English Premier
2019-01-30 - Bournemouth vs Chelsea
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Wednesday 30th January 2019 - Kick Off 7:45pm
Bournemouth
With just 10 points to go before Bournemouth reach the 40 point total that should mean survival in the Premier League, Eddie Howe may be cursing the fact his team were not able to progress past the FA Cup Third Round. On paper there doesn't look to be a lot of motivation for Bournemouth in the remaining four months of the season, but a top half finish is still the goal and Eddie Howe will be trying to make sure standards are maintained.
The last couple of months have been difficult for Bournemouth after a very hot start to the season and that has seen them slip to 12th in the Premier League table and drop out of both domestic Cup competitions. Home form has been the key to success for Bournemouth all season and they have a 6-3-3 record at the Vitality Stadium where they have scored 21 goals and conceded 17.
Bournemouth had been on a miserable run of 2 wins from their previous 14 games in all competitions and they had lost 11 of those before a 2-0 win over West Ham United ten days ago. They are unbeaten in their last 3 Premier League games at the Vitality Stadium and Bournemouth have won 2 of those, although The Cherries were also beaten here by Brighton in the FA Cup Third Round.
Dominic Solanke is yet to appear for Bournemouth since signing from Liverpool and is due back next month. Callum Wilson was linked with a move to Chelsea in the January transfer window, but that is no longer the case and he is a doubt to show them what they have missed.
Chelsea
Progress through to the League Cup Final and the FA Cup Fifth Round has just given Chelsea a few more positive feelings to take into a busy run of Premier League games. Maurizio Sarri has also won something of a power battle by having the chance to sign Gonzalo Higuain on loan from Juventus, although the arrival of the Argentinian international has seen Alvaro Morata move on loan to Atletico Madrid.
Winning silverware for the first time in his career as a manager would be a huge boost for Sarri, but the feeling remains that his time with Chelsea will judged by whether he gets the club back into the Champions League or not. Some of his comments about players suggest he is feeling the pressure, but Chelsea are 4th in the Premier League table and 3 points clear of both Arsenal and Manchester United going into this round of fixtures. The Blues have a 7-1-3 away record where they have scored 19 goals and conceded 10.
Chelsea beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 on Sunday to make it 6 wins from their last 9 in all competitions, while the confidence should be improved by a run of 3 wins from 4 games. However their last away game was the 2-0 defeat at Arsenal in the Premier League and Chelsea have lost consecutive games on their travels in all competitions.
There are no new injury concerns in the Chelsea squad ahead of this fixture. Eden Hazard was rested completely on Sunday and should be available for selection in this one.
Head to Head
Chelsea have beaten Bournemouth 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League and also 1-0 at home in the League Cup.
Bournemouth beat Chelsea the first they hosted them back in September 1988, but it is Chelsea who have won on all 4 visits since including in each of the last three seasons in the Premier League.
Prediction
This is a busy month coming up for Chelsea who have received the plaudits for their Cup exploits, but need to make sure they are finding some consistency in the Premier League. With Arsenal and Manchester United breathing down their necks, Maurizio Sarri is under pressure to get Gonzalo Higuain ticking immediately, while the Europa League is another potential avenue back into the Champions League.
Getting back into the premier European competition had to be the top goal for Sarri when he was appointed manager back in July and Chelsea have opened the door to the teams below them by winning half of their last 6 Premier League games.
They have remained strong away from Stamford Bridge though and I think Chelsea are facing Bournemouth at the right time with the home team struggling for consistency over the last couple of months. The Cherries have only lost 1 of their last 6 home Premier League games, but they've been visited by three of the top six so far this season and lost each of those games.
Bournemouth do have goals in the side which makes them dangerous, but Callum Wilson is a doubt for this one and that does hurt their chances. Dominic Solanke is not yet ready to make his debut and I can see a rested Eden Hazard inspiring Chelsea to a win at a ground where they have enjoyed plenty of success since Bournemouth were promoted to the Premier League.
As a Manchester United fan I would love to see Chelsea slip up here, but I don't think that happens on Bournemouth's current form and they can become the latest top six club to win at the Vitality Stadium. The Blues may need two goals to get it done, but Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool have hit at least two goals in visits to this ground in the 2018/19 season and I would not be surprised to see Chelsea do the same in an important away win.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Bournemouth 1-2 Chelsea
