Bournemouth vs Burnley Prediction: Strugglers look difficult to split

We are still not a quarter of the way through the Premier League season, but the clash between Bournemouth and Burnley at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday could still be key in the relegation battle.

Both teams are in the bottom three and have posted just one win between them, which was the Clarets’ 2-1 success at Luton Town, who were promoted alongside Vincent Kompany’s side from the Championship.

The Cherries have scored the fewest number of goals in the division with just six from their opening nine games, while Burnley’s tally is seven, so this has all the ingredients of being a tight encounter.

Team news

Bournemouth will be without midfielder Lewis Cook, who starts a three-match ban after being sent off in last week’s 2-1 home defeat to Wolves and Joe Rothwell is likely to come in.

Tyler Adams, Ryan Fredericks and Emiliano Marcondes are also out for the Cherries.

Connor Roberts serves a one-game ban for the Clarets after his red card at Brentford last week, while Michael Obafemi, Jordan Beyer, Hjalmar Ekdal, Manuel Benson and Johann Berg Gudmundsson are all doubtful.

Match Odds

Bournemouth are 11/10 to finally claim their first win of the season, while Burnley are 23/10 to repeat the FA Cup victory they tasted at the Vitality in January.

Evens is available for the match containing under 2.5 goals, while both teams to score can be backed at 8/13.

Solanke, who has scored four goals this season, is 5/1 favourite to score the opener in Saturday’s clash.

Draw @ 5/2

Bournemouth are one of two teams who have yet to post a top-flight victory this season and they have not won in 13 league outings.

10 of those games have ended in a defeat, but Burnley have lost seven of their opening nine games.

A win at Luton may have given them a lift, but their confidence will have been deflated by heavy defeats to Chelsea and Brentford since then.

Goals are a problem for both of these two sides and if they concentrate on not conceding, then a draw looks a likely outcome, with 1-1 at 6/1 a sensible correct-score option.

#PickYourPunt – Under 2.5 goals, Josh Cullen to be booked, Dominic Solanke to have one or more shots on target @ 7/1

Three elements appeal for a #PickYourPunt selection, starting with under 2.5 goals.

These two teams have scored just 13 goals between them and while their defences have been leaky, it seems unlikely that either one of them are going to open up.

Avoiding defeat could be the biggest priority and that might lead to not much action.

Burnley midfielder Josh Cullen has been booked four times already this season, including in the Clarets’ last two games against Chelsea and Brentford, so he could go in the book again.

Finally, expect Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke to have at least one shot on target. That has occurred in seven of his last eight league and cup appearances.