Derby County and Bournemouth face each other on Saturday afternoon at the Vitality Stadium. Both teams are in intense battles at opposite ends of the Championship table, with kickoff at 6 pm.
Bournemouth is level on points with Huddersfield at the Championship table. Still, they have three games in hand over the Terriers, so they remain in the driving seat in the race for automatic promotion.
However, the Cherries have faltered over the last week, losing 2-1 away at Preston North End before being held to a 1-1 draw by bottom club Peterborough United at the Vitality Stadium.
Scott Parker would have targeted this run of three successive home games against struggling teams – Reading visit the South Coast on Tuesday – as a chance to gain maximum points, so it would be disappointing if they failed to get all three points this weekend.
The two sides met in the reverse fixture earlier when a Tom Lawrence-inspired Derby side came from 2-1 behind to win 3-2.
However, the Rams have won twice on the road all season and have suffered six consecutive away defeats. As for bottom club Charlton, they have won only once at the Valley Stadium this season, against midtable Bournemouth, but lost heavily on their travels to fellow strugglers Hull City (4-1) and Wigan Athletic (4-0).
Bournemouth vs Derby County Head to Head
Both sides have 7 games against each other, with hosts winless and visitors winning five. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Bournemouth 1-1 Peterborough
- Preston North End 2-1 Bournemouth
- Bournemouth 2-1 Stoke City
- Blackpool 1-2 Bournemouth
- Bournemouth 3-1 Birmingham
Away
- Derby County 2-0 Barnsley
- Cardiff County 1-0 Derby
- Luton 1-0 Derby
- Derby 1-2 Millwall
- Derby 1-0 Peterborough
Bournemouth Team News
Midfielder Philip Billing will miss his side’s home game against West Ham, having been handed a two-match ban for picking up 10 cautions this season. Adam Smith is also banned. Eddie Howe’s men could be one in, one out in midfield, as Colombian Jefferson Lerma is available again following his own suspension.
Derby County Team News
Rooney can name the same Derby team that beat Barnsley last weekend. Eighteen-year-old Malcolm Ebiowei started on the right-wing against Barnsley and was impressed, so he should start again this weekend.
Prediction and Odds
We’re expecting a response from Bournemouth in this match and have predicted them to win.
- Bournemouth Win
- Goals Over 1.5
- Both Teams to Score
