AFC Bournemouth vs Huddersfield
Date: 04/12/2018
K/O: 19.45
Venue: Vitality Stadium
Referee: Roger East
A beleaguered Bournemouth who are winless in four host a Huddersfield side who are looking to bounce back after defeat at the hands of Brighton.
Although Eddie Howe’s side have lost four on the bounce, their resilience was noticeable once again at the home of the Champions on Saturday. Despite the Citizens coming away with all three points, the Cherries put up a worthy fight and tested the Champions throughout. With Guardiola’s team taking an early lead, Callum Wilson, who has now scored seven goals this campaign, equalised for Eddie Howe’s side minutes before halftime. Although it only took City 17 minutes to conjure up a goal and retake the lead, Bournemouth did not make it easy and provided City with one of their hardest tests so far this season.
Huddersfield, similarly to their hosts on Tuesday night, have been performing well of late and putting aside a disappointing 2-1 loss to Brighton at the weekend, they were unbeaten in three Premier League matches beforehand. The Terriers took an early lead through a Zanka header but it was Steve Mounie’s red card which proved pivotal in the end result.
With Bournemouth currently sitting in ninth, they will see Tuesday’s game as a chance to return to form and continue their good season to date. Howe’s side have lost their last four games, a run stretching back to the 3rd of November, and despite the positive performances, they have been leapfrogged by rivals causing them to drop down the table. The visit of Huddersfield will be a significant opportunity for Howe’s side to regain some much-needed momentum ahead of the busy Christmas schedule.
Howe will take confidence in the fact that Bournemouth are unbeaten in six home matches against the Terriers in all competitions and also the fact that their visitors have not won a midweek top-flight game since March 1971. Even though their recent run of form is disappointing, only two points separate Everton in 6th and Bournemouth in 9th and with Manchester United (7th) playing host to a flying Arsenal side during the week; Howe will be hoping that three points can boost them up the table.
For Huddersfield, this game will not be easy. Wagner knows his side is seriously lacking striking impetus, and the dismissal of his striker will not help. The Terriers are the only side in the top four tiers of English football not to reach double figures for goals so far this season – netting just nine times in 14 games. As a result of Mounie’s red card, it seems most likely that Laurent Depoitre will start up front at the Vitality. His form is not pretty either and having made 13 appearances this season, he has still yet to bag himself a goal. To make matters worse, Bournemouth have only conceded ten goals at home this season and have faced visits from United, Arsenal and Everton.
Callum Wilson seems to be Bournemouth’s man of the moment currently and his goal against the Citizens takes him level with the likes of Lacazette and Hazard in the Golden Boot standings. The young English striker recently received his first England cap and a debut goal following his fantastic form for the Cherries and he loves a fixture vs Huddersfield too. He has scored five league goals against Huddersfield with all his goals coming in 4-0 wins; two in August 2014 and a hat-trick in November 2017. Wilson will not only pose a significant threat to the weak Huddersfield defence but could also provide a drive for a European finish.
Team news
Jefferson Lerma may return to add to the Cherries’ midfield having served a one-match suspension against Manchester City. Adam Smith will not take any part and may not return until late February. Dan Gosling is also a doubt but could claim a place on the bench.
Steve Mounie will not play for the visitors after being sent off in Saturday’s defeat against Brighton. Laurent Depoitre looks most likely to replace him up front. Chris Lowe is still unavailable due to a shoulder injury but the German could return for the Arsenal game.
Huddersfield boss David Wagner spoke out about the officials on Sunday and said how they made ‘bad decisions’ regarding the incident with Mounie. Since Sunday’s game, the club have appealed the red card.
Predicted starting XI’s:
Bournemouth (4-4-1-1): Begovic; Francis, S Cook, Aké, Daniels; Brooks, Lerma, Cook, Fraser; King; Wilson
Huddersfield Town (3-5-1-1): Lössl; Zanka, Schindler, Kongolo; Hadergjonaj, Mooy, Hogg, Billing, Durm; Pritchard; Depoitre
Score prediction: AFC Bournemouth 2 Huddersfield Town 0
It is really hard to see Huddersfield coming away from home and getting anything from this game. The Cherries have no problem scoring too, netting nine in their last 10 matches. 15 goals from their last 17 league matches were also scored at the Vitality Stadium, making this seem an uphill battle for the visitors.
