Bournemouth will be looking to continue their recent resurgence when they welcome Crystal Palace to the Vitality Stadium on Boxing Day.
The Cherries have climbed out of the relegation zone in recent weeks, but come up against renowned away day specialists in the Eagles on Saturday.
Bournemouth
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What a month it has been for Bournemouth so far. Coming into it on an eight-match winless streak, the Cherries have seemingly grabbed a slice of the pie from the unpredictable nature of this season with three wins from three in December.
That revival has seen them climb out of the relegation zone and four points clear of danger, with Eddie Howe being rewarded for his refusal to alter the team's playing style in search of points.
The manner of the victories will be particularly pleasing. Famous wins over Chelsea and Manchester United - two of the best results in the club's history - were fully deserved, while they continued their winning streak against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns last time out.
Bournemouth were given a helping hand by James McClean's red card after just 34 minutes, but they showed good character and resolve to bounce back from Gareth McAuley's equaliser with an 87th-minute winner from the penalty spot.
It means that Howe's side are now unbeaten in five and are looking to make it four wins on the bounce for the first time in a year - and the first time ever in the top flight.
Only three teams have picked up fewer points at home this season, though, with Bournemouth having been better on their travels than at Dean Court so far this term.
However, this will be the last time that they play in front of their own fans until mid-January, with three away games next up. Having beaten Manchester United in their most recent home outing, there is likely to be an electric atmosphere in their final Dean Court appearance of the most successful year in the club's history.
They may need more than just the fans on their side to come away with much from an upcoming run that sees them take on Arsenal, Leicester City and West Ham United after this weekend, but having already claimed the scalps of Chelsea and United, Bournemouth will hold no fear.
They will need to improve defensively to continue their run during that spell of games, though, as only Sunderland have conceded more goals than the Cherries this season.
Recent form: LDDWWW
Crystal Palace
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It is safe to assume that Alan Pardew will be enjoying his Christmas dinner a lot more this year than he did last.
Twelve months ago, his Newcastle United side had just been beaten at home by local rivals Sunderland before falling to a fourth consecutive defeat on Boxing Day, increasing the seemingly endless pressure on his shoulders at St James' Park.
If the appreciation was not there for Pardew with the Magpies, it most certainly is for the Eagles - and rightly so.
Crystal Palace spend Christmas this year level on points with Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, with only goal difference keeping them out of the Champions League places.
Last weekend's 2-1 victory over Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium made it four games without defeat, and just one loss in their last seven, which curiously came against struggling Sunderland having taken points from Man Utd, Liverpool and Everton in recent weeks.
Those are the only points that they have dropped against teams from the bottom half of the table, though, picking up 21 from a possible 24 overall with Bournemouth, Swansea, Chelsea and Aston Villa to come in their next four games.
It is their away form that has been particularly eye-catching under Pardew. They have amassed 35 points on the road this calendar year, a tally that only Arsenal (38) can better in the Premier League.
The Gunners and Leicester City are the only teams with better away records than Palace this season, with the Eagles having picked up a larger proportion of their points on the road than at Selhurst Park, while no side has conceded fewer on their travels.
Indeed, Palace have not let in more than one goal in an away Premier League game since January despite keeping just two clean sheets in their 16 trips under Pardew.
On current form there is no reason to suggest why those away days may not be further afield next season, and victory for the "overachieving" Eagles - in Pardew's own words - would take them one step closer to finishing in the European places.
Recent form: WLWDWW
Team News
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The injury news is not particularly good for either of these sides heading into this weekend's meeting.
Palace will hand late fitness tests to key players Yohan Cabaye (heel) and Yannick Bolasie (muscular), while Connor Wickham, who scored the opener at Stoke, is another doubt with a hamstring strain.
Mile Jedinak is also rated at 50-50 due to an ankle problem, while the match will come too soon for Bakary Sako and Dwight Gayle (both hamstring), who are expected to return at the start of January.
For Bournemouth, their two goalscorers in their last home game - Josh King and Junior Stanislas - are both major doubts due to hamstring injuries, although Lee Tomlin is working his way back to full fitness and could be involved.
Christian Atsu and Tommy Elphick are sidelined until next month, while ACL victims Tyrone Mings, Callum Wilson and Max Gradel are all long-term absentees.
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Boruc; Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels; Ritchie, Gosling, Surman, Arter, Pugh; Murray
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Hennessey; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare; Zaha, Ledley, McArthur, Puncheon; Chamakh, Lee
Head To Head
These two sides have not met in a competitive match since March 1989 when the Cherries ran out 3-2 winners away from home in the old Division Two.
Bournemouth were also triumphant in their most recent meeting on home soil, although the last 10 league clashes between these two sides have been evenly matched with five wins apiece.
We say: Bournemouth 1-2 Crystal Palace
Bournemouth may be flying at the moment following a fantastic run, but Palace are soaring even higher and, even with the likes of Bolasie and Cabaye sidelined, have enough threats throughout their side to cause any team problems. With their away record and Bournemouth's home form this season, it looks set to be another win for the Eagles on the road.
Barney Corkhill
