Manuel Pellegrini’s West Ham have gone two games without a loss. Last week, the Hammers picked up a surprise win over Arsenal at home, 1-0. The victory moved West Ham up to ninth and 10 points back of the Europa League places.
Bournemouth have won just two times in their last 12 Premier League games. Eddie Howe’s side has brought in full-back Nathaniel Clyne and striker Dominic Solanke from Liverpool this month. Yet, the Cherries problems are more than the two former Reds can fix.
Bournemouth have allowed 29 goals in 12 games. Each loss they endured, nine in that time span, saw opponents score two or more goals. Last weekend’s loss to Everton was their 11th of the season. Bournemouth are now –11 in goal difference as their defence has been conceding goals freely to opponents.
West Ham, on the other hand, have improved since their early season loss to Bournemouth. The Hammers fell to a 2-1 loss to Bournemouth in week two of the season. Since losing their first four games of the league season, West Ham have lost just five more times. In their last 18 fixtues, West Ham have reeled off nine wins. The Hammers are –2 in goal difference thanks to their slow start to the season. Pellegrini’s team has scored the league’s 10th most goal with 30, while Bournemouth have notched the ninth most at 31.
Eighteen of Bournemouth’s 27 points have come at home. But just two of their last six games at the Vitality Stadium have ended in victories. The Hammers have registered 14 points of their 31 total on the road. Pellegrini has his side playing well away from home as West Ham have lost just once in their last six away matches.
West Ham’s attack hasn’t been shy in front of goal when playing Bournemouth. They have scored at least two goals in their last four away matches against Bournemouth in all competitions. In their last six meetings, the teams have won two games each while drawing two games.
Howe needs his team to stop conceding goals, but that won’t happen on Saturday. Over 2.5 goals have been tallied in each of Bournemouth’s six home games. The team’s defence will continue to concede goals and West Ham will pick up all three points. Not only will West Ham win, but the fixture will see over 2.5 goals scored.