West Bromwich Albion vs Bournemouth. Premier League.
The HawthornsAttendance25,011.
Saturday 12 August 2017 14:00, UK
West Brom will be without experienced defender Gareth McAuley for their opening game of the Premier League season against Bournemouth on Saturday.
The 37-year-old is struggling with a thigh problem and looks like he will be absent for most of August.
The Baggies finished 10th in the Premier League last season and, after signing a new deal until 2019, head coach Tony Pulis says staying in the top flight is crucial as the club transition to a new ownership.
"We can never underestimate just how important it is to keep our place in a league that is now the most famous and the most followed in the world," he said.
"Neither can we underestimate how difficult that is. You only have to look at the Championship in recent years to remind yourself how many clubs have fallen through the hoop and how many sets of supporters would love to be where we are now."
Bournemouth have been in the Premier League for the last two years and finished a place above West Brom last season.
They will be without Junior Stanislas for the trip to The Hawthorns due to a groin problem. Although manager Eddie Howe says he will be a "big miss", he added: "We've got a good squad this season and in my seat, you don't want to disappoint people.
"It does give you some confidence though that we have a number of good players and over the season, everyone will have to play their part."
McAuley and James Morrison will miss out for West Brom, with the latter hoping to be fit for the trip to Burnley on August 19.
Summer signings Jay Rodriguez, Zhang Yuning and Ahmed Hegazi are all in contention to make their West Brom Premier League debuts.
While Stanislas is out for the visitors, summer signing Jermain Defoe is expected to be available after joining on a free transfer from Sunderland.
Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic and defender Nathan Ake are in contention following their respective moves from Chelsea, while forward Callum Wilson continues his long-term recovery from a serious knee injury.
West Brom have enjoyed just one win in their four Premier League meetings with Bournemouth (D1 L2), with that victory coming last time out at The Hawthorns in February (2-1).
On home soil, the Baggies have lost just one of their seven league meetings with Bournemouth (W4 D2), via a 2-1 defeat in December 2015 in the Premier League.
West Brom have won just twice in 11 previous opening day Premier League games (D3 L6) but did beat Crystal Palace on opening day in 2016-17.
Bournemouth have lost both of their opening day fixtures in the Premier League, losing 1-0 to Tim Sherwood's Aston Villa in 2015 and Jose Mourinho's Manchester United 3-1 last year.
Cherries striker Josh King has scored 13 Premier League goals in 2017 - only Romelu Lukaku (15) and Harry Kane (21) have found the net more often this calendar year.
Since scoring a hat-trick of headers against Swansea at the Hawthorns in December last year, Salomon Rondon has failed to score a home Premier League goal in 906 minutes of action for the Baggies.
West Brom are a hard team to beat at home. Bournemouth will have a go, especially with Jermain Defoe in their ranks, but this Baggies team will dominate at set plays. It's here where I see the game decided, with Bournemouth unable to cope with West Brom's aerial presence.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (17/2 with Sky Bet)
The Hawthorns hosts what Sky Bet consider the toughest to call contest of the weekend, with West Brom 7/5 favourites. Bournemouth are 2/1 with the draw priced at 9/4, while a goalless affair is an 8/1 chance.
Summer signing Jay Rodriguez heads a wide open first goalscorer market alongside Jermain Defoe at 5/1 at apiece, with Hal Robson Kanu, Salomon Rondon (both 11/2) and Josh King (6/1) closely behind.
