Wolves vs Bournemouth predictions: Clash of strugglers likely to underwhelm
- Only Everton have scored fewer goals than Wolves in the Premier League
- Bournemouth have netted just twice in their last eight top-flight games games
- Recommended bet: Under 2.5 goals
This season has been particularly bleak for both Wolves and Bournemouth, but the Old Gold have glinted on occasion lately and that has resulted in them moving tentatively clear of the Premier League drop zone for now.
On Saturday at 3pm they host Bournemouth, who lie second-bottom and are desperately fighting to keep their heads above water as the close-season draws ever nearer.
A surprise point won in the 1-1 draw with Newcastle means things could be worse for the Dorset side, but they come into the weekend's game still a point from safety and five behind their opponents.
Team news
The hosts will be without midfielder Mario Lemina, whose red card against Southampton last Saturday rules him out for one game.
This may lend a start to Joao Gomes, who bagged an 87th-minute winner in dramatic fashion against Saints.
Wolves remain without long-term absentees Boubacar Traore, Sasa Kalajdzic, Chiquinho and Hwang Hee-chan.
Bournemouth's new signing Ilya Zabarnyi is still recovering from a foot injury, though Marcos Senesi is expected to be fit after a blow to the back in the draw with Newcastle.
The stats
Central to Wolves' problems this season is a lack of goals. Their figures received an unexpected boost in the 3-0 win over Liverpool, but that result two matches ago remains an anomaly when you consider that their 2-1 win over basement club Southampton last time out was the only other time they've bagged twice in a league game since Boxing Day.
Only fellow strugglers Everton, the team they beat in the post-Christmas fixture, have scored fewer league goals than Wolves' 17.
The numbers also lay Bournemouth's struggles bare. They have won just four games all season and boast the worst away record in the Premier League, picking up just five points — including a single win — from their 11 road assignments so far.
They have found the net only nine times in those games and the signs do not point to a bucking of that trend at the weekend, given the Cherries are on a torrid run of form having failed to win any of their last nine games in all competitions.
Prediction
While this relegation six-pointer is of great significance to both teams, the Saturday afternoon affair at Molineux is not primed to be a memorable contest for the neutral — especially given both teams' records in front of goal.
Each of Bournemouth's last four Premier League games has seen fewer than three goals scored, while Wolves remain largely blunt despite a couple of key results.
No player for either side has netted more than five league goals so far and both squads seem to lack the flair and firepower necessary to light this game up.
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