Bournemouth host West Ham United in the Premier League this afternoon.
Pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he thinks Bournemouth and West Ham United will play out a 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium this afternoon.
Bournemouth head into the game having lost 4-0 at Manchester City on Saturday afternoon, meaning they have now have now lost their last three games in a row.
The Cherries have dropped into the bottom three, and desperately need a result to turn around a troubling run of form for Eddie Howe’s side.
David Moyes and Eddie Howe
Today, Howe’s men are back at the Vitality Stadium, and welcome West Ham United to the South Coast in a vital for both teams and their attempts to get away from the bottom three.
West Ham had picked up seven points in a week with good results against Chelsea, Arsenal and Stoke City, but then lost 3-2 at home to Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon in a deflating result.
David Moyes’ men appear to be strong in games where they can counter-attack, but when they are expected to have more of the ball, they aren’t quite firing just yet.
Bournemouth will look to dictate the game today, which could play into West Ham’s hands, but pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he is predicting a 1-1 draw.
Lawrenson suggested that Bournemouth boss Howe is getting an ‘easy ride’ for his side being in the bottom three, and thinks West Ham’s defeat to Newcastle will only be a minor blip.
“Bournemouth have gone seven league games without a win and I do find it amazing that their boss Eddie Howe gets such an easy ride when his team are struggling,” said Lawrenson. “Any other Premier League manager would be getting panned if their team was in the relegation zone now, including the promoted clubs. I am not saying I think Howe should be getting criticism – just that I am surprised he is not, based on what we see happen with almost every other top-flight club. He has done a really good job there, winning promotion, keeping them up in 2015-16 and then finishing ninth last season – but even he and his players are saying they are in a relegation battle now.”
“West Ham are only one place above them, after their defeat at home to Newcastle on Saturday in what was a very strange game. I think it will only be a blip after the Hammers’ recent good run, but it is a little bit concerning when teams who have been down at the bottom lose games you expect them to win because it can be a case of ‘here we go again’. It probably helps a bit that they are playing Bournemouth next, though. Neither side are great defensively, so I am going to go for a draw,” he added.
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