travers (g), Huijsen, Brooks, Araujo, Aarons. Southampton (4-4-2): Ramsdale 6; Sugawara 6, Bednarek 6, Harwood-Bellis 6, Taylor 6; Cornet 5 (Brereton-Diaz 45, 6), Downes 5, Ugochukwu 5 (Stewart 45, 6), Fraser 5 (Aribo 45, 7); Fernandes 6 (Lallana 70, 6), Dibling 6 (Archer 76, 6). Booked: Fernandes, Sugawara Subs: Mc Carthy (g), Walker-Peters, Armstrong, Onuachu. Booked: Tavernier, Kerkez Referee: Michael Oliver 8 Man of the match: Antoine Semenyo For Bournemouth, this is a derby, for the Saints, whose hatred all faces East towards Portsmouth, it isn’t but Martin was desperate for a first win as a Premier League manager all the same, with trips to Arsenal and Manchester City just around the corner. Southampton started brightly, with Max Cornet seeing his goal-bound shot deflected behind off Marcos Senesi after a powerful break from midfield by Lesley Ugochukwu. Ryan Fraser was cast in the role of pantomime villain. The diminutive winger refused to extend his contract to see out the Covid-hit season while a Bournemouth player, before moving on to Newcastle on a free transfer. The Cherries supporters didn’t let him forget it, booing his every touch. They were relieved then to see his well-hit volley gathered by Kepa low to his right. Bournemouth’s start had been sluggish, with their manager not in the dugout to gee them up after having picked up three bookings already this season. But everything changed once they took the lead with a brilliantly-worked quick free kick which saw Evanilson do his best Dominic Solanke impression to open his account for the Cherries. Flynn Downes was penalised for a foul on Antoine Semenyo and, with the Bournemouth winger still stricken, the quick-thinking Marcus Tavernier floated the ball across for the £40 million Brazilian to apply the perfect touch to take it past Aaron Ramsdale. That shifted the dynamic entirely and quickly it was Bournemouth who took control. Evanilson started the move which led to their second goal, finding Tavernier with a deft touch before he set Semenyo free down the right. The Bournemouth players congratulate Dango Ouattara after his goal against Southampton Taylor Harwood-Bellis celebrates after he got a goal back for Southampton He pulled the ball back to Lewis Cook whose shot hit Dango Ouattara and deflected beyond the hapless Ramsdale. Saints were imploding and Bournemouth were rampant. Seven minutes later they were three up with the irrepressible Semenyo turning Ugochukwu inside out and then firing brilliantly beyond Ramsdale into the far corner. The home support were enjoying taunting their neighbours from the other side of the New Forest. “Can we play you every week? ” was the question as Martin’s side trudged down the tunnel. Martin must have been wondering how many weeks he had left. He made three changes at the break, with Fraser one of those withdrawn, much to the delight of the Bournemouth fans who chanted, “same old Fraser, always hiding. ” Six minutes after the restart, Saints did pull a goal back when Mateus Fernandes cross made its way to Taylor Harwood-Bellis who did well to head the ball into the ground and beyond Kepa from close range. Harwood-Bellis scored in the 51st minute but Southampton still suffered a defeat The game then finally found a more settled pattern with Southampton looking a little less shambolic without the ball. The did at least show some grit and came close to a second goal when Ben Brereton-Diaz slid the ball across for Yukinari Sugawara who was unable to apply the finishing touch. But Bournemouth were largely comfortable and cruised to their first home win of the season to climb to 11th, above Manchester United with Iraola pictured smiling from his seat in the stands. 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