Bournemouth vs Fulham Prediction: Striker shortage could cost Cottagers

AFC Bournemouth host Fulham in the Premier League at Vitality Stadium on Friday night (20:00 BST, Sky Sports Main Event), looking for a fourth-consecutive home victory over the Cottagers, who were beaten 1-0 on the South Coast in April, with Antoine Semenyo striking the winner inside the first minute.

Below are my Bournemouth vs Fulham predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Adam Smith (hamstring) and Enes Unal (knee) are ruled out for Bournemouth through injury, and it remains to be seen if Lewis Cook has recovered from the shoulder problem that forced him to miss last Saturday's 2-2 draw at Leeds United.

Meanwhile, Julio Soler is away on international duty with the Argentina U20s.

Eli Junior Kroupi, who scored his first goal for the Cherries as a late substitute at Elland Road, will likely have to settle for a place on the bench against Fulham this weekend.

Football Odds

Fulham are suffering something of a striker injury crisis, with Raul Jimenez (hip) withdrawn in the 11th minute of last Sunday's 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa at Villa Park, where he had opened the scoring eight minutes earlier. The Mexican would join fellow forward Rodrigo Muniz (muscle) in the Cottagers' treatment room if he is not passed fit.

Kenny Tete (knee) is also out.

Adama Traore, Emile Smith Rowe, Samuel Chukwueze and Antonee Robinson are all eyeing promotions from the bench.

Today's Football Fixtures

Bournemouth vs Fulham Odds

Following back-to-back draws with Newcastle United (0-0) and Leeds United (2-2), Bournemouth are priced at 10/11 to return to winning ways on Friday, implying a 52.4% probability of success. Fulham, meanwhile, are offered at 16/5, or a 23.8% chance, with the draw available at 13/5.

Betfred are offering a Turbo Boost on this game, with Semenyo 1+ Shots On Target priced at 1/1 (was 2/5).

Player to Commit 3+ Fouls - Antoine Semenyo (BOU) @ 12/5

April's match-winner Semenyo has started the new season superbly, netting four times in his first six Premier League appearances, including one at Leeds last weekend.

The 25-year-old has been putting himself about, too, averaging 2.3 fouls per game, and at Elland Road last Saturday, he was whistled five times for upending an opponent.

Semenyo could consider himself fortunate not to go into the referee's notebook in West Yorkshire, but he has been cautioned already this term, in Bournemouth's 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur on August 30.

The Ghanaian international is 5/2 to double his yellow-card count for the season on Saturday, but seeing him get away with five fouls last weekend, I've opted to back that market instead.

Semenyo conceded two free-kicks at Craven Cottage in 2024/25, and only one against Fulham at the Vitality earlier this year, but has fouled at least twice in five of his six league appearances this season.

Usually, I would also mention a player on the opposing side who is well-versed at drawing fouls, in particular a direct opponent, but Semenyo is someone who charges across the field, and so the lack of a Cottager who wins free-kicks on his side doesn't really concern me.

To Win to Nil - Bournemouth @ 11/5

Bournemouth have beaten Fulham at home without conceding in two consecutive seasons, winning 3-0 in December 2023 and 1-0 in April earlier this year.

The Cherries shipped four goals in a 4-2 defeat to reigning Premier League champions Liverpool at Anfield on the opening day of the campaign, but two of those strikes for the Reds came after the 87th minute, and since then, they've only been breached three times in five games.

Andoni Iraola's men have kept clean sheets in wins over Wolves and Tottenham (both 1-0), as well as in their last home match, a goalless draw with Newcastle.

Fulham have blanked just once this season, in a 2-0 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on August 30, but in their other five league games, they have only scored one goal.

Jimenez struck early on for Marco Silva's side at Villa Park last Sunday, but he was forced from the field not long after, and without a recognised striker on the field, the Cottagers looked bereft of ideas at the top end of the pitch.

With Jimenez doubtful for Friday's trip to the South Coast, and Rodrigo Muniz already ruled out, you wonder where the goals are going to come from for the visitors.

No Fulham player has scored more than one Premier League goal this term, and two of their seven strikes have been own-goals.

Offers

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