Bournemouth vs Nottm Forest Prediction

In the first of our weekend Premier League predictions, Bournemouth host Nottingham Forest at the Vitality Stadium. Can Bournemouth halt a dismal run of six defeats in all competitions? Find out with Beat the Bookmaker’s Bournemouth vs Nottm Forest prediction.

Bournemouth vs Nottm Forest Prediction Match Overview

In the first of our weekend Premier League predictions, Struggling Bournemouth host a resurgent Nottm Forest at the Vitality Stadium in a crucial match for both sides with contrasting fortunes at the moment. Bournemouth were comfortably mid-table until a run of four consecutive defeats and six in all competitions has placed them right back into the relegation mix. Just one point from safety and conceding nine goals in their last four matches without reply, it’s safe to say that Bournemouth will be looking for an altogether more positive and ambitious performance on Saturday. The Cherries have fared better at home this season, with 11 points from 9 games versus five points from 10 games away from home, and they’ll be cautiously optimistic that they can put some much-needed points on the board against a Forest side who have also struggled mightily away from home this season, although they did defeat relegation-threatened Southampton away from home in their last away match.

It’s safe to say that the mood is altogether different at Nottingham Forest, despite the two sides only being separated by four points in the league. Forest had a woeful start to the season which can be at least partially attributed to a huge player turnover aimed at giving them a fighting chance of Premier League survival. We can now say that this has started to pay dividends, as they are edging towards mid-table and have an EFL Cup semi-final clash against Man Utd to look forward to next week. As stated earlier, Forest haven’t been at their best away from home this season they’ve scored a paltry two goals in 9 matches. However, their upturn of form means that they won’t be concerned about that particular statistic in a game that they will almost certainly have targeted as one to take all three points from.

Bournemouth vs Nottm Forest Team News

Injuries and Suspensions

Bournemouth:

Might Not Play: 

Will Not Play: Brooks, Fredericks, Stanislas, Tavernier

Nottm Forest:

Might Not Play: Awoniyi, Yates

Will Not Play: Biancone, Boly, Henderson, Kouyate, Lingard, Niakhate, Richards

Possible Lineups

Bournemouth: Travers; Kelly, Sensei, Mepham, Smith; Anthony, Cook, Lerma, Christie; Billing; Moore

Nottm Forest: Hennessey; Lodi, Worrall, McKenna, Aurier; Mangala, Freuler, Yates; Gustavo Scarpa; Gibbs-White, Johnson

Bournemouth vs Nottm Forest Prediction Analysis

Bournemouth Struggling to Create

Bournemouth have registered fewer than eight attempts per game during their last five Premier League outings, which has resulted in an xG rating of below 1 for the season and it’s a metric that doesn’t rise above one for them at home. While Forest have had their problems away from home this season, they’re capable of shutting up shop when required to in games and they’ll be difficult to break down for the south coast side. It’s noteworthy that Bournemouth have failed to score in five of their nine home matches this season, including last time out in a 2-0 defeat against Crystal Palace, and Forest have started to tighten up defensively – they’ve conceded 12 in their last 10 and four in their last five Premier League matches. None of this bodes well for Bournemouth facing a visiting Forest side full of confidence. An injury to Dominic Solanke doesn’t help in this regard – though the likes of Billing and Moore aren’t ineffectual options and they bring their own strengths to the table, Solanke offers them the option to play balls into the channels and behind the opposition’s back four and his injury has come at an inopportune time.

Forest’s Poor Away Record

Yes, we know they’ve been in better form recently, but two goals in 9 away matches and just one shot on target in their 1-0 victory over struggling Southampton means that Forest aren’t likely to be peppering the opposition goal in this one either. In a new-look 4-3-1-2 formation last time out against Leicester, new signing Gustavo Scarpa was on hand to provide Forest with some much-needed creativity in the middle of the park. It’s perhaps instructive that they were able to register five shots on target against Leicester, although Leicester admittedly do have their problems defensively. Forest will be hoping that a Bournemouth side with an identical record to Leicester over the last five games will provide another opportunity for a valuable away win, but we expect the visitors to go about their business somewhat cautiously in light of the fact that they’ve conceded over two goals per game away from home.

Beat the Bookmaker Bournemouth vs Nottm Forest Prediction

It’s almost certain that this will be a tight game and perhaps a difficult one to watch at times. Bournemouth are more solid at home and they will likely look to frustrate Forest and hope to create attacking transitions from breakdowns in play and will also look to take advantage of set-piece opportunities. Forest for their part will probably look to remain compact without the ball in the knowledge that they can transition effectively with their new-look midfield and greater attacking quality at their disposal right now. Solanke will be a big miss for the home side as he takes away some of their ability to play on the counter, and for that reason combined with all of the above, we predict a very narrow, very valuable Nottm Forest away win.

Bournemouth 0-1 Nottm Forest

Beat the Bookmaker Bournemouth vs Nottm Forest Prediction – Nottm Forest Odds: