Preview: Bournemouth vs. Hull City - prediction, team news, lineups

Bournemouth host Hull City on Saturday afternoon as they aim to make up ground on Championship leaders Fulham.

The Cherries are currently second in the table and five points behind the Cottagers, while the Tigers are 19th and have been rejuvenated by confirmation of a takeover.

Match preview

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Back-to-back victories against Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff City at the end of 2021 appeared to have put Bournemouth back on track following a six-match winless run, but the Cherries then lost 3-2 away at Luton Town last weekend.

It was a thrilling game at Kenilworth Road as Scott Parker's side trailed 2-0 at half-time before drawing level in the second half through Emiliano Marcondes and Morgan Rogers, only to concede in the 97th minute and go home empty handed.

The South coast side remain in the automatic promotion places but only on goal difference, as they have the same number of points as third-placed Blackburn Rovers, who have played a game more.

Saturday's fixture is the first of four consecutive matches against teams in the bottom half, so Parker will feel his side have a big opportunity to build some momentum.

Bournemouth have lost just twice at the Vitality Stadium this season, while only West Bromwich Albion have conceded fewer goals in the Championship.

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A new era has dawned at Hull, following confirmation that the Turkey-based Acun Medya Group have bought the club, bringing to an end the 12-year tenure of the much-maligned Allam family.

The Tigers marked the good news by beating Blackburn 2-0 at the MKM Stadium on Wednesday night with goals from George Honeyman and Tom Eaves, ending Rovers' 10-match unbeaten streak in the process.

It ended a run of three consecutive defeats for Grant McCann's side and was their first win in six games; they are now seven points above the relegation zone and will hope to push on further up the table, with new signings promised this month by the new ownership.

However, only Barnsley and Peterborough United have picked up fewer points away from home in the Championship this season than Hull, while the same two sides are the only teams to have scored fewer goals.

The Tigers held Bournemouth to a 0-0 draw at the MKM Stadium earlier in the season and have lost just two of their last 15 games against the Cherries.

Team News

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Philip Billing is back in Bournemouth training after missing last weekend's trip to Luton and could feature, subject to an assessment before the game.

Zimbabwe's exit from the Africa Cup of Nations means that Jordan Zemura will also be back in contention and again Scott Parker will make a late call on the left-back.

New signing Ethan Laird remains sidelined and will not feature, while Robbie Brady and long-term absentees Junior Stanislas and Adam Smith are also out.

Hull remain without several first team players: Mallik Wilks, Josh Emmanuel, Lewie Coyle, Alfie Jones, Andy Cannon and Callum Elder.

Grant McCann has recalled Festus Arthur and Callum Jones from their loan spells to bolster the squad and the latter made a late substitute appearance against Blackburn on Wednesday.

Tom Eaves' goal against Rovers was his first since September in only his fourth start of the campaign, and he should keep his place.

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Travers; Stacey, Cahill, Kelly, Davis; Cook, Lerma, Marcondes; Christie, Solanke, Lowe

Hull City possible starting lineup:
Baxter; Bernard, McLoughlin, Greaves; Williams, Smallwood, Docherty, Longman; Honeyman; Eaves, Lewis-Potter

We say: Bournemouth 2-1 Hull City

The boost that Hull's takeover will give the club should not be underestimated and they should provide a stern test for Bournemouth, but we think that the Cherries will have just too much quality for the Tigers and will come away with the three points.

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