Southampton made the short trip along the south coast to face Bournemouth on Monday night with Russell Martin chasing a first Premier League win.
Russell Martin sprung a surprise with the way he set his Southampton side up as they effectively started in a 4-2-2 shape with no recognised striker.
Instead, attacking midfielders Tyler Dibling and Mateus Fernandes played as unconventional centre-forwards who drifted deeper to pick up the ball and it looked like a tactic that could work as Southampton started the better of the two sides.
However, the Saints defence were caught cold on 18 minutes as a quickly taken free-kick was finished by Evanilson against the run of play.
After the goal Southampton were second best in every department and the inevitable second came as a Lewis Cook strike was deflected off Dango Ouattara past a helpless Aaron Ramsdale on 32 minutes.
It went from bad to worse as Antoine Semenyo walked through the Southampton defence with ease before firing another past Ramsdale before half-time.
A triple substitution at half-time was followed by Taylor Harwood-Bellis heading in shortly after to make it 3-1.
Southampton did improve in the second-half but this will still go down as an incredibly poor performance and the pressure could start to mount on Martin as a result.
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Southampton player ratings in Bournemouth loss
Aaron Ramsdale – 6
Picked his moment to play and moments to go long when under pressure which will be pleasing to Southampton fans.
Could do very little about any of Bournemouth’s goals and may be worried it could be a long season in the Saints goal.
Yukinari Sugawara – 5
The right-back has enjoyed a fine start to life at Southampton but had a difficult night at Bournemouth.
Still a threat on the rare occasions he was able to get forward but left big gaps defensively.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis – 6
Defended well to stop a number of Bournemouth attacks early on when Southampton were outnumbered but did look a little shellshocked by the Cherries’ press at times.
Adjusted his body well to score a low header minutes into the second-half to give Martin’s side a glimmer of hope.
Jan Bednarek – 5
Despite the fact Southampton conceded three goals, Jan Bednarek did not do too much wrong defensively.
Continued to try and pass out from the back as Southampton were able to play their style more effectively in the second-half.
Charlie Taylor – 5
Made a couple of good early challenges on Antoine Semenyo but that was about as good as it got for the experienced full-back in the first-half.
Maxwel Cornet – 3
Could not get involved at all in first league start since signing and was one of the three players withdrawn at half-time.
Flynn Downes – 5
Having looked so comfortable last season, Flynn Downes struggled with the intensity of the Bournemouth press and was too often second best to the loose ball.
Improved slightly in the second 45 minutes but was booked for dissent to make the game for difficult for himself.
Lesley Ugochukwu – 4
Looked off the pace as Southampton lost the midfield battle emphatically in the first half and was another substituted at half-time.
Needs to adapt quickly to Martin’s demands or could start to find minutes harder to come by.
Ryan Fraser – 3
You knew when Ryan Fraser had the ball as a chorus of boos followed every touch given the sour end to his Bournemouth career.
Was a useful player on loan last season but it is difficult to see how Southampton will survive if Fraser is a starter after a really poor 45 minutes saw him dragged off at half-time.
Tyler Dibling – 5
Held on to the ball too long on multiple occasions and looked a little lightweight playing in a more central position.
At this stage of his career the teenager may be better served playing wide where this will be less of an issue.
Mateus Fernandes – 5
Like Dibling, the role he was asked to play just didn’t suit his skillset and he was wasted up front.
Moved back to a more natural midfield position and immediately looked far more comfortable as he tried to make things happen.
Substitutes:
Joe Aribo – 7
Joe Aribo battled well after coming on at half-time and looked to get Southampton moving forward quickly. Will have been disappointed with his lack of involvement recently and looked a player with a point to prove.
His 45 minute display was probably the only real positive on the night.
Ben Brereton Diaz – 6.5
Another who came on at half-time and was far more positive in the opening few minutes after his arrival than Fraser had been in the entirety of the first-half.
May now start against Arsenal next weekend.
Ross Stewart – 6
Southampton looked much better for having a focal point up front and another 45 minutes in his road to full fitness but was all too often isolated.
Adam Lallana – 6
Showed his usual calmness after coming on which made the decision not to start the experienced midfielder all the more puzzling.