Ryan Christie Bournemouth masterclass has ex-Rangers foe on the brink after remarkable two minutes

A Ryan Christie masterclass moved Champions League-chasing Bournemouth up to fifth - and left Southampton on the brink of relegation.

The Cherries have been one of the biggest surprise packages in the Premier League this season, and along with Nottingham Forest, are dreaming of a fairytale top-four finish. Christie has been at the heart of their stunning form, which leaves them just a point adrift of soon-to-be-disposed champions Man City in fourth. And the Scotland star ran the show once again on Saturday as Andoni Iraola's swashbuckling side dismantled sorry Saints 3-1 at St Mary's.

It was a remarkable couple of minutes too, as Christie turned the screw on rock bottom Southampton with two moments of magic. The ex-Celtic Treble-winner produced arguably the assist of the weekend with a pinpoint cross for the unmarked Dango Ouattara, who headed in an early first-half opener. Just two minutes later, Christie got himself on the scoresheet by drilling a fine finish past England keeper Aaron Ramsdale from the edge of the box.

Southampton showed some fighting spirit in the second-half as Kamaldeen Sulemana's 72nd-minute effort set up a tense finish. But Marcus Tavernier - brother of Rangers captain James - put the game beyond doubt in the dying minutes with a sublime goal on the counter.

Christie - a bargain £1.5million signing from Celtic in 2021 - has played all but one game for Bournemouth this season. And the playmaker, 29, earned rave reviews on X for his man of the match showing which leaves ex-Rangers favourite Joe Aribo staring at the drop with Southampton.

One gobsmacked punter said: "Ryan Christie may have had the most unbelievable 2 minutes I've ever seen." Another raved: "As under the radar signings go, Ryan