Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
After previously suffering four straight losses Stoke’s upturn in fortunes has seen them unbeaten in their last 5 matches they will look to make it six today when they face off against Bournemouth at the Bet 365 Stadium. With 12th facing 13th today both sides will be hoping for a win that could take them into the top half of the table.
Such is the congested nature of the bottom half that there are only 3 points separating Burnley in 9th and West Ham in 17th. Therefore it only takes a couple of successive wins or losses for that matter to really change the complexion of the table.
Before the international break Stoke made it 5 without defeat thanks to a 1-1 draw at West Ham. After going behind through a Glenn Whelan own goal they managed to claw themselves level when Bojan took full advantage of compatriot and West Ham’s goalkeeper Adrian’s rush of blood to the head.
Stoke early season defensive issues which saw them ship 4 goals with worrying regularity but now that particular issue has been addressed Mark Hughes men will aim to get the results to move up the table and not have to be looking over the shoulder at the teams below them.
Today they play host to a Bournemouth side who had the ignominy of losing to Sunderland before the break. That win was subsequently The Black Cats first win of the season and Eddie Howe will no doubt be disappointed that his side failed to pick up three points at home especially when many had that down as a home banker.
With Gareth Southgate all but set to be the new England boss it means all that talk linking Howe to the position can now be put on the backburner and that can only be good for Bournemouth. That’s not to say that his full focus wasn’t on taking charge of The Cherries but any distractions that can be eliminated can only be a positive for the club.
It’s three without a win for the South Coast side and that’s a run that they would like to put to an end this afternoon. This ground will have not so special memories for Callum Wilson who suffered severe injury here last season, if he starts he would love to find the net and put that injury woe behind him.
Out of the two teams Stoke are the form side at the moment and are looking hard to beat as of late, that coupled with home advantage makes them the favourites going into the clash and I expect nothing less than a home win. Stoke to get all three points and possibly be in the top half by the end of the day.
