AFC Bournemouth vs West Ham: 28/09/2019 – match preview and predicted starting XIs

AFC Bournemouth v West Ham United  

Date: 28/09/2019 

K/O: 15:00

Venue: Vitality Stadium

Referee: Stuart Atwell

Bournemouth and West Ham are two Premier League teams in excellent form and the sides will clash on Saturday at the Vitality Stadium.

The Cherries have won back to back matches, both by 3-1 score lines, over Everton and Southampton respectively. They sit sixth in the league with 10 points from 18.

Both these sides have made a great start to their Premier League seasons. Midweek wasn’t so enjoyable though as both Bournemouth and West Ham were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by teams at least two leagues below them. However, that’s not uncommon for either side and it’ll be back to business and stronger line-ups for this Premier League fixture.

Bournemouth start the weekend in sixth place in the Premier League, a place and a point behind their opponents. They have won three of their six league games and at home, won one, drawn one and lost to Manchester City. Again, they are scoring and conceding on a regular basis with 21 goals in their six matches.

West Ham lost their opening league game 5-0 at home to Manchester City. However, since then they have been unbeaten with three wins and two draws. They can be forgiven their midweek loss to Oxford as the Hammers regularly lose to lower league opposition in cup ties. They have kept three straight clean sheets in the Premier League but will do well to achieve that away at Bournemouth.

The Hammers will travel to Oxford United in midweek to play a Carabao Cup third-round tie. Pellegrini will most likely rotate his squad with several backup and fringe players coming into the side. He will want to keep his stars fresh for the Premier League and a shot at cracking the top four.

West Ham are yet to lose away from home in the league this season.

Saturday’s match will be the ninth time these two sides meet in the Premier League. Bournemouth have won four, drawn two and lost two of their previous eight Premier League games against the Hammers.

The Cherries did the double over West Ham last season, winning the corresponding fixture 2-0 thanks to goals from Callum Wilson and Josh King.

West Ham will feel confident they can upset the traditional top four with the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, and Chelsea all struggling for points this term.

Match stats

• The last seven Bournemouth league games have seen both teams score.
• At home, five of the last seven Bournemouth league games have seen both teams score a goal.
• West Ham United have scored in five of their last six away league games.
• West Ham have 11 points after six matches, as many as they accrued from the opening six games of the three previous seasons combined.
• The Hammers have lost only one of their past 10 Premier League fixtures (W6, D3).
• They are unbeaten in five away league matches (W3, D2), having previously gone eight games without a win on the road.
• West Ham have kept three successive league clean sheets.
• They have accrued 51 points from their last 31 league games (W15, D6, L10).
• Manuel Pellegrini has won 18 of his 44 Premier League fixtures as West Ham manager (41%), the best win percentage of any permanent Hammers boss in the competition.
• The next goal scored by the Hammers will be their 3,500th in the topflight.
• Bournemouth’s haul of 10 points from six matches equals their best start to a Premier League season.
• They are looking to win three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since August 2018.
• Both of Cherries’ defeats this term have been against sides above them in the league – prior to this game, they are sixth and West Ham fifth.
• They have kept only one clean sheet in their last 10 league matches.
• The score in each of Bournemouth’s last four league games has been 3-1, with two wins and two defeats by that score line.
• Callum Wilson is looking to score in four consecutive Premier League games for the first time.

Team News

AFC Bournemouth

Teenager Gavin Kilkenny was among the starters as Eddie Howe made ten changes for Wednesday night’s match. Dominic Solanke was the only player to keep his place in the starting eleven from the win over Southampton.

Solanke should continue up front with Callum Wilson, which would force Josh King to start out on the left-wing. Solanke hasn’t scored in 16 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth.

Bournemouth trio Simon Francis, Lloyd Kelly and Arnaut Danjuma all made their comebacks from injury in the EFL Cup in midweek and could feature.

David Brooks, Dan Gosling, Adam Smith, Junior Stanislas and Charlie Daniels are still unavailable.

West Ham United

West Ham are boosted by the return of Arthur Masuaku following suspension, while Manuel Lanzini is also available.

Former Bournemouth loanee Jack Wilshere is unlikely to get any playing time. Wilshere was one of many who failed to make the most of their opportunity on Wednesday.

Ryan Fredericks is being assessed after suffering a knock last week but Michail Antonio and Winston Reid remain out. Sam Byram could start at right-back if Ryan Fredericks fails to recover from a muscle injury.

Boss Manuel Pellegrini made nine changes for the midweek Carabao Cup defeat at Oxford and will probably revert to the side which beat Manchester United on Sunday.

Predicted Starting XIs​

Bournemouth (4-4-2-): Ramsdale; Stacey, Ake, Cook, Rico, Billing, Lerma; Fraser, H Wilson, King; C Wilson

West Ham XI (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Rice, Noble; Yarmolenko, Fornals, Anderson; Haller 

Score Prediction: Bournemouth 3 – 2 West Ham

Bournemouth cannot defend, but the good news is, they score goals. Four straight Bournemouth matches finished with 3-1 score lines. It is a scoreline the team loves with goals flying in at both ends. Bournemouth’s last five matches have all ended in over 2.5 goals scored. West Ham have had just two games end with over 2.5 goals. However, Bournemouth should push them on Saturday, and it should be a fun match to watch for neutrals.

Bournemouth have conceded 10 times which is tied for the fifth-most in the league after six matches. West Ham have seen two of their six matches this season finish with both teams scoring. All six of Bournemouth’s games have seen both teams score goals.

Despite the changes, that will wind them up for the weekend so we should get a good game. Think Sebastian Haller, who has got a great touch and looks a permanent goal-threat and Howe’s chief poacher Callum Wilson are in for a fest.