Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino has revealed his 'admiration' for Bournemouth and admits that this weekend's trip to the Vitality Stadium will pose a "really tough" test.
The Saints make the 30-mile trip west aiming to turn their form around, having lost three of their last four Premier League matches.
Pellegrino believes that his side have their work cut out returning from Bournemouth with all three points, though, as the Cherries have proved that they deserve a place in the top flight since earning promotion in 2015.
"I think this is the fifth [derby] in the Premier League," he told reporters. "Obviously I know that Bournemouth is a side that wants to grow and wants to be little by little getting better every year. They try to keep the base of the team and most of the team grew together, and every year they try to be stronger even at home because in the last few games they have been picking up points.
"I think it will be really tough. It will have the emotions of the fans. I don't know this pitch but I would like to be there to enjoy this game. When you are a team that comes from the Championship, from relegation it is not easy to build a team that can compete like they did last season and as they are doing now.
"Obviously, I admire this type of job because you have to use your imagination to be creative and find different ways to compete and settle in the Premier League. For me they are getting better and it's something that I admire."
Bournemouth have won one and lost five of their last eight meetings with Southampton, with all four of the Saints' away league wins coming by a 3-1 scoreline.
Daniel Lewis
