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

While the Cherries have recently lost three successive games in the Premier League, the Clarets are five points clear at the top of the Championship.

Match preview

With a virus having swept through the club during the Christmas and New Year period, Gary O'Neil was dealt a tough hand when it came to trying to secure results during that time.

Three of the four games where the squad were affected were at Newcastle United, Chelsea and Manchester United, their solitary home fixture being against Crystal Palace on New Year's Eve.

Bournemouth failed to score in any of those four matches, extending the recent record under O'Neil to eight defeats in 10 games and the only two wins both being against Everton.

On a positive note, Bournemouth remain outside of the top-flight dropzone by one point, something which everyone at the Vitality Stadium would have taken after the early weeks of their campaign.

Important games versus Brentford and Nottingham Forest are next in the league, putting the onus on an improved performance being delivered versus one of the country's form teams at the weekend.

Despite 20 games of the Championship remaining, there is every sign that Burnley will coast to promotion, helped by a combination of their own form and the inconsistency of the teams below them.

Vincent Kompany's side have lost just three times in all competitions this season, those defeats coming at Watford, Sheffield United and Manchester United.

While that will provide Bournemouth with confidence, the Clarets have won their last six fixtures in the Championship, the last two triumphs coming at Stoke City and Swansea City respectively.

Although a five-game streak of second-tier clean sheets came to an end last time out, it was the 2-1 win in South Wales which proved most important, and Kompany will have total confidence that whoever he selects at the weekend will impress in another fixture a long distance away from the North-West.

Bournemouth form (all competitions):

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W

L

L

L

L

Burnley form (all competitions):

W

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L

W

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Team News

O'Neill will attempt to find a balance between naming a strong side and handing minutes to those who need to get back up to speed after illness.

Kieffer Moore may return down the centre of the Bournemouth attack, while Siriki Dembele could be handed an outing on the flank after recently featuring as a substitute.

Joe Rothwell is an option in midfield, while Jack Stephens and Ben Pearson are alternatives in central defence and the middle of the pitch.

Kompany will likely make a number of alterations to his Burnley XI, recalling the likes of Charlie Taylor, Benson Manuel and Ashley Barnes.

Samuel Bastien should return in place of either Jack Cork or Josh Cullen, with goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell having an opportunity between the sticks.

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:

Travers; Stacey, Mepham, Stephens, Kelly; Billing, Lerma, Rothwell; Dembele, Moore, Anthony

Burnley possible starting lineup:

Peacock-Farrell; Roberts, Harwood-Bellis, Taylor, Maatsen; Bastien, Cullen; Manuel, Brownhill, Zaroury; Barnes

We say: Bournemouth 1-2 Burnley

This has all the makings of being a tight match, regardless of the teams that are selected by the two managers. However, with Bournemouth low on confidence, we expect the visitors to edge this fixture by the odd goal in three, potentially via a late strike.

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