MX23RW : Sunday, December 15 04:16:20| >> :120:25738:25738:
[monks data]
Bournemouth logo
Championship
Mar 15, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Middlesbrough logo

0-0

FT

Preview: Bournemouth vs. Middlesbrough

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between in-form Bournemouth and Middlesbrough.

Bournemouth will be looking to continue their fine recent form when they take on Middlesbrough at Dean Court on Saturday.

The Cherries have enjoyed a superb March so far, winning all three of their matches without conceding a goal to climb up to 12th in the Championship table.

The sudden surge of consistency is something that has been lacking all season for Eddie Howe's side, and it surely comes too late for them to launch a serious charge for the playoffs.

However, their run does set them up for a promising finish to their first campaign in the Championship, and optimism will be high for next season if they can cling on to a top-half position.

Only runaway league leaders Leicester have been able to win at the Goldsands in Bournemouth's last seven league outings there, while their most recent match in front of their own fans resulted in a 5-0 thrashing of Doncaster Rovers.

The star of that show was Yann Kermorgant, but he is likely to miss this weekend's game along with Charlie Daniels and Elliot Ward due to injury.

Middlesbrough, meanwhile, have finally found their scoring touch again and could climb as high as 10th in the table with a victory on Saturday.

Having gone seven games without finding the back of the net, Boro eased to a 2-0 win over Ipswich last Saturday and followed that up with a respectable 1-1 draw against high flying Nottingham Forest.

Aitor Karanka's side have forged a formidable defensive record in recent weeks, with seven clean sheets in their last 11 games, although that has been largely overshadowed by their troubles in front of goal.

As with Bournemouth, the playoffs are now beyond Boro this season, but a strong end to the campaign would increase hopes of a top-six push next year.

To do that, they will need to improve their away form, which has seen them go four matches without a win or a goal in the league, picking up just one point in that time.

Karanka will be without Jonathan Woodgate once again, while Lee Tomlin could also miss out having picked up a knock in midweek.

Recent form

Bournemouth: DDLWWW

Middlesbrough: DLDLWD

Possible starting lineups

Bournemouth: Camp; Francis, Elphick, Cook, Harte; Surman, Arter, Fraser, Ritchie; Pugh; Grabban

Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos; Varga, Omeruo, Gibson, Friend; Leadbitter, Chalobah; Adomah, Ledesma, Carayol; Graham

Sports Mole says: 2-0


ID:144064: cacheID:144064:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4928:
Written by
Barney Corkhill
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:
Blackpool manager Barry Ferguson looks on during the Championship match against Reading on January 28, 2014
Read Next:
Preview: Blackpool vs. Bournemouth
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Chiefs
@
Browns
6pm
Ravens
@
Giants
6pm
Jets
@
Jags
6pm
Cowboys
@
Panthers
6pm
Washington
@
Saints
6pm
Dolphins
@
Texans
6pm
Bengals
@
Titans
9.25pm
Colts
@
Broncos
9.25pm
Patriots
@
Cardinals
9.25pm
Buccaneers
@
Chargers
9.25pm
Steelers
@
Eagles
9.25pm
Bills
@
Lions
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City158342721627
6Aston Villa167452425-125
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Fulham166642422224
10Brentford157263128323
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton153661421-715
16Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1512121131-205


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!