MY ACCOUNT
– Forest have failed to score in seven of their nine away Premier League games this season, losing six
– Bournemouth have been boosted by new signing Dango Ouattara, but Forest are without Dean Henderson and Taiwo Awoniyi
– Recommended bet: Bournemouth to win
Bournemouth could be boosted by fresh blood ahead of the visit of heavily-reinforced Nottingham Forest for Saturday’s relegation six-pointer at the Vitality Stadium.
The Cherries pipped Forest to the second automatic promotion place last May but were outspent by a factor of six to one by the Reds once they had confirmed their Premier League return.
The club have provided Gary O’Neil with some much-needed reinforcements this week as he battles to reverse a run of six straight defeats since the post-World Cup resumption.
But the arrival of winger Dango Ouattara has been offset by an injury to striker Dominic Solanke.
Meanwhile, Steve Cooper’s Forest are looking to turn the form that has seen them remain unbeaten in their last six home Premier League games into precious away points.
Team news
Solanke will miss Saturday’s contest after sustaining a knee injury in freakish circumstances away from his team-mates during a training session last week.
Lewis Cook also appears to be out after he was substituted in the first half at Brentford because of a knee problem.
Kieffer Moore will lead the line and likely be flanked by Jaidon Anthony and Ryan Christie, with Ouattara on the bench initially.
Jack Stacey could drop out with right-back Adam Smith due back from suspension, while Ben Pearson and Joe Rothwell vie to fill in for Cook alongside Jefferson Lerma and Philip Billing in midfield.
Marcus Tavernier (thigh), David Brooks (thigh), Ryan Fredericks (muscle), and Junior Stanislas (muscle) all appear unlikely to feature again.
For Forest, Taiwo Awoniyi has missed the last two games with a groin problem that he tweaked and then attempted to play on with against Southampton.
The Nigerian striker will likely miss out again with Gustavo Scarpa or Sam Surridge, who replaced the Brazilian against Leicester, set to start up front.
Emmanuel Dennis, who has largely been restricted to cup appearances since Christmas, is another option.
First-choice goalkeeper Dean Henderson is out for up to four weeks with a thigh problem, joining Jesse Lingard (thigh), Moussa Niakhate (thigh), Giulian Biancone (knee), Willy Boly (ankle), Cheikhou Kouyate (thigh) and Omar Richards (calf) on the sidelines.
If the club cannot bring another experienced keeper in before Friday’s signing deadline, Wales international Wayne Hennessey will get the nod to start.
Ryan Yates sustained a blow to the head against Leicester but should shake it off to start in Forest’s midfield.
The stats
Bournemouth have lost six consecutive games in all competitions for the first time since September 1983.
The Cherries have also failed to score in their last four games in the Premier League.
Striker Moore recorded just 30 touches across the entirety of his 90 minutes’ work against Brentford last Saturday and lost possession on eight occasions.
Forest’s victory over Leicester means they have won back-to-back games in the Premier League for the first time since May 1999.
Yates has committed the most fouls of any player in the Premier League (37).
Prediction
Despite Forest’s solid home form, Cooper’s team continue to struggle on the road and particularly when it comes to scoring goals.
No team has registered fewer away goals than the Reds, who have only two to show from nine Premier League trips.
The recent loss of Awoniyi to injury does not help, as they appear to lack a focal point without him on the pitch.
Likewise, the injury suffered by Dean Henderson could swing this game Bournemouth’s way as the on-loan England keeper has been excellent for the Reds.
This is a huge chance for the Cherries, who are 7/4 to win with LiveScore Bet, to take all three points against a team they have beaten on each of the last two occasions they have visited the Vitality Stadium.
