MX23RW : Thursday, April 28 03:45:01| >> :600:202600:202600:
[monks data]
Apr 23, 2022 at 3pm UK at Dean Court
Bournemouth
1 - 1
Fulham
Solanke (90+8' pen.)
Cook (1'), Phillips (63'), Smith (76')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Mitrovic (56')
Bryan (36'), Reed (60'), Robinson (75'), Mitrovic (88'), Rodak (90+1'), Tete (90+3')

Preview: Bournemouth vs. Fulham - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Bournemouth and Fulham, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Fulham make the trip to Bournemouth knowing that they will effectively secure the Championship title if they can collect three points at the Vitality Stadium.

After the Cottagers already earned promotion back to the Premier League earlier this week, Bournemouth will move to the brink of joining Saturday's opponents if they can prevail on the South Coast.


Match preview

Fulham celebrating a goal during their victory over Preston North End on April 19, 2022.© Reuters

Despite having lost their previous two Championship fixtures, Marco Silva is unlikely to have had any concerns regarding his Fulham side eventually getting over the line for promotion.

That confidence came through in his side's 3-0 demolition of Preston North End on Tuesday night, the West Londoners scoring each of their strikes in the first half to ensure that it was party time after the break.

With the title still very much on their agenda, there is little chance of this Fulham squad switching off until they get their hands on that piece of silverware, but they deserved their moment of celebration after yet another dominant performance.

Aleksandar Mitrovic has now reached 40 goals for the league campaign, a sensational achievement and one which he will want to better, while Fulham are two away from reaching three figures with four matches remaining.

Holding the best away record in the division by a five-point margin, Fulham will want to back that up by wrapping up the second-tier crown in style, and complacency will certainly not be an issue against their nearest contenders.

Bournemouth's manager Scott Parker looks dejected after the match on April 6, 2022© Reuters

Like the visitors, Bournemouth have endured a scrappy spell of late, the Cherries going three fixtures without success before they made light work of Coventry City.

Facing in-form opponents, Scott Parker knew that his side needed to deliver one of their best displays of the campaign, and that is what transpired as Jamal Lowe netted early before Dominic Solanke's double before the 55th minute.

As it stands, nine points are mathematically required to guarantee automatic promotion, such a scenario highlighting that the South-Coast outfit cannot afford to take anything for granted despite being long-term occupiers of the runner-up spot.

On a positive note, three successive clean sheets have been recorded at the right time, currently leaving Parker's side with the best defensive record in the division.

In the reverse fixture back in December, the two clubs played out a 1-1 draw, Solanke's opener being cancelled out by Tosin Adarabioyo's late equaliser.

Bournemouth Championship form:
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • D
  • W

Fulham Championship form:
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • W



Team News

Fulham manager Marco Silva celebrates after the match on April 6, 2022© Reuters

Despite his goal against Coventry, Lowe could drop down to the substitutes' bench to accommodate the return to the Bournemouth XI for Philip Billing.

Switching to a more defensively-solid midfield three could prove to be the only change made by Parker, with Ethan Laird likely to remain at right-back having been rested for the final quarter of the previous fixture.

Silva may take a similar approach when naming his Fulham XI, although the Portuguese arguably has more alternatives at his disposal.

Joe Bryan will hope to retain his spot at left-back ahead of Antonee Robinson, while Jean Micheal Seri is an option ahead of Tom Cairney in midfield.

Bobby Decordova-Reid could also return in place of Neeskens Kebano on the left flank.

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Travers; Laird, Phillips, Kelly, Smith; Lerma, Cook, Billing; Christie, Solanke, Anthony

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Rodak; Williams, Adarabioyo, Ream, Bryan; Reed, Cairney; Wilson, Carvalho, Reid; Mitrovic


SM words green background

We say: Bournemouth 1-2 Fulham

With their main objective already secured, Fulham can play with a sense of freedom on Saturday. Although there is an argument that Bournemouth having more to play for could benefit the home side, we feel that it will be the Cottagers who will have the edge, prevailing by the odd goal in three.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 2.5:data


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How you voted: Bournemouth vs Fulham

Bournemouth
31.8%
Draw
21.2%
Fulham
47.1%
85
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Fulham celebrating a goal during their victory over Preston North End on April 19, 2022.
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Fulham secure promotion to Premier League with Preston win
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
2Bournemouth432213869393079
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest4322101167373076
4Huddersfield TownHuddersfield4421131060461476
5Luton TownLuton4420121262481472
6Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd4419121356441269
7Middlesbrough4419101555451067
8Blackburn RoversBlackburn4418121457461166
9Millwall441715125044666
10Coventry CityCoventry441712155856263
11Queens Park RangersQPR44189175856263
12Stoke CityStoke441710175548761
13West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom441613154745261
14Swansea CitySwansea441613155762-561
15Blackpool441612165451360
16Preston North EndPreston441416144554-958
17Bristol City441410205775-1852
18Hull City44148224048-850
19Cardiff CityCardiff44147234867-1949
20Birmingham CityBirmingham441113204872-2446
21Reading44138235485-3141
RPeterborough UnitedPeterborough44810263884-4634
RDerby CountyDerby441313184352-931
RBarnsley44612263266-3430

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