Verdict: Draw
Best Odds: 12/5
Bookmaker: Bet365
With Eddie Howe desperate to bounce back from last weekends poor showing against Burnley, the Cherries will welcome Crystal Palace to the Vitality Stadium on Monday night.
Bournemouth
Starting with the hosts, after an impressive start to the season, there were whispers around the Vitality Stadium of a potential shock European push. However, Cherries boss Eddie Howe will know his side must put in an improved performance back on home soil. Slumping to a very disappointing 4-0 loss away to a struggling Burnley side, Bournemouth will hope that their 3-2 win against Blackburn in the EFL Cup in midweek will help them re-find their spark. While the hosts have lost their last two Premier League away matches, they do still hold an impressive record on the South Coast. Yet to be beaten at home in any competition, the Cherries have also scored two or more goals in each of their five home matches so far this season. One man to watch for the hosts could be Scottish Winger Ryan Fraser. The 24-year-old has three Premier League goals to his name already.
Team News
Bournemouth will assess Diego Rico and Dan Gosling, who are nursing respective hamstring and calf problems.
Charlie Daniels is nearing a return from a knee injury, though this game may come too soon for him, while Kyle Taylor remains out with a calf issue.
Crystal Palace
As for Crystal Palace, the Eagles are coming off the back of arguably their most impressive performance of the season. Putting three past Championship high flyers West Brom on Tuesday, Palace are now unbeaten in their last three. While Roy Hodgson’s side have now managed to keep a clean sheet in four of their last five matches in all competitions, their goalscoring record in the Premier League could be a concern for the England boss. Now finding the net just three times in their opening six games, Palace hold the joint worst attacking record in the top flight. In fact, much like last season, talisman Wilfred Zaha is the only player to score a Premier League goal for the Eagles this season. Now scoring just one league goal in September, the Palace fans will certainly be demanding more in the final third. Palace do, however, hold a solid record against Monday’s opponents. The South London club are unbeaten in their last four matches against Bournemouth, drawing three and winning one.
Team News
Crystal Palace are again without Christian Benteke, whose niggling knee problem continues to be monitored.
Jairo Riedewald is also ruled out after suffering an injury against West Brom in the Carabao Cup.
Key Factors to Consider
- Both meetings between the two sides last season ended 2-2.
- In fact, four of the last six meetings have ended with a draw.
- Crystal Palace winger Wilfred Zaha is still the only man to score a Premier League goal for Roy Hodgson’s side.
- The Eagles have also kept a clean sheet in four of their last five matches in all competitions.
- Bournemouth have scored two or more goals in each of their five apperances at the Vitality Stadium so far this season.
Conclusion
Both sides will be looking at this as an opportunity to pick up three crucial points on Monday. While Bournemouth are yet to be beaten at the Vitality so far this season, Palace have now managed to win their last three away matches on the bounce. An encounter that has the potential to be incredibly tight, given the fact that both the meetings between the two sides ended in a daw last season and four of the last six have ended in a point each, we’re backing a draw once again on Monday night.
Verdict: Draw
Best Odds: 12/5
Bookmaker: Bet365
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