Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe will be telling his players that West Brom are for the taking.
Bournemouth travel to the Hawthorns to face West Bromwich Albion in their Premier League opener on Saturday afternoon, and may well fancy their chances of picking up all three points.
The Cherries are deemed underdogs by the bookmakers, but with West Brom’s form going to pieces in 2017 and their pre-season form being even worse this summer, could Eddie Howe’s men beat the Baggies?
West Brom’s form went to pieces in 2017
Things aren’t going to plan for Tony Pulis at West Bromwich Albion. The Midlands outfit endured woeful form in the second half of last season and have followed it up with more poor results in pre-season. The Baggies won just four games in the Premier League from January 2017 until the end of the campaign and have suffered many defeats to lower league opposition this summer.
West Brom’s pre-season results
- 26/7/17 Burton Albion 0-1 West Bromwich Albion
- 26/7/17 Walsall 1-2 West Bromwich Albion
- 29/7/17 Slough Town 2-1 West Bromwich Albion
- 29/7/17 Bristol Rovers 2-1 West Bromwich Albion
- 1/8/17 Port Vale 1-1 West Bromwich Albion
- 5/8/17 Deportivo La Coruna 2-0 West Bromwich Albion
Bournemouth boast impressive head-to-head record against WBA
- 25/2/17 (Premier League) West Bromwich Albion 2-1 AFC Bournemouth
- 10/9/16 (Premier League) AFC Bournemouth 1-0 West Bromwich Albion
- 7/5/16 (Premier League) AFC Bournemouth 1-1 West Bromwich Albion
- 19/12/15 (Premier League) West Bromwich Albion 1-2 AFC Bournemouth
- 28/10/14 (Championship) AFC Bournemouth 2-1 West Bromwich Albion
Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth side also finished above West Brom last season and ended the campaign with only one defeat from their last six away games so they are sure to put up a fight. The Cherries haven’t had a bad pre-season either, picking up four wins and a draw from their seven games this summer, so it’s not a surprise to see Bournemouth 23/10 to win against West Brom.
West Brom have been struggling for goals in the last eight months in all competitions and that could play into Bournemouth’s hands given their past defensive woes. The Cherries can score at free will, but their style of play often led to them being susceptible.
West Brom no longer formidable at home
West Brom’s home form at the tail-end of last season was woeful. The Baggies suffered five defeats from their last half a dozen outings at the Hawthorns in the Premier League, scoring just three goals. The supporters could well cause a toxic atmosphere against Tony Pulis if the Midlands club aren’t performing well early on.
Bournemouth are going into the season in much better spirits than that of their opposition which could have a factor in the outcome this weekend.
Can Bournemouth beat West Brom?
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