Week 22 – Bournemouth vs Newcastle – Sport Grill

Relegation battling Bournemouth host Newcastle at Vitality Stadium in a huge Premier League clash.

Victory would see Bournemouth climb out of the relegation zone, whilst Newcastle could begin this match down in fifth but can climb to third with a win.

Team News

Dominic Solanke is set to return for Bournemouth after missing their last two matches with a knee injury.

Lewis Cook (knee) and Marcus Tavernier (hamstring) are doubts but Lloyd Kelly, Jack Stephens (both calf), Ryan Fredericks, Junior Stanislas (both knock) and David Brooks (fitness) remain absent.

Newcastle could welcome Alexander Isak back into contention after he sat out their 1-1 draw at home to West Ham, in line with concussion protocols.

Javier Manquillo (unspecified), Matt Targett (heel), Emil Krafth (knee) and Bruno Guimaraes (suspension) remain ruled out.

When is Kick-Off?

Bournemouth host Newcastle in a 5:30pm GMT kick-off at Vitality Stadium on Saturday 11 February, live on Sky Sports.

Stat Attack

• Bournemouth are winless in their last six league meetings against Newcastle (D3, L3).
• Newcastle are unbeaten in four previous Premier League visits to Bournemouth (W2, D2).
• Bournemouth have conceded first in three of their last five league meetings against Newcastle.
• Bournemouth have failed to win in eight matches across all competitions since returning from the World Cup break (D1, L7).
• Newcastle are yet to lose a live match on Sky Sports played at 5:30pm on a Saturday this season (W1, D2).

Prediction

Despite looking in freefall with no wins in their last eight matches, Bournemouth mounted a brilliant defensive performance to frustrate Brighton last weekend and were unlucky to not get a point, following a late slip in marking foucs.

Newcastle meanwhile will feel disappointed with their 1-1 draw against West Ham because they played well in terms of attacking quality, yet were often frustrated but their defence did concede a sloppy goal through poor reaction to a set piece.

I though do expect Eddie Howe’s Magpies to head south and dominate this game against a leaky Bournemouth defence, who will have to perform as well as they did last weekend otherwise I am backing Howe to enjoy a successful return to his old stomping ground.

Prediction: Bournemouth 0-2 Newcastle