Bournemouth produced a Jekyll and Hyde performance the morning after Halloween in last Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Southampton. For the first half, Howe's side looked every inch the Premier League new boys actually. After the break, though, they did enough to advise that they may just defy their pre-season tag of relegation favourites. They shipped two first-half goals - two completely avoidable goals at this - nevertheless it was a second-half onslaught that somehow yielded nothing tangible. Despite their dominance, there would be a glaring absence of cutting edge from the final third and that is certainly a major concern. Without Callum Wilson - who scored five Premier League goals before his season-ending injury in September - the Cherries' top-flight status looks perishable, with Glenn Murray offering little to nothing at St Mary's last weekend.
However, it can be Bournemouth's home form that can prove key on their behalf this season. One of these two Premier League victories came at Dean Court - a 2-0 wow struggling Sunderland. They have lost two and drawn a pair of their five home games that is certainly something that need addressing - and fast. Tottenham Hotspur ran riot and left the South Coast that has a 5-1 win last time out. There have been problems at both sides of the field for Howe and co this year, though the young manager will demand that his side reproduce their second-half showing at Southampton over 90 minutes tomorrow. They have to. They face Chelsea, Manchester United and Everton above the coming weeks in a very run of games which often can quite easily yield zero points. Bournemouth ought to be less Jekyll plus more Hyde to be able to win this relegation battle, along with their performance on Saturday may prove whether have the appetite because of it. Recent form: WLDLLL Recent form (all competitions): LDLLLLL
It may be less than 20 days since Newcastle United secured their first - and just - Premier League win on the season after beating Norwich City 6-2. It feels longer. Four-goal Georginio Wijnaldum was the star on the show because Magpies obliterated Norwich in a very performance that had been supposed to be a watershed moment inside an otherwise dismal season. It has just about worked out doing this, however. Seven days there after, Newcastle travelled to bitter rivals Sunderland and lost 3-0 - albeit in controversial fashion, with Fabricio Coloccini harshly sent off about the stroke of half-time, prior to Black Cats made essentially the most of their man advantage. It is a case of a stride forward and a lot of back for Newcastle, who then drew 0-0 in your house to Stoke City last weekend. Visiting goalkeeper Jack Butland was the man with the match, which contextualises the hosts' dominance, but there would have been a lack of killer instinct from McClaren and co. With their squad, you will find there's sense they are good enough to be battling to get a top-10 finish but, with seven highlights of a possible 33, the Magpies are not near the top half plus there is precious little evidence that changing. Having been relegated on the Premier League during 2009, Newcastle learn more than most that no team is ever too beneficial to relegation - and this also one is no exception. Recent form: LDLWLD Recent form (all competitions)
Goalkeeper Artur Boruc and defender Steve Cook are anticipated to miss out again after missing the first sort two games with injury. However, Junior Stanislas impressed over bench inside defeat to Southampton and can be handed a recall come Saturday. For Newcastle, McClaren has become boosted from the news that second-choice goalkeeper Rob Elliot is fit to continue inside the absence of Tim Krul. The 29-year-old sat out a number of training sessions over the week having a thigh injury, but McClaren can have Elliot at his disposal with the trip to the South Coast. In his pre-match press conference, the United boss said that he had a "few injuries" to unspecified players, but Daryl Janmaat is fit. Bournemouth possible starting lineup: Federici; Smith, Francis, Distin, Daniels; Ritchie, Gosling, Surman, Arter, Stanislas; King Newcastle United possible starting lineup: Elliot; Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett; Sissoko, Anita, Tiote, Wijnaldum, Perez; Mitrovic Head To Head Saturday's meeting would be the first top-flight clash involving the pair - along with the first match in a competition since 1992 when Bournemouth eliminated the Magpies in the FA Cup inside a third-round penalty shootout scalp. United have won just 2 of the five meetings between both parties.
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English Premier League
