MY ACCOUNT
– Bournemouth have scored the first goal in four of their last eight home league games
– West Ham have conceded the first goal in nine of their last 11 away league matches
– Recommended bet: Bournemouth to score the 1st goal
Bournemouth host survival rivals West Ham on Sunday, looking to ease their relegation worries with a third win on the spin.
Back-to-back away wins over Leicester and Tottenham have catapulted the Cherries out of the drop zone and to the heady heights of 14th place.
The Hammers travel to Dorset amid a four-game unbeaten run that includes last weekend’s thrilling comeback from two goals down to draw against Premier League leaders Arsenal.
But David Moyes’ side know a loss at the Vitality Stadium could leave them in the mire again ahead of some tough end-of-season fixtures.
Team news
Ryan Fredericks, Junior Stanislas and Hamed Traore remain out for Bournemouth, although O’Neil is hopeful the Ivory Coast international will return soon.
As for West Ham, Moyes is able to call on all his big guns after taking several off when Thursday’s Europa Conference League game against Gent had been won.
Thilo Kehrer and Aaron Cresswell could return to the back four in place of Nayef Aguerd and Emerson Palmieri respectively, while Danny Ings is pushing for inclusion up front against his former club.
The stats
Bournemouth have gone nine games without drawing, winning five and losing only four of their matches since the 1-1 home result against Newcastle in February.
Dango Ouattara’s winning goal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was timed at 94 minutes and 11 seconds, making it latest-ever clinching strike in the Premier League for the Cherries.
West Ham’s win at Fulham earlier this month meant they avoided failing to win in 12 consecutive away games in the Premier League for the first time since May 2015.
The Hammers have been starting slowly this season and have been ahead at half-time in six of their 30 league games.
Prediction
West Ham’s slow starts have become almost habitual this season and that may have something to do with their Thursday-Sunday schedule.
The Hammers have conceded the first goal in six of their last seven matches that have directly followed a Europa Conference League game, while they fallen behind in nine of their last 11 top-flight matches.
Bournemouth’s two-game winning run will have boosted confidence levels at the club and they will look to make a positive start on Sunday.
It would be no surprise to see them take the lead, although West Ham’s powers of recovery have been notable recently and may be in evidence again.
Back Bournemouth to score the first goal at 21/20 with LiveScore Bet.
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