Bournemouth welcome Wolves to the Vitality Stadium in a midweek Premier League encounter.
Victory would see managerless Bournemouth stay out of the relegation zone following Scott Parker’s shock sacking, whilst Wolves can escape the bottom three with a win depending on results elsewhere.
Team News
Lloyd Kelly and Ben Pearson are doubts for Bournemouth after failing to feature in Saturday’s brutal loss at Liverpool, although Pearson managed to make the substitutes bench at best unlike Kelly.
Joe Rothwell (quad), Junior Stanislas (groin) and David Brooks (fitness) remain ruled out.
Wolves have no fresh injury concerns to report as Chiquinho remains absent with a knee injury.
Stat Attack
- Bournemouth are winless in four previous Premier League meetings against Wolves (D1, L3).
- Wolves have failed to keep a clean sheet in their two previous Premier League visits to Bournemouth (W1, D1), having drawn 1-1 in February 2019 then won 2-1 in November of that same year.
- Wolves’ Raul Jimenez has scored in each of his four appearances against Bournemouth.
- Bournemouth have conceded 18 goals and scored just twice in their last four matches in all competitions.
- Each of Wolves’ two league goals this season have been scored on right foot, courtesy of Daniel Podence and Reuben Neves.
Prediction
Having endured a torrid few weeks with 16 league goals conceded against tricky opposition, this match is now a must-win for Bournemouth who simply need to reset and rediscover their clinical spark from their opening win against Aston Villa if they’re to reignite their form.
Gary O’Neil’s first priority following Parker’s exit though should be to ensure that his defence are quickly refocused after a demoralising NINE GOAL defeat at Liverpool, because they were just outclassed with woeful marking.
One positive from that defeat though is that their midfield did at least try to press and close gaps down with futile success, which suggested that passion and desire to play for Parker was still present within part of the team yet they have just been outplayed by superior opposition.
Wolves meanwhile are still lacking goals after wasting numerous chances against Newcastle on Sunday, yet their attacks looked dangerously creative with patience and pace so there is a huge positive to take into this clash, amidst solid defending except for Allan Saint-Maximin’s goal from a weak clearance.
The first goal on that note will be key because if Bournemouth score first, they could get a massive morale boost and go for the win, whereas I fancy Wolves to kick on and get a first win of season if they score first because the confidence is there even if the final touch isn’t at present.
This fixture though does see goals so hopefully it will be a tight competitive battle but I am going for an away win, if Wolves can just find that clinical touch given their form in this top-flight fixture.
Prediction: Bournemouth 1-2 Wolves
Result: Bournemouth 0-0 Wolves
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