Preview: Bournemouth vs. Derby County - prediction, team news, lineups

Bournemouth will be hoping to continue their unbeaten start to the Championship season when they host Derby County on Saturday afternoon.

A 1-0 win over Bristol City on Wednesday lifted the Cherries to second in the Championship, six points behind leaders Reading.

Match preview

Arnaut Danjuma came off the bench to score the only goal of the game against the Robins as Bournemouth leapfrogged their opponents in the table.

The victory followed three consecutive draws and Jason Tindall admitted after the game that it was vital his side got back to winning ways.

Eddie Howe's long-time assistant is continuing to prove an inspired appointment as the Cherries aim to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking. The South Coast side have not conceded at the Vitality Stadium since the opening day against the league's top scorers Blackburn Rovers.

They welcome a Derby team who are the Championship's second-lowest scorers, with just four goals to their name in eight matches.

However Martyn Waghorn's return to the team has been very welcome, and the 30-year-old scored a fantastic free kick for the second game in a row as Derby drew 1-1 with Cardiff City on Wednesday.

It was not the victory that Phillip Cocu desperately craves â€“ his side have won just once this season â€“ but was enough to take them out of the Championship relegation zone.

Performances are improving, but the pressure on the Dutchman will not ease until he can navigate a way out of this perilous position that the Rams were not expected to be in.

Bournemouth and Derby have only faced each other on ten previous occasions, none of which finished 0-0. The Cherries have only won two of those meetings, which both came in the 1980s.

Bournemouth Championship form: WWDDDW

Derby County Championship form: LWLLDD

Team News

Jason Tindall has made a habit of rotating his side in recent weeks in order to cope with the Championship's busy fixture schedule.

Wednesday's goalscorer Arnaut Danjuma should come back in to start, while Philip Billing is also in line for a recall. David Brooks could return to the matchday squad following a spell on the sidelines.

Derby will be boosted by the return of Wayne Rooney following the former England captain's period of self-isolation.

Kamil Jozwiak had to be helped off the pitch against Cardiff after suffering a foot injury and is a doubt for the game.

In goal, David Marshall should be fit to return after missing the fixture against the Bluebirds with a back problem.

Bournemouth possible starting lineup: Begovic; Mepham, Cook, Kelly; Stacey, Cook, Billing, Smith; Danjuma; King, Solanke

Derby County possible starting lineup: Marshall; Wisdom, Davies, Clarke; Byrne, Rooney, Shinnie, Buchanan; Lawrence, Waghorn, Knight

We say: Bournemouth 2-0 Derby County

Rooney's return will help Derby but they will still find it hard to break down a well-organised Bournemouth side who have the attacking quality to punish teams. The pressure on Phillip Cocu will only continue to mount should his side lose on the South Coast.

Top betting tip

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