GARY O’Neil believes there are “similarities” to the way Southampton play now to when Ralph Hasenhuttl was in charge, adding: “I’m expecting quite a fast start to the football match.”

Saints are onto their third manger of the season, with both Hasenhuttl and Nathan Jones sacked during a difficult campaign, with the Hampshire club bottom of the Premier League.

Selles, previously part of Hasenhuttl’s coaching staff, has now stepped up into the top job, having initially been in on an interim basis, not dissimilar to O’Neil at Cherries.

Hasenhuttl’s final win as Saints boss came in the reverse fixture against Cherries, a 1-0 victory at Vitality Stadium in October thanks to an early Che Adams header.

Asked how different he thinks Saints are now to the side who beat Cherries earlier in the campaign, O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “There are similarities to what they do, to when Ralph was in charge, shape-wise.

“They vary it a little bit now but they do have certain aspects that are similar.

“You can see different traits in there. You can see obviously that the new head coach has put his stamp on it.

“Just very, very aggressive. Front foot, especially at home. Try to get after teams, try to create an energy inside the stadium.

“My players will need to be well prepared for that. I’m expecting quite a fast start to the football match.”

Asked if he can empathise with Selles, given the similar nature in which both ended up as head coach in the top flight, O’Neil said: “I can imagine, but it doesn’t mean that he’s dealing with it or doing things similar to what I do.

“All managers will be unique, but I guess there’s not too many head coaches that go into their first job in a Premier League relegation battle.

“So similarities that we’re both thrown in at a high level with big stakes. I’m sure it will be a hard fought game.”

Cherries could move seven points clear of the relegation zone with victory tonight, on the brink of safety with just five matches to play.

“The work we put in and everything that’s gone in so far over the last few years gets us to this point that we have a chance to remain in the Premier League for next season,” said O’Neil.

“What an incredible opportunity we have to go and grasp that for the next six football matches.

“Is there pressure? Yes. Will there be pressure next season? Yes, definitely. Was there pressure six months ago? Definitely.

“There’s always going to be pressure, but we have a real opportunity to achieve something this season and everyone around it should see it as that.

“We’ve put ourselves in a decent position and we have an opportunity to finish off what would be a very good job.”