Bournemouth v Huddersfield
English Premier League. Kick-off: 7.45pm, Tuesday 4th December.
IT would be easy to take a quick look at the stats and brand Bournemouth a team in trouble after a run of four straight defeats.
But if you examine their recent run more closely it becomes clear boss Eddie Howe doesn't have too much cause for genuine alarm.
Three of those defeats came against Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City and in each of those games the Cherries were a little unlucky not to emerge with something.
The other loss also came at St James' Park, never an easy place to go with 50,000 Geordies screaming their lungs out, so I reckon Bournemouth will get back on track at home to Huddersfield.
The bookies share that view, with Howe's side 7/10 favourites with 888 Sport, Huddersfield 4/1 for an away win and the draw 27/10.
While I think Bournemouth will win it should be closer than those odds suggest, especially with the Terriers showing good recent form.
They were unlucky to lose 2-1 against Brighton at the weekend after playing for most of the game with 10 men after Steve Mounie's dismissal.
Although Bournemouth romped to a 4-0 win in the reverse fixture last season, Huddersfield got their revenge back in Yorkshire with a thumping 4-1 victory.
That suggests they're pretty evenly matched sides so it may be tight, with a draw half-time/Bournemouth full-time bet looking a good option at 15/4 with 888 Sport.
After scoring a hat-trick against the Terriers last season, it's no surprise to see Callum Wilson heading the goalscorer markets.
He also netted against Manchester City at the weekend and will have plenty of backers for first scorer at 29/10 with 888 Sport, who rate him evens for anytime scorer.
There's better value in strike partner Joshua King, who is 17/4 to break the deadlock and 8/5 to find the net at anytime.
The suspended Mounie is a big miss for Huddersfield and their best bet for a goal could be Alex Pritchard who is a decent 23/5 for anytime scorer and 11/1 to net first.
Recommended bets
- Draw half-time/Bournemouth full-time 15/4 888 Sport
- Joshua King first scorer 17/4 (888 Sport)
- Alex Pritchard anytime scorer 23/5 (888 Sport)
I'm a sports journalist, football tipster and author from Dundee, who is now working in Glasgow. I've covered games at every level, from Junior football to internationals, and still love football even though it has clearly sold its soul. I've been in football tipping since 2018 with the MFT site.
