Bournemouth welcome Middlesbrough to the Vitality Stadium in Good Friday’s blockbuster Sky Bet Championship clash.
Victory would see Bournemouth climb to sixth for at least a few hours, whereas Middlesbrough can climb to eighth with a win but behind the Cherries on goal difference if Cardiff lose elsewhere.
Team News
Junior Stanislas could return for Bournemouth after a hamstring injury kept him out of their FA Cup Quarter-Final exit to Southampton.
Lloyd Kelly (adductor) could also return after playing for England U21s in their Group Stage exit of U21 Euros in the international period.
David Brooks and Adam Smith (ankle) are set to be in contention but Lewis Cook (knee) remains ruled out.
Middlesbrough have no fresh injury concerns to report as Anfernee Dijksteel (ankle) and Marcus Browne (knee) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- This is Bournemouth’s 20th meeting against Middlesbrough in all competitions (W4, D8, L7).
- Bournemouth are unbeaten in seven of their last eight league meetings against Middlesbrough (W2, D5, L1).
- Middlesbrough are winless in seven league trips to Bournemouth (D4, L3).
- Arnaut Danjuma has scored in each of Bournemouth’s last three home league games, with two of his three goals coming after half time.
- Three of Boro’s last five away goals have come in the first half.
Prediction
With both teams currently sat three and six points adrift of sixth-placed Reading respectively, this is a six-pointer for both teams because defeat could prove costly come end of season.
Bournemouth will definitely be looking for a strong reaction to their FA Cup exit last time out, because they were simply outplayed by Southampton with too many defensive errors and failed to take their chances when able to attack.
Middlesbrough meanwhile will be hurting after an unexpected away defeat at Millwall just before the fortnight break, so will certainly be looking for a response to get their play-off hopes back on track given their fairly favourable run-in.
Throw in the fact that Jonathan Woodgate knows how this Boro team plays from last season, it should hopefully result in a good game because either team can afford to slip up.
I however think that the three match international window could well impact Bournemouth slightly in terms of squad prep unlike Boro, who luckily didn’t have any players called up so should be fully ready and I can see them taking full advantage despite their away hoodoo in Bournemouth if are clinical enough.
Prediction: Bournemouth 1-2 Middlesbrough
Result: Bournemouth 3-1 Middlesbrough
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