THE Saturday lunchtime match brings together Bournemouth and Newcastle. How does Chris Graham (@chrisgraham79) see it going?
Bournemouth v Newcastle | Saturday 12:45 | BT Sport 1
One point and one position separate these sides 11 matches into the league season and the loser of this match on Saturday will certainly find themselves with much to ponder.
You can't help feeling sorry for Bournemouth. Harsh defeats over Liverpool and Aston Villa was followed by a spell of two wins in four matches and just one defeat.
Life was looking rosy on the South Coast until prolific striker Callum Wilson was injured in the match against Stoke in late September and that's perpetuated a run of four defeats in five.
On top of Wilson's injury they've lost three other key players and it feels like stepping up a young horse up to Group 1 level without it's regular jockey being able to partner it.
It's been a bruising few weeks with a pair of 5-1 defeats at the hands of Man City and Tottenham and a 2-0 loss to Southampton last Sunday. At best odds of 5/4 I can't be with them on Saturday.
I'm inclined to believe there's more potential for Newcastle to stay up. There have been solid glimmers during the season that they can reach a level that The Cherries can't.
Examples? A draw at Old Trafford. So close to beating Chelsea. Smashing six past Norwich. Even keeping a clean sheet against Stoke last weekend.
I'm much rather side with them against the bigger sides at big prices though so I wouldn't feel totally comfortable getting stuck in at odds of 5/2. The draw looks the pick of the Win-Draw-Win prices but let's swerve that.
I'm going to back Over 2.5 Goals here as I think it's a game both managers will be targeting for three points. There's a lot at stake. Despite their struggles Eddie Howe's side have scored in 10 of their last 12 matches while Newcastle have shown their capable of great days at the office in that 6-2 win over Norwich last month.
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Bournemouth v Newcastle – Over 2.5 Goals (6/7 MarathonBet)
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