Bournemouth vs Norwich City. Premier League.
Vitality StadiumAttendance11,065.
Saturday 16 January 2016 15:10, UK
Bournemouth winger Matt Ritchie is rated as 50/50 by manager Eddie Howe to be available against Norwich at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
The Cherries suffered a 3-1 defeat in midweek despite leading against West Ham, where Ritchie picked up a dead leg. Norwich lost by the same scoreline at Stoke.
Alex Neil's side will be hoping to complete the double over Bournemouth after beating their newly-promoted rivals 3-1 at Carrow Road in September.
Team news
Striker Lewis Grabban is in line to face his former team, having left the Norfolk club to rejoin the Cherries on Monday.
Defender Tommy Elphick has started training again following a serious knee injury but will not be rushed back. Forwards Callum Wilson and Max Gradel also both continue their long-term rehabilitation.
Norwich will be without suspended midfielder Gary O'Neil following his red card in midweek. Full-back Ivo Pinto is not expected to be in the squad as the Portuguese defender continues to settle following his transfer from Dynamo Zagreb.
Manager Neil reported no fresh injury worries, with fit-again winger Matt Jarvis pressing for a recall having come off the bench at the Britannia Stadium, along with England under-21 forward Nathan Redmond.
Opta stats
Norwich are unbeaten in their last six meetings with Bournemouth in all competitions (W3 D3).
Norwich have won their last two away trips (in all competitions) to Bournemouth by a 2-1 scoreline after conceding the first goal.
Bournemouth have claimed just one point when trailing in the Premier League this season, a league-low.
Norwich are the only Premier League side yet to keep a clean sheet away from home in 2015/16.
No team has scored more goals in the opening 15 minutes of Premier League games this season than the Cherries (six goals, level with Stoke City).
Neil's first game in charge was away to Bournemouth in January 2015. He went on a 12-game unbeaten run away from home as Norwich boss, but has now won one of the last 10 away from home (D2 L7).
Bournemouth have won just one of their last seven home matches in the Premier League (W1 D3 L3).
Merson's prediction
This is the game I am watching on Soccer Saturday this week.
I watched Bournemouth against West Ham and they desperately needed the second goal. Benik Afobe missed a couple of chances which would have probably put the game to bed.
However, I really like Bournemouth. In my opinion they will have enough to stay up as they're a decent team. They play really good football but they need to start putting teams away. I think they'll win this game and Afobe will get his first goal for the club.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0
Betting
Sky Bet make Bournemouth 17/20 favourites ahead of the visit of 16/5 shots Norwich with the draw trading at 5/2. The Canaries won when the sides met earlier in the season and can be backed at 15/2 to win with both teams scoring. Bournemouth's new signing Afobe will be hoping to open his account for the Cherries and is 9/2 to net the opening goal.
