AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford FC, Premier League 2022-2023, Today Match Prediction

AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford FC Match Prediction & Analysis

A month has come and gone since Scott Parker was handed the sack by Bournemouth. It’s a long time in football, and an even longer time to go without a permanent manager.

For a newly promoted side, Bournemouth would want to have a stable structure in place to tackle what will be a very difficult season.

As it happens, sacking Parker has stabilised the club somewhat, with two draws and a victory coming in that space of time. Time will tell who will become the new manager, but Gary O’Neil has done a good job so far.

Brentford have continued to play some good football, although the early season buzz that came from beating Manchester United has since disappeared.

They have claimed one win from their next five games, which have included two defeats. Worryingly, they were unusually poor in their 3-0 loss to Arsenal, something not seen during a home performance often.

Can they turn around their fortunes here?

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AFC Bournemouth Preview

Reasons to be cheerful:

     Good results to steady the ship recently

     Players seem to trust Gary O’Neil’s management

Reasons to be fearful:

     Failed to score in their last two home games

     Ongoing talks about the club’s ownership could unsettle players and staff

Bournemouth looked for all the world as though they would be relegated when Scott Parker was sacked. It had all the hallmarks of a club completely unsuited for the Premier League.

Not bringing in a new manager straight away is surprising, but it has actually worked out well for the Cherries, who have gone undefeated during that time. 

Gary O’Neil has steadied the ship well, bringing the players round to his way of thinking. The comeback win over Nottingham Forest, where they were 2-0 down, showed a real belief in their ability, while the 1-1 draw against Newcastle showed determination.

It’s a long way to go to survival, but they’ll be pleased with how the last month has gone.

They have a poor record against Brentford, having lost their last three meetings. Bournemouth have also failed to score in their past two home games.

Star Man – Dominic Solanke

The striker must use his athleticism to cause Brentford problems. With the likes of Billing, Christie and Tavernier behind, they could create one or two chances.

Brentford FC Preview

Reasons to be cheerful

     Good record over Bournemouth in recent seasons

     Forward players always pose a threat

Reasons to be fearful

     Conceded 12 goals this season, double the amount at the same stage last season

     Performance against Arsenal will be a concern

Brentford were always likely to drop away from their higher league positions of earlier in the season, following their win over Manchester United.

They haven’t been able to repeat that performance over the next five games, losing twice and winning only once.

What will have concerned Thomas Frank is the way in which they allowed Arsenal to cut through them in their last game. The Gunners won 3-0 and Brentford looked a shadow of the team that usually does so well at home.

Here, they have a chance to return to winning ways, especially against a team without a permanent manager and one they have beaten on their last three occasions.

Star Man – Ivan Toney

The forward will have enjoyed his call-up to the England squad, even if he didn’t get on the pitch. It should give him the confidence to kick on for the remainder of the season.