Match Preview:  Stoke City versus Bournemouth 

Stoke’s current form pattern off Loss,Draw,Draw then Win means we are due a Win. Though Saturday’s opponents Bournemouth haven’t lost two games on the bounce since June. Those thinking we could beat Bournemouth easily are in for reality check come 16:55. 

Last weekend I’d have given a body part for 4 points out of the Forest & Bournemouth games, the disappointing result & second half performance v Forest means we need to beat Bournemouth to meet that hope. Despite how good our defence is as of late I just can’t see Stoke shutting out Bournemouth, meaning we need to score twice to win. To put that in context, in the 6 games since Tyrese Campbell got injured Stoke have had 10 shots on target. Yes that does just say TEN. 

Current League table

How do we usually fair versus Bournemouth

 
Stoke have faced Bournemouth 28 times in the past:

Stoke Wins 13
Draws 7
Bournemouth Wins 8

The last time we played Bournemouth at the bet365 Stadium

The last time we played Bournemouth it was a Premier League fixture. Stoke lost the game 2-1 after Junior Stanislas ripped though Stoke’s defences during the first half, scoring & assisting signing the first 20 mins to give Bournemouth a 2-0 half time lead. Stoke had started the game playing 3 at the back with Zouma, Shawcross & Cameron, in the second half we changed Shape and brought Crouch on for Johnson. Stoke regained the possession more, though could only get the deficit down to 1 with Mame Diouf scoring the Potters goal.

Stoke have won 4 of the last 10 games against Bournemouth, but haven’t won any of the last 4.

Form guide

Stoke

Derby 0-0 Stoke
QPR 0-0 Stoke

Stoke 1-0 Blackburn
Stoke 1-3 Spurs (cup)
Coventry 0-0 Stoke
Stoke 1-1 Forest

Bournemouth 

Barnsley 0-4 Bournemouth 

Swansea 0-0 Bournemouth 

Bournemouth 5-0 Huddersfield 

Bournemouth 1-0 Wycombe 

Luton 0-0 Bournemouth 

Brentford 2-1 Bournemouth 

Bournemouth have only lost 2 of the last eleven games they have played. They are the joint top goal scorers in the league, on average score of 2 goals for every 1 they concede. Watching their last game versus Brentford it looked obvious Bournemouth are suspect to counter attacks as the attack in numbers leaving spaces in behind. This would of been ideal for Tyrese but unfortunately our main form of attack this season won’t be playing. Could Vokes run the channels , probably not so we will need midfield runners to get beyond Vokes or Fletcher. 

What do you expect the outcome will be versus Bournemouth?