AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace, Premier League 2022-2023, Today Match Prediction

AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace Match Prediction & Analysis

Bournemouth sat within the Premier League’s top eight after 10 games had passed, a reflection of how the team had improved under the temporary management of Gary O’Neil.

Six games later and Bournemouth’s world has imploded once more. While O’Neil has been made permanent boss and the ownership issue has finally been solved, the team have slipped rapidly down the table.

They now find themselves just three points ahead of the bottom three following a dire spell of five defeats from their last six outings. They’ll need to pick up here.

Crystal Palace’s fortunes have been slightly better than their opponents, albeit just as frustrating for their fans all the same. Three defeats and three victories have come from their last six.

It was the manner, as well as the scoreline, that will have set Palace fans’ teeth on edge against Fulham. To lose 3-0 at home and put in a dreadful performance was not what the doctor ordered.

They’ll need to improve dramatically if they harbour serious hopes of reaching the top half.

TEAMS PREVIEW

AFC Bournemouth Preview

Reasons to be cheerful:

     Key player Marcus Tavernier could be fit enough to play here

     Could win consecutive home league games for the first time in almost three years

Reasons to be fearful:

     Have conceded a league-high 34 goals this season

     Illness has spread through the squad in recent days

They say that when it rains, it pours. For Bournemouth, the last thing they needed in the build-up to this crucial game was for illness to spread through the team.

Gary O’Neil was too ill to take his press conference on Friday. The full extent is not known, although it would appear that it shouldn’t impact the starting XI too much.

The Cherries, who have conceded the most goals in the league this season, are on a downward spiral with five defeats from six and 11 goals against them during that period.

On the positive side, Marcus Tavernier, who missed the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea, faces a late fitness test for this one and could be included.

These are the sorts of games that Bournemouth must collect maximum points from if they are to beat the relegation battle.

Star Man – Kieffer Moore

Although Tavernier has been important for Bournemouth this season, Moore has been scoring the goals of late. He has three goals in his last two home games and four of the Cherries’ nine home goals this season.

Crystal Palace Preview

Reasons to be cheerful

     Three consecutive wins against Bournemouth

     Manager will demand a response after dismal performance against Fulham

Reasons to be fearful

     On the verge of three consecutive defeats 

     Won just one of their last nine away matches in the league

Crystal Palace have been an inconsistent team for a number of years now, stretching back to Roy Hodgson’s management and beyond.

However, what they have never been are a team that gets ripped apart at home. To lose 3-0 to London rivals Fulham, at Selhurst Park, will be unacceptable to Patrick Vieira and his coaching staff.

They were not helped by the indiscipline of some players, with both Tyrick Mitchell and Kenny Tete seeing the red card before 60 minutes had been played. Both will now miss this game.

The positive is that Marc Guehi, who was banned from the Fulham game, will return here. His inclusion will bring solidarity and organisation at the heart of the Palace defence.

Vieira has received deserved praise for his work at Palace so far, although you feel he cannot afford too many more performances like the last one.

Star Man – Wilf Zaha

Zaha has eight goal involvements in his 14 appearances so far this season and is Palace’s most important player. Needs greater support from those around him to flourish for Patrick Vieira’s team.