Bournemouth – Aston Villa : Preview & Prediction
After a two-year absence from the top flight, Bournemouth make their return to the Premier League (PL) with a repeat of their first ever Premier League fixture, a home game against Aston Villa. The Cherries will be hoping for a better result than that 1-0 defeat on this occasion, as manager Scott Parker looks to end an impressive trend that has seen him relegated or promoted in every season in charge.
Parker’s charges haven’t made much of a splash by spending big on signings in this transfer window, but at least they come into this opening day clash with an unbeaten run of ten home league games to protect (G6, E4). Maintaining that run might not be easy, as Bournemouth have won just three of their last 13 top-flight home games (E3, P7).
Steven Gerrard is in Villa’s dugout, and he has work to do to turn things around after only recording wins against now relegated teams in the last 11 PL games (E3, P6). Having been slightly inactive in the transfer window so far, the former Liverpool man knows what it takes to beat Parker, with just four defeats in 15 meetings during their not-so-distant playing careers (G9, E2, P4).
A draw might be unlikely considering no other team recorded fewer away draws than Villa last season (G7, E1, P11). However, the team fared as well playing away than at home last season (22 points against 23), with a majority of those points being earned (16 – G5, E1, P4) when being listed as favourites, as they are on this occasion.
Players to watch: Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke was the highest-scoring Englishman in England’s top four divisions last season (29 goals), while Villa striker Ollie Watkins has been their top scorer in consecutive league seasons, with three of his last five goals helping open the scoring in their respective fixture.
Fast Fact: A cursed fixture? One of the two teams in Bournemouth’s opening game has been relegated in four of their last five seasons in the top flight.
Bournemouth – Aston Villa : Betting Tips
Aston Villa – Win Odds: 2.25
