AFC Bournemouth will host an under-performing Sunderland side at the Vitality Stadium this coming Saturday.
Given the way their respective seasons have gone so far, this fixture may be pivotal in deciding who survives the drop come May.
Both sides are coming into the weekend having lost their most recent fixture, but will be looking put that in the past and take advantage of what is a must win game for both sides.
Bournemouth are in marginally better form, taking four points away from their opening five fixtures and, for the moment, boast the league’s joint highest goalscorer in Callum Wilson (four).
Sunderland, on the other hand, are yet to win a Premier League game in the current campaign. Fans will take comfort in the fact that they have managed to avoid relegation in each of the seasons since their promotion, back in 2007-08. But if the Black Cats intend on keeping that record intact, they will need to start putting some points on the board.
Key Battle – Jermain Defoe vs Tommy Elphick and Steve Cook
The evergreen Jermain Defoe has led the line for Sunderland so far this season, with two goals in the Black Cats’ opening fixtures. Defoe is one of the more prolific figures in Premier League history and has a hand many goals Sunderland score.
On the other side of the battle is the centre-half partnership of Tommy Elphick and Steve Cook. Cherries captain Elphick and Cook have had a hot and cold start to their debut Premier League season. The pair putt in convincing performances in the opening rounds, however, of late, they have been more error prone than what the Premier League demands. Cook had something of a nightmare outing at Carrow Road last week, defensively faltering in two of Norwich’s three goals.
The game may well come down to how well the Cherries defense can handle the seasoned Defoe. Bournemouth will be aided by the return of Charlie Daniels at left-back, who holds his own in defence, meaning Elphick and Cook will be free to deal with the immediate problem that is Defoe.
Team News
Bournemouth will be without midfielder Harry Arter and marquee signings Max Gradel and Tyrone Mings. Gradel was one of Bournemouth’s central contributors in attack, meaning the Cherries will have to be considered a weakened side until his return, which could be some time away with an ACL injury.
AFC Bournemouth Expected XI (4-4-1-1): Boruc (GK); Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels; Ritchie, Surman, O’Kane, Stanislas; King; Wilson.
Sunderland will be without striker Steven Fletcher and wide man Adam Johnson. The absence of Fletcher will likely affect Sunderland’s options in attack. The Scotland international is still out after suffering a heavy knock. The Black Cats will be without the delivery that Johnson provides from both set pieces and open play.
Sunderland Expected XI (4-2-3-1): Pantilimon (GK); Jones, O’Shea, Kaboul, van Aanholt; M’Vila, Gomez; Lens, Toivonen, Borini; Defoe.
Head-to-Head
This will be the first time the two sides have met in 25 years. In the pre-Premier League era, the two sides met on six occasions, of which Sunderland won four and the remaining two were drawn – Bournemouth have never beaten Sunderland.
Both sides come from humble histories and the fact the last time the two sides met was in the 1990 installment of the Football League Two (Fourth Division), helps add to that sentiment. To put that in perspective, the last time these two clubs met, Bournemouth front man Callum Wilson had not even been born.
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Prediction
Although Bournemouth have never managed a win against the Black Cats, form leans the way of the hosts. Bournemouth stuttered last week against Norwich and will be looking to get back into head-turning form. But do not expect Sunderland to just curl over and except a loss; they will be just as thirsty for their first win of the season.
AFC Bournemouth 2 Sunderland 1
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