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

Bournemouth play host to Stoke City on Saturday afternoon looking for the win which may secure fourth position in the Championship standings.

In sharp contrast, the Potters head into the contest at the Vitality Stadium keen to avoid dropping down to 15th spot after a dismal second half of the campaign.

Match preview

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Bournemouth deservedly outlasted Reading in the race for the playoffs by recording seven successive victories between March 16 and April 21.

Nevertheless, despite taking the opportunity to rest players last weekend, Jonathan Woodgate will be concerned after back-to-back defeats to Brentford and Wycombe Wanderers.

The Cherries have not quite lost all of the momentum generated from their previous run, but failure to overcome an out-of-form Stoke side will only give confidence to their rivals later this month.

While Arnaut Danjuma Groeneveld and Dominic Solanke have the ability to add to their 30 goals for the season, Woodgate will be eager to end a period of six matches without a clean sheet.

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Stoke had hoped to be in Bournemouth's position at this stage of the season after keeping themselves in close proximity to the top six until January.

However, just five league wins have been recorded since the turn of the year, a run of results which puts Michael O'Neill's job at the bet365 Stadium under threat.

Not only have the Potters failed to win in their most recent six fixtures, each of those games came against teams no higher than ninth position.

Although O'Neill will be relieved that the season is coming to an end on Saturday, the former Northern Ireland boss knows that he may require all three points to get another chance at promotion with this club.

Stoke have claimed just two victories on their travels since the beginning of December, those wins coming at lowly Wycombe Wanderers and Bristol City.

Team News

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Groeneveld and Solanke are expected to be given a run out by Woodgate after remaining as unused substitutes last weekend.

Jefferson Lerma and Philip Billing should also return for the Cherries, with the likes of Jack Wilshere and David Brooks dropping down to the bench.

Jordan Zemura may also be given a first Championship start ahead of Diego Rico.

O'Neill could opt against taking any risks on Nick Powell after the playmaker went off injured against QPR.

Jacob Brown is in line for a recall to the Stoke starting lineup, but Christian Norton may remain among the replacements.

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Begovic; Stacey, Carter-Vickers, Mepham, Zemura; Lerma, Billing; Stanislas, Riquelme, Groeneveld; Solanke

Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Davies; Smith, Batth, Souttar, Norrington-Davies; Clucas, Mikel, Thompson; Matondo, Fletcher, Brown

We say: Bournemouth 2-1 Stoke City

Having rested players last weekend, Bournemouth could have a more familiar look to them at the weekend. While we do not expect them to be firing on all cylinders, the Cherries should have enough to claim the three points.

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