EPL: Bournemouth v West Brom preview

Bournemouth v West Brom preview

West Brom risk being cast further adrift at the bottom of the Premier League as they travel to Bournemouth on Saturday.

The Baggies will equal their club record of seven successive Premier League defeats if they lose, having picked up only eight points from 16 games since Alan Pardew took over.

Pardew, who has held "clear-the-air" talks with West Brom's board this week to address speculation over his future, said: "It's about players performing.

 

"The senior players need to deliver otherwise we won't be in with a shout of staying up. If we aren't in with a shout, then I'll need to look to the future. We didn't give ourselves a chance last weekend."

Bournemouth are on a run of four games without a win themselves - but only Manchester City and Tottenham have lost fewer games since Christmas than the Cherries.

 

Despite having a fine record against bottom-half teams and West Brom's current struggles, boss Eddie Howe insists they will not take their visitors lightly.

"The difficulty of this game is the expectation will be on us," he said. "I can assure you there will be no complacency within the dressing room, absolutely no chance."

 

Ryan Fraser and Josh King are among a number of injury doubts for Bournemouth. Winger Fraser has not trained due to a back problem, while Howe is hopeful forward King should be available to play following a neck issue.

Howe said a couple of unnamed players are also struggling with niggles, while defender Tyrone Mings continues his rehabilitation from a back problem.

 

West Brom will be without midfielder Gareth Barry (knee) but captain Jonny Evans could feature after overcoming illness while striker Daniel Sturridge (hamstring) and midfielder Nacer Chadli (thigh) are both expected back in training next week.

Midfielder James Morrison continues to struggle with an Achilles injury.