West Ham United vs AFC Bournemouth Preview

West Ham United vs AFC Bournemouth

Competition – Barclays Premier League

Stadium – Boleyn Ground

Date: 22nd August 2015

Kick-off time – 15:00 GMT+1

Live in-play  – 

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:

November 23, 2024
Leicester City 13:30 Chelsea
AFC Bournemouth 16:00 Brighton & Hov…
Arsenal 16:00 Nottingham Forest
Aston Villa 16:00 Crystal Palace
Everton 16:00 Brentford
Fulham 16:00 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Manchester City 18:30 Tottenham Hotspur
November 24, 2024
Southampton 15:00 Liverpool
Ipswich Town 17:30 Manchester United
November 25, 2024
Newcastle United 21:00 West Ham United
November 29, 2024
Brighton & Hov… 21:00 Southampton
November 30, 2024
Brentford 16:00 Leicester City
Crystal Palace 16:00 Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest 16:00 Ipswich Town
Wolverhampton Wanderers 16:00 AFC Bournemouth
West Ham United 18:30 Arsenal
December 1, 2024
Chelsea 14:30 Aston Villa
Manchester United 14:30 Everton
Tottenham Hotspur 14:30 Fulham
Liverpool 17:00 Manchester City

Barclays Premier League Table

# Team MP W D L F A G P
1 Liverpool 11 9 1 1 21 6 +15 28
2 Manchester City 11 7 2 2 22 13 +9 23
3 Chelsea 11 5 4 2 21 13 +8 19
4 Arsenal 11 5 4 2 18 12 +6 19
5 Nottingham Forest 11 5 4 2 15 10 +5 19
6 Brighton & Hov… 11 5 4 2 19 15 +4 19
7 Fulham 11 5 3 3 16 13 +3 18
8 Newcastle United 11 5 3 3 13 11 +2 18
9 Aston Villa 11 5 3 3 17 17 +0 18
10 Tottenham Hotspur 11 5 1 5 23 13 +10 16
11 Brentford 11 5 1 5 22 22 +0 16
12 AFC Bournemouth 11 4 3 4 15 15 +0 15
13 Manchester United 11 4 3 4 12 12 +0 15
14 West Ham United 11 3 3 5 13 19 -6 12
15 Leicester City 11 2 4 5 14 21 -7 10
16 Everton 11 2 4 5 10 17 -7 10
17 Ipswich Town 11 1 5 5 12 22 -10 8
18 Crystal Palace 11 1 4 6 8 15 -7 7
19 Wolverhampton Wanderers 11 1 3 7 16 27 -11 6
20 Southampton 11 1 1 9 7 21 -14 4

Latest Barclays Premier League Results

November 10, 2024
Chelsea 1 - 1 Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur 1 - 2 Ipswich Town
Nottingham Forest 1 - 3 Newcastle United
Manchester United 3 - 0 Leicester City
November 9, 2024
Liverpool 2 - 0 Aston Villa
Brighton & Hov… 2 - 1 Manchester City
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 - 0 Southampton
West Ham United 0 - 0 Everton
Crystal Palace 0 - 2 Fulham
Brentford 3 - 2 AFC Bournemouth
November 4, 2024
Fulham 2 - 1 Brentford
November 3, 2024
Manchester United 1 - 1 Chelsea
Tottenham Hotspur 4 - 1 Aston Villa
November 2, 2024
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 - 2 Crystal Palace
Southampton 1 - 0 Everton
Nottingham Forest 3 - 0 West Ham United
Liverpool 2 - 1 Brighton & Hov…
Ipswich Town 1 - 1 Leicester City
AFC Bournemouth 2 - 1 Manchester City
Newcastle United 1 - 0 Arsenal

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