Facing another reunion with his former club, Eddie Howe's Newcastle United make the long and arduous journey south for Saturday's Premier League evening kickoff, meeting Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
The Magpies were held to a 1-1 draw by West Ham United in their most recent encounter, while Gary O'Neil's side fell to a late 1-0 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Match preview
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An entertaining South Coast battle between Brighton and Bournemouth at the Amex Stadium last weekend could have very easily gone either way, but not for the first time this season, the Seagulls were indebted to a late strike from their Japanese wing king.
With 87 minutes on the clock, Kaoru Mitoma's looping header found its way into the back of the net to extend Bournemouth's miserable winless streak in the division, but there have been some signs of promise for O'Neil to feel proud about in recent weeks.
From being on the verge of victory against Nottingham Forest to giving European chasers Brighton a good run for their money, a Bournemouth side who strengthened their squad considerably in January can feel quietly optimistic about the second half of the season, but optimism does not put points on the board.
Having now gone six games without victory in the top flight - losing five of them - the Cherries remain mired in relegation danger in 19th place, just two points above basement side Southampton and also two adrift of the safety of 17th place, so Bournemouth could clamber out of the drop zone if results go their way this weekend.
Netting just one goal in their last 540 minutes of top-flight football is not a recipe for success, though, and Bournemouth's tally of 43 goals conceded makes them the worst defence in the league. Their visitors, meanwhile, can proudly boast the league's meanest rearguard - albeit one that was breached by a struggling West Ham side.
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Failing to capitalise on Arsenal and Manchester City's respective defeats to keep the pressure on the title-chasing pack, Newcastle's EFL Cup hangover may have been in effect during the visit of West Ham, who travelled back down to London from St James' Park with a hard-earned point to their name.
After a first-minute goal from Joe Willock was disallowed, Newcastle quickly made lightning strike twice as Callum Wilson opened the scoring with three minutes gone, but Lucas Paqueta tapped home just after the half-hour mark to force a share of the spoils.
The Hammers' defensive resilience paid dividends at St James' Park, but Newcastle remain in the fourth and final Champions League spot - one point clear of Tottenham Hotspur with a game in hand - and victory would allow the Magpies to leapfrog third-placed Manchester United on goal difference after the Red Devils dropped points in a 2-2 draw with Leeds United on Wednesday.
The stalemate with West Ham was undoubtedly two points dropped rather than one gained for Eddie Howe's team - who have now played out four draws in their last five Premier League contests - but a 16-game streak without defeat is the longest current unbeaten run in the competition.
An Alexander Isak penalty rescued a point for stalemate specialists Newcastle in a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth back in September, before the Magpies edged their EFL Cup fourth-round tie 1-0 thanks to Adam Smith's own goal - their seventh consecutive match without defeat against the Cherries.
Team News
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Bournemouth still have an unenviable list of injuries to deal with, as Lloyd Kelly, Jack Stephens, Junior Stanislas, Ryan Fredericks and David Brooks are all expected to remain sidelined for the visit of Newcastle.
Late calls will also have to be made on Lewis Cook, Dominic Solanke and Marcus Tavernier, but the latter two in particular are thought to have good chances of returning, so Antoine Semenyo's place up front may come under threat after an uneventful debut.
Sassuolo loanee Hamed Traore caught the eye with an effervescent display on his maiden Premier League appearance and should continue in the number 10 role, but fellow Serie A arrival Matias Vina has a fight on his hands to displace Jordan Zemura.
Meanwhile, Newcastle lynchpin Bruno Guimaraes is serving the second of a three-game ban for his red card in the EFL Cup against Southampton, while Matt Targett, Emil Krafth and Javier Manquillo are all absent through injury.
Isak was also forced to miss the draw with West Ham due to concussion protocols but should be fine to take part in this one, although Wilson will no doubt expect to line up at his former home.
Neither Allan Saint-Maximin nor Miguel Almiron were at their best against West Ham, and even though Anthony Gordon was a livewire out wide after replacing the former, Saint-Maximin was given a vote of confidence by Howe on Friday and could start again.
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Neto; Smith, Mepham, Senesi, Zemura; Lerma, Billing; Ouattara, Traore, Anthony; Solanke
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Willock, Longstaff, Joelinton; Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin
We say: Bournemouth 0-1 Newcastle United
There is a clear difference between a Newcastle side with Guimaraes and without Guimaraes, and Bournemouth's summer signings have injected some life into their ailing attack, even if the goals are not flowing just yet.
Howe's men did not cover themselves in glory against West Ham either and have not displayed a clinical edge in recent weeks, but with Bournemouth still unable to keep the back door shut, Newcastle should be able to nick a goal and return to St James' Park with a much-needed victory.
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Top tip
Ben Knapton
