Five things we learned from Southampton's win over Bournemouth

Southampton earned all three points against fellow South Coasters Bournemouth on Sunday with a 2-0 win at St. Mary's.

However, despite the undoubted valuable win, there were some stressful moments in the second half despite Saints goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg only being forced to make one meaningful save all match.

St. Mary's Musings take a look at five points to take from the game on Sunday.

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This season Southampton only seem to play well in one half

Yes, we won on Sunday. But, there seems to be a recurring theme of Ronald Koeman's men only performing well in either the first or second 45 minutes of the mach.

Back in October, Saints infamously threw away a two goal lead at home to high-flying Leicester. Southampton looked great in the first half, having earned their 2-0 lead. But, Leicester dominated the proceedings in the last 45 minutes and it's arguable that Southampton were lucky to come away with a point as Jamie Vardy made it 2-2 for the Foxes.

The same was the case on Sunday. We played well for the first 45 minutes and earned another two goal cushion. But, Bournemouth were by far the more dangerous team in the second half and Saints looked incapable of dealing with the Cherries onslaught.

Midweek saw Saints play poorly in the first half against Aston Villa in the Capital One Cup before earning a resurgent second-half 2-1 win. Even the home game against Vitesse Arnhem in our Europa League qualifier saw Southampton fall flat in the second half after taking yet another 2-0 lead into half time.

Jordy Clasie looking a good midfield replacement for Morgan Schneiderlin

Let's not kid ourselves: we were never going to get a player with the quality of French international and now Manchester United midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin.

There was a part of me which feared for the expectation put on the small shoulders of Dutchman Jordy Clasie as he made the summer switch from Feyenoord. But, a string of injuries saw Clasie's pressure curtailed before eventually gaining some match fitness to appear in a Saints shirt on a more regular basis.

Clasie looked very comfortable on the ball and defensively solid on Sunday against Bournemouth. Well, in the first half anyway. Here's to more of the same!

Victor Wanyama's red card was a bit stupid

We all know what Big Vic is like. He's an absolute shoe-in for a yellow card in every Saints game he plays in. However, the Kenyan captain's double rush of blood to the head saw him earn two yellows and a subsequent ban ahead of Southampton's trip up north to Sunderland this weekend.

Much like Sadio Mane's red card against Liverpool last week, it was needless. While Sam Allardyce's Sunderland got smashed against Everton 6-2 on Sunday, they created plenty of chances against their opponents and losing a big part of our sometimes shaky defensive unit was ill-advised to say the least.

Should Koeman have substituted Wanyama before the red card? Maybe. But, then Saints were under some serious pressure from their foes so I can see why the mighty Kenyan stayed on the pitch for as long as he did.

Graziano Pelle is still looking dangerous

The Italian international is continually banging in the goals for Southampton and that is so satisfying to say.

After bursting onto the Premier League last season with a flurry of goals before Christmas, Pelle eventually got found out by Saints' opponents as they started to double-up and get two defenders to stick to the targetman like glue.

The goals subsequently dried up for Pelle for the rest of the season. However, despite the Premier League knowing the big number 9's strengths all too well, it appears Graziano has wised up and is still getting the better of his opponents.

Southampton vs Bournemouth will never be a real South Coast derby

No matter how many times Sky or our noisy(? not sure about that one) neighbours in Boscombe want to claim it's the new rivalry to talk about on the South Coast, that's just not the case.

There were some ugly scenes before and after the game on Sunday as 'fans' of the Cherries tried to stoke up some hatred between the neighbours. But, it was deemed as amusing and/or pitiful from the vast majority of Southampton fans who didn't indulge in trying to fight those Bournemouth fans who were wanting a confrontation.

Anti-Portsmouth songs and demeaning chants such as "2-0 in your cup final!" rung around St. Mary's as the Saints faithful mocked this fabricated rivalry and the media who are so desperately willing this fixture to become a new Premier League rivalry.

Nice try, guys. It's not happening!