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Can Bournemouth end their slump against West Ham this weekend?

Crippy Cooke in Editorial, English Premier League 10 Mar 2017

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Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe needs to halt his side’s worrying recent slump

AFC Bournemouth welcome West Ham United to the Vitality Stadium in Saturday afternoon’s Premier League clash, and are desperate to pick up a result after a woeful run of form draws their hopes of survival into question.

The Cherries have been in freefall in 2017 and could be drawn into a relegation battle if they can’t arrest the slide. And with West Ham suffering their own mini-slump of late, Bournemouth stand a chance of a turnaround – especially after a recent impressive draw at Manchester United.

West Ham’s poor form and defensive record gives Cherries a chance

West Ham United are currently 11th in the Premier League table with 33 points from 27 games this season, having gone three games without a win ahead of their meeting with AFC Bournemouth. The Hammers have struggled defensively too, conceding 13 goals since the turn of the year, while keeping only one clean sheet since mid-December.

Manager Slaven Bilic is under no illusions either, warning his players ahead of trip to the Vitality Stadium: “To get a point against Manchester United at Old Trafford would have given Bournemouth a big boost in confidence and belief. They played the whole second half with ten men, so we’re expecting a really, really difficult game on a difficult, small pitch.”

Bournemouth haven’t been too convincing on home soil of late while West Ham have shone on the road, but Saturday’s meeting could be an interesting spectacle as the home side have been full of goals and will adopt an attacking approach to get a result, regardless of how many they concede in the process.

Goals expected at the Vitality Stadium

AFC Bournemouth are 14th in the Premier League table with 27 points from as many games, having gone eight without a win. Eddie Howe’s men have conceded 52 goals this season and won’t abandon their principles to arrest the slide which should make for an entertaining spectacle this weekend.

Bournemouth have scored three or more goals in the Premier League since the end of December, netting 14 times in their last nine games. However, they have conceded 21 of their previous eight which should make for a to-and-fro meeting at the Vitality Stadium.

Bournemouth v West Ham Premier League past meetings
(22/8/15) West Ham United 3-4 AFC Bournemouth
(12/1/16) AFC Bournemouth 1-3 West Ham United
(21/8/16) West Ham United 1-0 AFC Bournemouth

AFC Bournemouth are 8/5 to win against West Ham United in Saturday’s Premier League clash. They can’t afford anything less given they lie just five points above the drop zone.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Crippy Cooke


Crippy Cooke has somehow written for the Telegraph, Independent, Huffington Post, Zoo Magazine, Daily Mail, ITV Football, MSN Sport, Yahoo Sport, London24 and Bleacher Report among others, despite knowing less about football than your average Fan TV member . The weekly accumulator enthusiast is saving up his winnings to pay for a much-needed hair transplant but grows more on his chin than his head. He lives and breathes football and somehow makes a living writing from it.

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