MX23RW : Thursday, April 25 22:50:34| >> :120:34102:34102:
[monks data]
Bournemouth logo
Championship
Feb 28, 2015 at 3.30pm UK
 
Blackburn logo

0-0

FT

Preview: Bournemouth vs. Blackburn Rovers

Sports Mole looks ahead to Saturday's Championship clash between Bournemouth and Blackburn Rovers as the hosts look to get their title challenge back on track.

Bournemouth will look to get their ailing title challenge back on track this weekend as they host Blackburn Rovers at Dean Court.

The Cherries' form has deserted them at a crucial stage of the season, picking up just two points from the last 12 available to drop from top of the pile down to fourth.

Eddie Howe has insisted that it is not yet time for his side to panic, but suddenly six points separate them from league leaders Derby County while they are just one ahead of Brentford in seventh.

Much could still change over the remaining 13 matches of the campaign, but a return to form is crucial for Bournemouth sooner rather than later if they are to avoid slipping not just out of the title race but also out of the playoffs.

Wednesday's defeat to Nottingham Forest made it four games without a win for the Cherries - their worst run since a seven-game spell in late 2013 - while they are looking to avoid three consecutive defeats this weekend for the first time since being promoted to the Championship.

It has certainly been a damaging week for the club so far, and 2015 as a whole has been a difficult year up to this point, with Bournemouth having lost more league games than they have won since the turn of the year.

A return to Dean Court won't do much to lighten the mood either, with the Cherries having picked up more points away from home this season than they have in front of their own fans. Having said that, they have only been beaten once at home in the Championship in their last 12 games at the Goldsands.

Howe will be boosted by the return of Harry Arter from suspension this weekend, and he could be one of a number of changes for the hosts.

Marc Pugh and Charlie Daniels are among those pushing for a recall, but Yann Kermorgant may once again miss out due to a recent family bereavement.

Blackburn's season continues to lurch this way and that, with a lack of consistency once again preventing them from launching a concerted playoff charge this season.

Gary Bowyer's side are now 15 points off the top six and, despite sitting in 10th place, are actually closer to the relegation zone in terms of points.

They let a lead slip on Tuesday as Norwich City came from behind to win 2-1 at Ewood Park, making it three games without a win for Rovers.

Their minds may already be drifting to the upcoming FA Cup quarter-final with Liverpool at Anfield, with that now Blackburn's most realistic chance of salvaging a successful season.

Their away form is not exactly encouraging, however, with Rovers having not won a Championship game on the road since October - a run of nine matches that has seen them pick up just five points from a possible 27.

Joshua King was forced off just seven minutes after coming on as a sub in midweek and is unlikely to feature on Saturday, leaving Jordan Rhodes and Rudy Gestede to lead the line once again.

Ben Marshall is expected to return to the starting lineup, however, in what could be the only change for Bowyer this weekend.

Blackburn raced into a three-goal lead inside 25 minutes of the reverse fixture before holding off a late fightback from Bournemouth to clinch a 3-2 victory at Ewood Park in August.

Bournemouth:

Recent form: WWDDLL

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

Blackburn:

Form in Championship: WLWDDL
Form in all competitions: LWWDDL

Possible starting lineup: Steele; Baptiste, Hanley, Kilgallon, Olsson; Marshall, Cairney, Evans, Conway; Rhodes, Gestede

Sports Mole says: 2-1


ID:207952: cacheID:207952:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6431:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe during the Sky Bet Championship match between Brighton & Hove Albion and AFC Bournemouh at The Amex Stadium on January 01, 2014
Read Next:
Team News: Howe shakes up Bournemouth side
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Result
Blanch
Nadal
1 0
6 6
Result
Cachin
Ofner
6 6
3 3
Result
Elahi Galan
Bautista-Agut
64 6 1
77 4 6
Result
Gasquet
Sonego
2 5
6 7
Result
Hanfmann
Mensik
4 63
6 77
Result
Koepfer
Carballes Baena
1 6 65
6 3 77
Result
Kovacevic
Medjedovic
6 5 4
3 7 6
Result
Lajovic
Monteiro
4 3
6 6
Result
Machac
Ruusuvuori
6 1 6
4 6 2
Result
Michelsen
Fonseca
6 0 2
4 6 6
Result
Nishioka
Auger-Aliassime
6 1 4
4 6 6
Result
O'Connell
Arnaldi
4 1
6 6
Result
Purcell
Giron
4 6 77
6 4 62
Result
Ramos-Vinolas
Kotov
3 4
6 6
Result
Tabilo
Cobolli
7 4 4
5 6 6
Result
Zhizhen
Kecmanovic
3 2
6 6
Result
Azarenka
Maria
6 6
3 1
Result
Eala
Cirstea
3 78 4
6 66 6
Result
Annie Fernandez
Potapova
7 6
5 3
Result
Gauff
Rus
6 6
0 0
Result
Keys
Camelia-Begu
77 78
63 66
Result
Podoroska
Navarro
2 1
6 6
Result
Karolina Schmiedlova
Jabeur
4 7 3
6 5 6
Result
Swiatek
Wang
6 6
1 4
Result
Sorribes Tormo
Svitolina
6 7
3 5
Result
Vekic
Sakkari
3 2
6 6
Result
Arango
Yastremska
6 5 4
0 7 6
Result
Osaka
Samsonova
2 6 5
6 4 7
Result
Ostapenko
Bouzas Maneiro
6 6
3 1
Result
Haddad Maia
Errani
6 6
3 2
Result
Lourdes Carle
Kudermetova
6 6
4 4
Result
Mertens
Stephens
6 3 1
3 6 6
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Manchester CityMan City33237380324876
3Liverpool34228475344174
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton331111115254-244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!