BOURNEMOUTH have been a breath of fresh air since their promotion to the top flight but head into the Premier League restart in real danger of the drop.
Eddie Howe's men took just one point from 12 in their four league games before lockdown and if they keep up that kind of form then relegation to the Championship beckons.
They will also be without winger Ryan Fraser after the Scotland star snubbed a short-term contract that would have seen him see out the season in Bournemouth, enraging their fans.
The Cherries have received plaudits for their style of football under Howe but in a relegation battle it's all about rolling up the sleeves up and scrapping for every point.
It's a blueprint Roy Hodgson (below) has used to keep Crystal Palace safe from danger, with his side built on a solid backline and organised midfield, allied to some stardust from Wilf Zaha.
The Eagles claimed three successive 1-0 wins before lockdown, against Newcastle, Brighton and Watford, a run that has all but secured them another season in the top flight.
They headed into the restart 12 points clear of danger so only a catastrophic collapse can send them down now. Complacency may be a problem but Hodgson is too good a manager to let that seep into his squad.
How the bookies view it
Despite their poor form, the bookies make Bournemouth slight favourites for this one at a best 31/20 with Unibet. Palace are 2/1 with most firms and that's excellent value if they can pick up where they left off. Don't rule out a stalemate, which is 30/13 with VBet.
Recent head to head
Bournemouth haven't had much joy against Palace in recent seasons, winning just one of their last eight meetings. But that came when the Eagles last visited the Vitality, with a late Junior Stanislas penalty sealing a 2-1 triumph (below).
When these sides faced off earlier in the season, Palace ground out a 1-0 win at Selhurst Park, despite playing for over 70 minutes with 10 men after Mamadou Sakho's red card.
Players to watch
Harry Wilson is available for Bournemouth after extending his loan from Liverpool until the end of the season. The midfielder has eight goals from the season and is always a threat from set-pieces. He's 13/5 with 888Sport in the anytime scorer market and that could be worth a punt.
Palace talisman Zaha has struggled in front of goal this season and only has three goals to his name. But he should be refreshed after the long break and has the talent to win any game.
Zaha is a boosted 4/1 with William Hill for a goal here and that looks overpriced, despite his poor scoring record this season.
Anything else catch the eye?
Palace's form this season suggests goals could be thin on the ground. I tipped both teams to score when Villa and Sheffield United kicked off the restart only for the game to be a total snoozefest and I'd be surprised if there was much goalmouth action here.
It's no surprise to see under 2.5 goals at odds against, with the best price 13/17 at VBet. The odds are slightly better for a goal not to be scored in both halves, which is 22/25 with 888Sport.
Palace midfielder James McCarthy isn't scared to put the boot in and his all-action style makes him a good candidate for a card at 2/1 with Bet365.
This English Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Crystal Palace will be played on Jun 20, 2020 and kick off at 19:45. Check below for our tipsters best AFC Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
