Wolverhampton Wanderers v Bournemouth

Published on: 14 December 2018

Wolves forward Raul Jimenez was rested for last Sunday's win at Newcastle TEAM NEWS

Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo must decide whether to recall regular starters Joao Moutinho and Raul Jimenez, who were both substitutes against Newcastle last weekend.

Jonny Castro Otto is training after a knee injury and could be involved.

Bournemouth's leading scorer Callum Wilson should be fit to return from a hamstring problem.

Dan Gosling is out following a knee operation, while Lewis Cook and Adam Smith are long-term absentees.

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MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

@alistairmann01: It's the first top-flight meeting between these two sides but it seems sure to be the first of many.

Two straight wins for Wolves has restored self-belief after a run of just one point in six games, and they continue to exhibit a quality in their play that is ideally suited to the Premier League.

They're a completely different proposition to their predecessors of 2011-12, who were relegated with fewer victories throughout the campaign than this current side have earned in their first 16 matches.

That Bournemouth arrive similarly placed in the top half of the table owes everything to their brilliant start to the season, as five defeats in their last six matches has begun to seriously stunt their progress.

VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT

Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Nuno Espirito Santo: "We know how hard it is to get back-to-back wins and we want to continue.

"It's a tough challenge we face. What is important is that we are ready for tomorrow."

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: "We want to get out there and put the Liverpool game to bed. The Christmas period is a really important time for us. We know we can build some real momentum and these periods can often define seasons.

"Wolves have done well and have carried their form and playing style forward from the Championship."

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

I think Wolves will win. Their last-minute winner at Newcastle kept up their momentum after their win over Chelsea, and they will be full of confidence at the moment.

Prediction: 2-1

Lawro's full predictions v David Ginola

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

    This is the inaugural top-flight meeting between the two sides. Bournemouth have won 2-1 in each of their last three games against Wolves in all competitions. Wolves have gone five matches without a win against Bournemouth since beating them 3-1 in December 1989.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

    Wolves are vying to win three consecutive top-flight matches for the first time since March 1980. Their tally of six Premier League wins this season is already one more than they managed in the whole of their last top-flight campaign, in 2011-12. They have failed to score a first-half goal in seven league games at Molineux since Ruben Neves' 44th-minute strike against Everton on the opening weekend. Wolves have scored two 90th-minute winners this season, a joint league high with Manchester United. Diogo Jota has scored in successive Premier League games, after not scoring in his first 13 appearances in the division.

Bournemouth

    It's five defeats in six league games for Bournemouth, who had earned 13 points from their previous six fixtures. The Cherries could fail to score in consecutive Premier League matches for only the second time in 2018, having done so in April. Their last six Premier League goals have been scored before half time. Ten of Bournemouth's last 11 Premier League goals were either scored or set up by Callum Wilson or Ryan Fraser. Wilson has scored eight Premier League goals this campaign, equalling his career-best tally from last season.

Source: bbc.com

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