Round five of the 2017/18 Premier League season kicks off on Friday night as Bournemouth welcome Brighton to the Vitality Stadium.
Having made what looked like some good additions to their squad in the summer with Asmir Begovic and Jermain Defoe joining the club, Bournemouth were looking forward to the new campaign. However, things have not gone to plan for Eddie Howe and his team in the early weeks of the season.
Trends show Bournemouth have lost all four of their Premier League games this season. There have been defeats at home to Watford and Manchester City and away to West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal.
While the performance at home to Watford was not very good, it was much improved in the home match against Manchester City and the Cherries could easily have taken maximum points from that game before conceding a late goal to lose the match.
Bournemouth went through a spell at home last season when they could not win a Premier League game and will want to avoid a similar run at the start of this campaign. Between the 18th December and the 13th February Bournemouth failed to win in five attempts at home, drawing two and losing three.
Trends show Bournemouth have scored an average of 0.5 goals at home this season but have also conceded an average of 2 goals per match. If you include last season, Bournemouth have kept two clean sheets in their last thirteen home Premier League games.
Brighton started the season slowly but having suffered two straight defeats have picked up 4 points from their last two Premier League games.
The Seagulls claimed a good 3-1 over West Bromwich Albion last weekend and got a point from their 0-0 draw with Watford prior to the international break.
When it comes to playing away from home, Brighton have not been involved in many high scoring matches and trends show there have been under 2.5 goals in their previous five away competitive matches.
Brighton have kept two clean sheets in those five away games but have been struggling to score goals. In their two away Premier League games this season Brighton have failed to find the back of the net and they scored just 1 goal in their last four competitive games away from home.
Looking ahead to the team news and Bournemouth will be without Calum Wilson and Ryan Fraser who are both injured. There are also doubts over Junior Stanislas and Adam Federici. Eddie Howe may look at changing his formation for this match and could switch to a 4-3-3 with Jermain Defoe up-front.
Brighton must make do without Beram Kayal, Sam Baldock, Steve Sidwell and Isaiah Brown who are on the treatment table. Gaetan Bong and Bruno are doubtful, with the latter being forced off in the match against West Bromwich Albion.
Neither Bournemouth or Brighton have been particularly good going forward this season and this game has the makings of a low scoring affair. The home side are desperate for their first points this season and may get what they are looking for with a low scoring draw.