
Bournemouth welcome Brentford to the Vitality Stadium on Saturday evening, who will be hoping to get their European dream back on track. The Bees, however, will be hoping to put a sting in their plans as they look to climb into the top 10. Here's how the match may unfold this weekend.
After flying for the vast majority of the season Bournemouth have hit a sticky patch, failing to win any of their last three Premier League matches. Defeats to Wolves, Brighton and a draw at Spurs have seen the Cherries fall to 9th place - but remain just three points behind Newcastle in 6th.
After hammering Nottingham Forest 5-0 in front of their fans, Andoni Iraola hasn't had much to shout about, and the Spaniard won't want all of his hard work to go down to the drain in the final stages of the season.
With a favourable run of fixtures to follow after this fixture, Bournemouth fans will be hoping they can return to winning ways on Saturday - but they can't afford to keep dropping points if they are to achieve Europe.
Brentford's season has been inconsistent which is why they are in the middle of the pack. It has been their away form that has held them back this campaign, but since drawing 0-0 away to Brighton, the Bees have recorded four wins on the bounce on their travels.
Within those four wins, they've not only scored 12 goals, but they've also kept three clean sheets in the process, only conceding one goal in their 2-1 win away to Crystal Palace.
Brentford are peaking at the right time, while Bournemouth are failing to get over the line. Could a repeat result from earlier in the season be on the cards?
Bournemouth fans, look away now.
That's because Brentford have a fantastic record over the Cherries in recent years and head into this fixture unbeaten in their last six meetings. Earlier in the season Brentford won 3-2 in their own back yard, and they also won this fixture 2-1 last season.
You have to go back to 2021 the last time Bournemouth won against Brentford (1-0).
And so Bournemouth head into this having lost their last two home Premier League matches, against a side they don't often beat, who have won their last four matches on the road.
It doesn't look promising for the hosts, does it?
With Bournemouth fluttering towards the end of the season, and with Brentford finding a spring in their step, we could well see the bookmakers outsiders grab another big result in their hunt for a top 10 finish.
We're heading into the final 10 Premier League games of the season and this is where certain teams will thrive - while others will fall.
Bournemouth have been magnificent this season, and while they've produced the 4th best form on their travels, it's been less impressive at home.
With just 21 points from 13 matches, there are nine teams who have outperformed Bournemouth in front of their fans. If they want European football, that has to improve. And with two defeats in a row at the Vitality Stadium, the last team they want to face is one that has a great record against them.
Brentford are performing incredibly well on their travels, and holding a six-match unbeaten record against the Cherries, there's no reason why they can't extend that and maintain their unbeaten record on the road.
You can back Brentford double chance at odds-against at 11/10 with bet365, and having beaten Bournemouth earlier in the season 3-2, this looks to be a cracking bet. Good luck if you're following.
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