The final Premier League match before the break for the next round of the FA Cup takes place in the Monday Night Football when Bournemouth host Manchester City in what has the makings of being an entertaining match.
Bournemouth need to put a couple of recent whompings behind them while Manchester City can move up to second with a win so there is plenty at stake in this one.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth go into this match with just one win in their last eight matches and given Swansea were the poor and going nowhere version when they played them I’m not even sure if that win can be of much solace to anyone connected with the Cherries who will be looking to bounce back from that 6-3 annihilation at Everton last week.
It isn’t difficult to see why Bournemouth are struggling. Leaving that win over Swansea out the seven matches in which they have failed to win in this run they are on they have conceded at least two goals in every game and quite often three culminating in the six they shipped last week. That simply can’t continue else they will get sucked into the relegation mix. On the bright side they are scoring goals at least.
Man City
Pep Guardiola’s side has come in for plenty of criticism this season and I myself have been guilty of laying into them from time to time but when they are at it and fully firing they are still a joy to watch. Those days are fewer than they used to be though even allowing for them coming into this match off back to back wins.
The way they only just saw off a Swansea side they dominated completely for 45 minutes last week would be a concern while three away defeats in five and shipping four at Leicester and Everton doesn’t exactly look good for them or bode well if they are to get themselves back in the title picture.
Team News
If things weren’t bad enough defensively for Bournemouth they will need to make last decisions on the availability of Adam Smith, Simon Francis and Charlie Daniels for this match which isn’t ideal. Callum Wilson is out for the season too which also isn’t good.
Man City striker Sergio Aguero will be hoping to force his way back into the side but with the form of Gabriel Jesus that seems unlikely so the Argentine may have to remain on the bench. Guardiola has no fresh injury problems.
Betting
I think Man City will win this match but Bournemouth are often better against the top sides than they are the others as we’ve seen in their home matches against Arsenal and Liverpool this season so I’m not sure there is much value in the visitors.
One other thing those two matches highlighted was the likelihood for goals in this one. I mentioned above how City shipped four at Leicester and at Everton and Bournemouth are leaking like a sieve at the minute. Both sides are much better on the front foot than the back one so I expect an open and attacking game with plenty of goals.
Over 3.5 goals in this one looks a no brainer with Bournemouth shipping around 2-3 a game at the minute but I fancy this might really explode into life just like when Arsenal and Liverpool visited so I’m willing to go at over 4.5 too.
Tips
Back Over 3.5 goals for a 4/10 stake at 2.38 with 888sport
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Back Over 4.5 goals for a 2/10 stake at 4.10 with Unibet
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