Bournemouth vs Luton Prediction: Cherries to carry on march up the table

It's been quite the turnaround for Andoni Iraola at AFC Bournemouth. After failing to win any of his first nine Premier League games in charge, the Spaniard has now presided over five victories in their last seven, and they are unbeaten in their last five, a run that stretches back to November 4.

The Cherries are in back in action on Saturday afternoon (KO, 15:00) to face Luton Town at the Vitality Stadium. Rob Edwards' side may have lost their last three games but they have received plenty of compliments along the way after taking Manchester City and Arsenal to the wire in 2-1 and 3-1 defeats, respectively.

Bournemouth and Luton were in touching distance of each other a matter of weeks ago but the former's superb run has seen them pull 10 points clear of The Hatters, who know that they need a positive result to pull the south coast side back into the relegation mix.

Team News

Bournemouth are unlikely to make many changes on the back of a five-game unbeaten run, with 10 players starting all of the last three. Marcus Tavernier and Sinisterra have alternated since the start of December, but the former will hope to keep his place after providing two assists at Old Trafford last weekend.

Max Aarons, Tyler Adams, Ryan Fredericks, Lloyd Kelly and Alex Scott will all miss out again through injury.

Luton are still without injured trio Reece Burke, Dan Potts and Cauley Woodrow, while Marvelous Nakamba is suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the campaign last Sunday.

Nakamba's absence could see a recall for Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu in midfield, and the 29-year-old is likely to be joined in the starting XI by on-loan Manchester City wing-back Issa Kabore, who was ineligible to face his parent club. Ryan Giles could make way for the Burkina Faso international.

Match Odds

Bournemouth are fancied as 4/9 favourites to win a third Premier League game of the campaign at the Vitality, with a victory for the visitors priced up at 11/2. The draw is available at 7/2.

There have been over 2.5 goals in nine of Bournemouth's last 11 league matches and it's 8/13 for at least three goals to be scored again, while both teams to score can be found at 4/5.

Bournemouth to win and under 3.5 goals @ 5/4

The Cherries are on an absolute roll at the moment, so they should be confident of securing maximum points in this one to record a third consecutive win. Luton at home is a fixture all clubs would have circled as being one that is a must-win, and while The Hatters have proven to be awkward opponents so far, they've ultimately left empty-handed in six of their eight away games.

Bournemouth's home record isn't scintillating but three of their four defeats on the south coast have come against Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, all of whom reside in the top five. They've also made great strides at the Vitality recently, drawing with Aston Villa and beating Newcastle United and Burnley in their last three league games there.

The victories over the Magpies and the Clarets saw the under 3.5 goals bet land, and in it has done so in six of their eight at the Vitality. Half of Luton's away games have had three goals or fewer, and while they have received a few heavy defeats on the road this season, they will be hopeful of avoiding another one on Saturday against a side that are yet to score more than twice in a single home match.

Dominic Solanke to score first @ 7/2

Solanke took his season tally to nine - eight of which have come in the Premier League - in last weekend's 3-0 win over Manchester United, and the 26-year-old is particularly prolific at the Vitality, where six of them have been scored.

Betfred have the former Liverpool and Chelsea striker as 11/10 to score anytime but backing him to net first on Saturday boosts the odds to 7/2.

Solanke has scored the first goal of the game on four occasions in the Premier League this term, and he also bagged the opening goal in the 2-0 win over Stoke City in the Carabao Cup in September. Luton have conceded first in all but one of their away games this season.

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