Preview: Bournemouth vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Bournemouth are down to fifth in the Championship table after going five games without a win for the first time this season and next face one of the sides chasing their playoff place, in-form Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Eddie Howe's Cherries have picked up just three points out of a possible 15 in their winless streak to fall five points behind league leaders Derby County.

It perhaps should be worse for the South Coast club, but many of the other sides in the promotion mix have also faltered of late.

On Saturday they failed to score at home in the league for the first time this season as Blackburn Rovers held them to a goalless draw at the Goldsands Stadium.

Matt Ritchie could return to the starting XI after dropping to the bench, while Brett Pitman may earn a recall in attack.

If their slide continues tomorrow night, the Cherries could find themselves outside the top six with 11 games to go if other results go against them.

Wolves are one of the sides hot on the heels of the top six and they can match Bournemouth's total of 60 points if they win their fourth game in a row.

Kenny Jackett's side have scored nine goals and conceded none in the three recent victories over Rotherham United, Fulham and Cardiff City to close within three points of the top six, but their goal difference is still much weaker than the sides above them.

Following 3-0 and 5-0 home wins over the Millers and Cottagers, they eked out a 1-0 triumph on the road at Cardiff City on Saturday to make it four wins in five games.

Their improved recent results are in part down to the return to form of Bakary Sako, who has scored four goals in the last three wins.

Jackett could go with the same XI that started against Cardiff as Wolves gear up for a big week with the trip to Bournemouth followed by a visit from fourth-placed Watford on Saturday.

Wolves have never won away at Bournemouth in league competition and also suffered defeat in the reverse as the Cherries fought back from a goal down to win a heated affair 2-1 at Molineux in December.

Bournemouth:

Recent form: WDDLLD

Possible starting lineup: Boruc; Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels; Ritchie, Surman, Arter, Pugh; Pitman, Wilson

Wolves:

Recent form: LWLWWW

Possible starting lineup: Kuszczak; Iorfa, Batth, Stearman, Hause; McDonald, Price, Edwards; Van La Parra, Afobe, Sako

Sports Mole says: 1-1