Bournemouth will be looking for some respite from their Premier League struggles when they entertain Stoke City at the Vitality Stadium in the third round of the EFL Cup on Wednesday.
Key Takeaways
- Bournemouth remain winless in the Premier League after six matches
- Stoke City have lost five of their eight Championship games this season
- The Cherries have won five of their last six meetings with the Potters
While Bournemouth find themselves two points outside the Premier League relegation zone, Stoke sit two points clear of the bottom three in the Championship. Accordingly, both sides will be desperate to instigate an upturn in form on Wednesday.
Bournemouth Form
Following a 3-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday, Bournemouth remain winless in the Premier League this season, having recorded three draws and three losses under new manager Andoni Iraola.
Bournemouth’s sole victory in 2023-24 came against Swansea City in the second round of the EFL Cup, with the Cherries coming from behind to beat the Championship outfit 3-2. Naturally, Iraola will be hoping for a similar outcome against Stoke.
Stoke City Form
The Potters also endured a 3-1 defeat last time out, falling to Hull City on home soil. Stoke have now failed to win any of their previous five Championship games, suffering four losses while failing to score on three occasions.
That said, Alex Neil’s men have enjoyed plenty of success in the EFL Cup this season. After beating West Bromwich Albion 2-1 in the first round, Stoke booked their place in the third round with a 6-1 thrashing of Rotherham United, meaning they have netted eight goals in two EFL Cup outings this term.
Head-to-Head
Not only have Bournemouth won five of their last six matches against Stoke City, but they have also avoided defeat in seven of their previous eight meetings.
The two sides have met 10 times since 2015, clashing in both the Premier League and the Championship, with the Potters managing to defeat the Cherries on just three occasions.
Team News
Summer signings Tyler Adams and Alex Scott are yet to feature for Bournemouth as they continue to recover from injury, while Ryan Fredericks and Emiliano Marcondes also remain on the treatment table.
As for Stoke City, Lewis Baker, Enda Stevens, Emre Tezgel and Ryan Mmaee are all expected to be absent on Wednesday after missing last weekend’s defeat to Hull.
Key Players
Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke has scored three goals in seven appearances this season, while David Brooks and Ryan Christie have each registered two goal involvements.
On the flip side, Andre Vidigal has made a big impact since arriving at Stoke, netting five goals in six matches. Josh Laurent has also impressed this term, contributing two goals and two assists from midfield.
Final Thoughts
Although Bournemouth are yet to taste victory in the Premier League this season, Iraola’s men have not disgraced themselves, drawing with Chelsea, West Ham United and Brentford. With that in mind, the Cherries will be confident of dispatching Stoke, who have lost four of their last five league games.
EFL Cup