Form
13/04/19 – Brighton 0-5 Bournemouth
06/04/19 – Bournemouth 1-3 Burnley
30/03/19 – Leicester 2-0 Bournemouth
16/03/19 – Bournemouth 2-2 Newcastle
09/02/19 – Huddersfield 0-2 Bournemouth
Tactics
Eddie Howe likes to set up with a 4-4-2, which can easily transition to a 4-2-3-1 depending on the scenario at hand. David Brooks continues to be a force that can change the game at any given moment, while Callum Wilson is deadly anywhere near the box. The Cherries like to press high up the pitch to force mistakes, so we will be smart to play hoof ball when necessary. Howe will most likely be able to modify his lineup a bit to allow the likes of Wilson or Josh King to rest but is still going to want to see how Nathan Ake does in the make-shift left back role, especially when facing Sessegnon or Babel.
Battle to Watch
Ake vs Ryan Sessegnon: Ake has played brilliantly in the centre-back role for the Cherries, but with injuries plaguing the side, he has been shifted into the left back position – and had a brilliant match in the 5-0 win away to Brighton last weekend. While Sess didn’t have his best match vs Everton, he is our leader in assists this year, so it will be interesting to see what he can do against the versatile Bournemouth defender.
Danger Man
The obvious choice is Callum Wilson with his 12 goals this season, but I would actually say that Ryan Fraser is one to watch considering we will have questions on the right-hand side of the pitch, with Fraser sending in dangerous crosses against us. With Fosu-Mensah injured, we will most likely see Cyrus Christie, who did not get a chance in our October 3-0 loss to face Fraser. Fraser is coming off a 1 goal and 2 assist game, and in the previous meeting, he also bagged 2 assists. Watch that man.
Last 5 Meetings
27/10/18 – Fulham 0-3 Bournemouth (PL)
06/03/15 – Fulham 1-5 Bournemouth (C’Ship)
26/12/14 – Bournemouth 2-0 Fulham (C’Ship)
02/03/99 – Bournemouth 1-1 Fulham (Div2)
29/08/98 – Fulham 0-0 Bournemouth (Div2)
Head-to-Head
Fulham wins 10
Draws 9
Bournemouth wins 13
Stats & Facts
- Fulham have lost the last three league meetings with Bournemouth, and have failed to win any of the last seven.
- Further back, the Whites have won just two of the last 19 league meetings with the Cherries, a run stretching back to 1932.
- Bournemouth have scored ten goals in the last three meetings with Fulham. In contrast, the Cottagers have scored just three goals against the south coast club in the past 25 years, and have failed to net in four of the last six meetings.
- Current Fulham caretaker manager Scott Parker was in the Fulham team the last time the sides met at Dean Court in December 2014; current Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe was in the Cherries team the previous time the sides met at Dean Court in March 1999.
- Fulham beat Bournemouth exactly 27 years ago to the day on Easter Monday, 20th April 1992. Goals from Gary Brazil and Sean Farrell sealed a 2-0 victory at Craven Cottage in the old Division Three.
- It is exactly one year since Fulham last won an away game in league competition, 3-0 at Millwall in the Championship on April 20th, 2018. The Whites have never gone an entire league campaign without registering an away win.
Players in Common
John Beck, George Best, Kevin Betsy, Roger Brown, David Button, Lauri Dalla Valle, Emerson Hyndman, Scott Malone, Sean O’Driscoll, Gerry Peyton.
Match Prediction
Considering most are ready for it to be over, a win and a clean sheet last week would’ve been the best way to end the season. However, one last kick of the bucket towards this season would be an away win, then the shackles will be well and truly off. While Scott Parker has the backing of the players, will it be enough to put up a performance that continues to serve as a catalyst in his position as our permanent manager? With only so many matches left, one cannot hope to start seeing a preview of next season’s players or future players like16-year old Harvey Elliot. Despite carrying over the Everton momentum, I think we’ll run into quite a tough one at the Vitality Stadium. My prediction is a 3-2 loss, with goals from Babel and Mitrovic late to attempt a clawback from 3-0 down.
Predicted Line-up
(4-2-3-1): Rico; Christie, Le Marchand, Ream, Bryan; Anguissa, Chambers, Cairney, Sessegnon, Babel; Mitrovic.
