Football Previews
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic is wary of a Bournemouth backlash in Saturday’s Premier League clash at Upton Park.
The Hammers boss believes the newly-promoted Cherries were unlucky in their opening losses to Aston Villa and Liverpool, when a controversial Christian Benteke goal denied Eddie Howe’s side.
West Ham, meanwhile, followed up a win at title-chasing Arsenal with defeat at home to Leicester.
“I watched both games and of course you can say they deserved something from each one of them,” Bilic said of Bournemouth.
“They weren’t second best in the first game against Villa and at Anfield the game was very even.
“Okay, Liverpool had better chances, they scored a goal, they hit the bar, had a couple of blocked shots, but in open play it was Bournemouth for me. They were a bit unlucky.
“I expect a very dynamic game. I expect a physical game but also, on the other hand, I saw the way they are passing the ball. Their first idea is always to pass the ball.
“They play good football. They are mixing it, but every time they get a chance to pass they pass it. It’s a very good team.”
The Hammers have key players absent, with goalkeeper Adrian beginning a three-match suspension following his sending-off against Leicester.
Republic of Ireland international Darren Randolph is expected to replace Adrian despite his poor record against the Cherries.
Randolph was the goalkeeper for a Birmingham side who conceded 16 times to Bournemouth in three successive games, including an 8-0 loss last October.
Mauro Zarate (hamstring) has joined fellow strikers Enner Valencia (leg) and Andy Carroll (knee) in the treatment room, while midfielder Reece Oxford is a doubt after missing a few days’ training this week due to a niggle.
Eddie Howe accepts that Bournemouth’s image could be undermining them.
The club’s remarkable rise from almost exiting the Football League to the Premier League, their attractive brand of football, and Howe’s boyish appearance have combined to make them many neutral’s favourites.
Howe – though reluctant to encourage a different approach – recognises that greater aggression may have helped their cause in their opening two matches.
“We go to these managers’ meetings and we’re told; ‘Don’t get in the referee’s face, don’t swear at the referees, give them the respect they deserve’, and I’m a firm believer that you respect the official and you respect the decision,” the Bournemouth manager said.
“But then you’re accused, when you don’t get the decisions, of being too nice. You’re not going to change the decision, that’s for sure. By surrounding the referee you’re not going to change his mind, I was surprised (referee Craig Pawson) gave the free-kick against Tommy Elphick in the first place. For me, even live, it was a goal, there was no problem.
“So I’m not going to have my players chasing referees and we end up getting big fines. I do think potentially we could have made more of (Elphick’s disallowed effort), it may have had a difference with the offside (for Benteke’s goal), who knows?
“But I don’t think you change decisions, I haven’t seen too many changed in my time.
“You can’t say what you truly feel, you end up with fines and suspensions and that’s not right in bringing the club’s name into areas that you don’t want.
“We just hope that the officials get the big decisions right, that’s all we can ask. And I’m sure the referees, as well, want a fair game, and decisions based on merit.”
Howe is expected to retain the same team for the trip to West Ham.
Howe again has Shaun MacDonald available after the midfielder recovered from a toe injury but remains without Harry Arter, who has a groin injury, and Christian Atsu, who has a back problem.
Results of each team’s last 5 matches across all leagues and competitions
| West Hamlast 5 matches (most recent first): | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 15/08/15 | (h)Leicester | 1-2 | L |
| 09/08/15 | (a)Arsenal | 0-2 | W |
| 06/08/15 | (a)Astra Giurgiu | 2-1 | L |
| 30/07/15 | (h)Astra Giurgiu | 2-2 | D |
| 23/07/15 | (a)Birkirkara FC | 1-0 | L |
| Bournemouthlast 5 matches (most recent first): | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 17/08/15 | (a)Liverpool | 1-0 | L |
| 08/08/15 | (h)Aston Villa | 0-1 | L |
| 02/05/15 | (a)Charlton | 0-3 | W |
| 27/04/15 | (h)Bolton | 3-0 | W |
| 18/04/15 | (h)Sheff Wed | 2-2 | D |
Other fixtures taking place this week in the Barclays Premier League:
| December 7, 2024 | ||
| Everton | 01:00 | Liverpool |
| December 27, 2024 | ||
| Brighton & Hov… | 20:30 | Brentford |
| Arsenal | 21:15 | Ipswich Town |
| December 29, 2024 | ||
| Leicester City | 15:30 | Manchester City |
| Crystal Palace | 16:00 | Southampton |
| Everton | 16:00 | Nottingham Forest |
| Fulham | 16:00 | AFC Bournemouth |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 16:00 | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
| West Ham United | 18:15 | Liverpool |
| December 30, 2024 | ||
| Aston Villa | 20:45 | Brighton & Hov… |
| Ipswich Town | 20:45 | Chelsea |
| Manchester United | 21:00 | Newcastle United |
| January 1, 2025 | ||
| Brentford | 18:30 | Arsenal |
| January 4, 2025 | ||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 13:30 | Newcastle United |
| AFC Bournemouth | 16:00 | Everton |
| Aston Villa | 16:00 | Leicester City |
| Crystal Palace | 16:00 | Chelsea |
| Manchester City | 16:00 | West Ham United |
| Southampton | 16:00 | Brentford |
| Brighton & Hov… | 18:30 | Arsenal |
Barclays Premier League Table
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | G | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 17 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 40 | 17 | +23 | 42 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 18 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 38 | 21 | +17 | 35 |
| 3 | Nottingham Forest | 18 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 24 | 19 | +5 | 34 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 17 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 34 | 16 | +18 | 33 |
| 5 | Newcastle United | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 30 | 21 | +9 | 29 |
| 6 | AFC Bournemouth | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 27 | 21 | +6 | 29 |
| 7 | Manchester City | 18 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 30 | 26 | +4 | 28 |
| 8 | Fulham | 18 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 26 | 23 | +3 | 28 |
| 9 | Aston Villa | 18 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 26 | 29 | -3 | 28 |
| 10 | Brighton & Hov… | 17 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 27 | 26 | +1 | 25 |
| 11 | Tottenham Hotspur | 18 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 39 | 26 | +13 | 23 |
| 12 | Brentford | 17 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 32 | 32 | +0 | 23 |
| 13 | West Ham United | 18 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 23 | 30 | -7 | 23 |
| 14 | Manchester United | 18 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 21 | 24 | -3 | 22 |
| 15 | Everton | 17 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 22 | -7 | 17 |
| 16 | Crystal Palace | 18 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 18 | 26 | -8 | 17 |
| 17 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 18 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 29 | 40 | -11 | 15 |
| 18 | Leicester City | 18 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 22 | 40 | -18 | 14 |
| 19 | Ipswich Town | 17 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 16 | 32 | -16 | 12 |
| 20 | Southampton | 18 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 11 | 37 | -26 | 6 |
Latest Barclays Premier League Results
| December 26, 2024 | ||
| Liverpool | 3 - 1 | Leicester City |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2 - 0 | Manchester United |
| Southampton | 0 - 1 | West Ham United |
| Nottingham Forest | 1 - 0 | Tottenham Hotspur |
| Newcastle United | 3 - 0 | Aston Villa |
| Chelsea | 1 - 2 | Fulham |
| AFC Bournemouth | 0 - 0 | Crystal Palace |
| Manchester City | 1 - 1 | Everton |
| December 22, 2024 | ||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 3 - 6 | Liverpool |
| Manchester United | 0 - 3 | AFC Bournemouth |
| Leicester City | 0 - 3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
| Fulham | 0 - 0 | Southampton |
| Everton | 0 - 0 | Chelsea |
| December 21, 2024 | ||
| Crystal Palace | 1 - 5 | Arsenal |
| West Ham United | 1 - 1 | Brighton & Hov… |
| Ipswich Town | 0 - 4 | Newcastle United |
| Brentford | 0 - 2 | Nottingham Forest |
| Aston Villa | 2 - 1 | Manchester City |
| December 16, 2024 | ||
| AFC Bournemouth | 1 - 1 | West Ham United |
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