The Premier League has reached the business end of the season and teams know what they can achieve. On Saturday afternoon, Bournemouth welcome Fulham to the Vitality Stadium knowing they can still finish in the top half of the league this season.
As for Fulham, they have already suffered relegation to the Championship and have nothing to play for but pride in this match.
Bournemouth come into this game on the back of a very impressive 5-0 win at Brighton and Hove Albion. What was expected to be a tough match for the Cherries turned out to be a stroll having opened a 2-0 lead and seen their opponents be reduced to ten men.
It was an important win for Bournemouth who had been struggling in recent games. Prior to the win last weekend, they lost at Leicester City and at home to Burnley plus were held to a draw at home by Newcastle United. Trends show Bournemouth have lost ten of their last nineteen Premier League matches, including six of the last ten.
Bournemouth are entertaining to watch, especially when playing at home and they have seen over 2.5 goals scored in fifteen of their last twenty at the Vitality Stadium in all competitions. However, they have failed to win any of their last four at home in the Premier League.
Fulham picked up a 2-0 win at home against Europa League chasing Everton last weekend and that win should be enough to see them finish off the bottom of the table this season, despite being relegated.
It was a good win for the Cottagers who had previously gone nine Premier League games without a win. In fact, Fulham failed to pick up a single point across those nine matches, losing each of them as they slumped to relegation.
Trends show away form is poor and Fulham have lost each of their last seven away Premier League games and have lost seven of their last ten league games by 2 goals or more. Fulham have conceded 2 or more goals in each of their last seven away Premier League matches.
Team news and Bournemouth are without Charlie Daniels, Simon Francis, Andrew Surman and Lewis Cook who will not return until next season. Callum Wilson and Joshua King are expected to lead the attack with support from Ryan Fraser and David Brooks.
Fulham continue without central defender Alfie Mawson, who has been a big miss this season. Floyd Ayite and Marcus Bettinelli are also injured.
This match should see 3 points for the home team. Bournemouth will be hoping to continue where they left off last week and score a few goals against a struggling away team.