Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Bournemouth and Southampton.

The bad news - there are just four Premier League fixtures before Christmas Day.

The good news - the first of those four fixtures sees Bournemouth and Southampton continue their growing south coast rivalry at the Vitality Stadium.

In all seriousness, we are not going to build this match up to such an extent where it ends up being a disappointment. Both teams have been involved in their fair share of low-scoring matches recently as well. However, for the first time in their history, both clubs face each other on a true level playing field. Southampton would have expected to be featuring slightly higher up in the standings and Bournemouth will - to some extent - be happy enough being well away from the relegation zone, but when they take to the pitch in just under 50 minutes, only goal difference will separate them in the Premier League table.

We'll continue to preview this contest a little later but let's take a look at the two starting lineups, starting with the home team.

BOURNEMOUTH XI: Boruc, Cook, Daniels, Ake, Francis, Pugh, King, Smith, Arter, Wilshere, Wilson

BOURNEMOUTH SUBSTITUTES: Federici, Mings, Smith, Gosling, Ibe, Fraser, Afobe

SOUTHAMPTON XI: Forster, Cedric, Yoshida, Van Dijk, Bertrand, Clasie, Hojbjerg, Reed, Boufal, Rodriguez, Redmond

SOUTHAMPTON SUBSTITUTES: Taylor, Fonte, Long, Davis, Tadic, Martina, Ward-Prowse

After their win over Leicester City in midweek, Eddie Howe decides to make just the one alteration to his Bournemouth side as Callum Wilson comes in for Benik Afobe. The former Wolverhampton Wanderers man got the nod over the club's top goalscorer against the Foxes but he didn't impact the match - aside from a saved shot which led to Bournemouth's winner - and it's no surprise that Wilson is recalled this afternoon.

As for Southampton, Claude Puel has opted to make as many as six alterations after witnessing his team draw 0-0 with Stoke City on Wednesday night. The most notable sees Harrison Reed handed his first Premier League start of the campaign after penning a new contract with the Saints, while Cedric Soares returns after missing the trip to the Britannia Stadium through illness. Oriol Romeu is one of the players to be sidelined as he serves a one-match suspension.

Before we continue with the build-up, let us remind you that this is the first of three games to take place in England's top flight this afternoon. Tottenham Hotspur host Burnley at 4pm while at the same time, we will have full text coverage of the clash between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.

If there is a winner from this afternoon's contest, they will move up to the lofty heights of seventh place in the Premier League table. Everton could change that tomorrow evening when they host Liverpool but both sides will be aware of the opportunity they have today, especially Bournemouth. They could not have dreamt about such a standing ahead of the campaign.

HEAD TO HEAD! Today's match will represent just the 24th time in which these two teams have faced each other in a competitive match, with Southampton winning 11 times in comparison to seven for Bournemouth. The Saints have prevailed in four of the last five meetings but they did not have it their own way the last time the two teams faced off...

After losing 2-0 at St Mary's earlier in the season, the pressure was on Bournemouth to gain some bragging rights and they delivered with a 2-0 victory at the Vitality Stadium thanks to goals from Steve Cook and Benik Afobe. It was a result which proved usually valuable as they went on to survive in their debut season in the top flight.

This is arguably the most relevant stat heading into today's game. While Southampton have been superb at the back this season, the same cannot be said for their efforts in the final third.

4 - Southampton have scored four goals in their last eight Premier League games, despite attempting 101 shots in these games. Profligacy. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 18, 2016

Goals have also been a problem for Bournemouth. They have registered 22 in the league this season but when you consider that 10 of those came in games with Hull City and Liverpool, they have only managed 12 in the other 14 matches. When you combine that with the fact that they are facing a defence who can say that only Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have conceded less goals this season.

In the build-up to this game, both managers have spoken of the importance of earning bragging rights in the area and I'm sure that their fans would agree. Howe alluded to the fact that there isn't much of a rivalry between the clubs at this stage but the longer they both remain in the top flight, it will only develop. There's a friendly competitiveness right now and I'm sure that will be demonstrated by the atmosphere this afternoon. There will only be between 11,000 and 12,000 in attendance but that won't prove to be a detriment. In fact, in these types of games, it helps to a certain degree.

PREDICTION! You're not going to find us backing against either one of these teams this afternoon - it really is too close to call! We expect Bournemouth to make the early running but Southampton are usually superb at the back and we feel that will result in a stalemate. We are going for the goalless draw, at best, a 1-1 draw.

The two teams are lined up in the tunnel. Van Dijk shouts: "let's go!" as they walk out to a rocking Vitality Stadium.

It's Southampton who get this match underway.

It's been a rapid start from both sides but it's Bournemouth who earn the first corner of the match. It's a decent delivery but it's headed clear by a Saints defender. There needs to be a Bournemouth player attacking that.

Southampton go up the other end and earn a corner of their own. The inswinger from Bertrand is aimed towards the near post but Boruc is able to punch clear.

Told you that it would be a goalless draw...

After two more corners, Bournemouth go in front thanks to a header from Ake. After Wilshere's cross, the on-loan defender got ahead of Hojbjerg to send his effort into the corner from around eight yards out.

Somewhat surprisingly, that is Wilshere's first assist for Bournemouth. What a time to do it!

Bournemouth have continued their assault on the Southampton goal but aside from the goal, they aren't getting any shots away.

CHANCE! Bournemouth are all over Southampton here and they really should be two goals to the good. Francis does well on the right before setting up King, who turns Van Dijk before rattling a shot on goal, but Forster gets his legs in the way and claims at the second opportunity.

So yeah - Bournemouth are bossing this game...

Out of nowhere, Southampton find an equaliser through Bertrand, who runs at the defence before driving the ball into the far corner from an acute angle. It's hotting up, this one.

Boufal is extremely lucky to avoid a yellow card. After a tackle from Wilson, the Southampton winger pulled back his leg as he tried to run away from him. A talking to from Clattenburg is all he gets.

SHOT! Not for the first time today, Wilshere loses the ball on the edge of his own penalty area and he is nearly made to pay when Boufal gets a shot away. Unfortunately for the Saints player, his shot is too close to Boruc.

We are 20 minutes through this game and I have to say, it's been a lot more entertaining than I was expecting. Bournemouth bossed the opening exchanges but Southampton are coming back into this one now.

There's a bit more calmness to proceedings now. Bournemouth are having the lion's share of possession but Southampton look comfortable now. They will be far happier with how things are going after coming through that initial Bournemouth burst of energy.

Wilshere is having a lot of the ball and his industry ends with Bournemouth winning a corner. They decide to play it short, however, which seems a strange choice given how they scored their goal. They aren't sending enough balls into the box.

CHANCE! What a chance for Southampton. Bertrand is proving to be a threat down the left flank and his cross from the left finds Redmond, who must hit the target from 12 yards. However, he mis-times his shot and the ball only flies across goal allowing Bournemouth the chance to clear.

A goal there would have hurt Bournemouth but it still seems to have influenced their play because they are now keeping more men behind the ball. Southampton are happy to retreat and let the Cherries have possession.

BOOKING! Boufal goes into the referee's notebook for a dive. Correct decision and no arguments from the player.

Boufal's not having the greatest of games. He avoided a certain booking earlier, then gets cautioned for diving and he's just produced a superb turn before producing a shocking pass. Still not reaching the heights expected of him.

The last five or 10 minutes have panned out how I expect the entire match to progress. There's not a lot of urgency from either team and it feels as though we are just waiting for the break.

There will be one minute of added-on time.

The half-time whistle goes at the Vitality Stadium and we remain locked at 1-1 after that fast-paced start. However, we've not seen much else from either side and I'd say both teams will need to raise their level in the second half if we are to have a winner in this one.

Southampton have opted to make a change at half time, with Steven Davis replacing Reed.

Bournemouth get us back underway.

CHANCE! Southampton create an opening within 60 seconds of the restart and Redmond looks as though he should score from inside the penalty area, but Ake gets a partial block on the ball to help Boruc make an easy save.

Talk about an impact from a substitute. Davis plays a one-two with Boufal on the edge of the area before advancing into the penalty area to cross for Rodriguez, who is able to tap into the net from close range.

Southampton have come out flying at the start of this second half. Boufal is much more involved than he was in the opening period. Makes you wonder why Davis didn't begin the match. He, too, has been very instrumental at the start of this half.

CHANCE! Half chance for Wilson who gets in front of the defender to get a shot on goal but he can't find the top corner with his effort.

SUBSTITUTION! Howe has decided enough is enough and thrown on Ryan Fraser for Pugh, who hasn't really had an impact in this match.

CHANCE! Rodriguez looks revitalised after his first goal in 10 games but after surging into the box from the left, he can't force the ball past Boruc, who makes himself big to smother the ball.

A burst of pace from King should result in one of Wilson or Fraser being played in on goal but both players get in the way of each other and the chance is lost.

SUBSTITUTION! Pule makes a second alteration to his team, introducing Dusan Tadic for Boufal. Looks like Boufal has thrown a bit of a strop.

SUBSTITUTION! Interesting. Wilson is being replaced by Benik Afobe. You'd have assumed that Howe may have been tempted to play both of his frontmen.

CHANCE! Southampton are not sitting back and trying to see out the win - they want a third. Bertrand progresses into the penalty area and although his cross drifts over everyone, Hojbjerg retrieves the situation and sends a volley on goal which is cleared off the line by Ake.

Bournemouth are starting to build a head of steam but they aren't really creating anything which is going to alarm the likes of Van Dijk and Yoshida, who have been excellent since Southampton fell behind.

SUBSTITUTION! Howe isn't one to thrown caution to the wind. Rather than throw on another attacker, he's replaced one. Jordan Ibe replaces King.

BOOKING! That's a harsh booking for Clasie. Wilshere basically runs into him and the referee gets out his yellow card.

BOOKING! This time, it's a definite yellow card as Davis commits a deliberate foul in his own half.

SHOT! That would have been some goal from Redmond. The winger was given time and space on the edge of the penalty area but his dipping effort went marginally over Boruc's crossbar.

Time is starting to run out for Bournemouth. They just created a couple of corners but Southampton remain resolute. It's been a while since Forster was forced into action.

It's been a while since we have seen Rodriguez in this kind of form. He has just sealed victory for his side with an absolute screamer. The ball ricocheted off Redmond into his path but he did the rest with a volley into the top corner from 25 yards out.

An injury to Soares means that we will have five minutes of added-on time.

SUBSTITUTION! Rodriguez departs to a standing ovation - which he fully deserves - to be replaced by Long.

The full-time whistle goes at the Vitality Stadium and Southampton are up to seventh place with a comfortable win over neighbours Bournemouth. Jay Rodriguez is the hero with two strikes - the second of which is a contender for goal of the month.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this game but please stick around - Manchester City vs. Arsenal is coming right up! Goodbye for now.