TEAM NEWS
Charlie Daniels is back after missing out at Liverpool for personal reasons and loanee Nathaniel Clyne, who was ineligible at Anfield, also returns.
Bournemouth remains without injured pair Callum Wilson and David Brooks, while Junior Stanislas faces a fitness test on a thigh problem.
Diogo Jota is available for Wolves, having recovered from the dead leg that ruled him out against Bristol City. Matt Doherty was substituted because of a knock in the last game but is fit.
Star midfielder Ruben Neves, who featured as a substitute last weekend, is set to reclaim his place in the starting line-up.
MOTD COMMENTATOR’S NOTES
@Mark_Scott_: Bournemouth will be glad to be back on home turf given the massive difference between their form at the Vitality Stadium this season and their record on the road.
The Cherries are unbeaten on their own patch in the league against teams outside of the top six since November 2017, although injuries to key men combined with a visit from a very upwardly mobile Wolves could see that run come to an end.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side go into the game in good nick on their travels of
VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: “After the Cardiff and Liverpool defeats we’re keen to get back out there. Our home record has been strong recently, but we’ve got to start showing more consistency.
“Wolves have done very well this season. They’re a well-balanced team with some real individual talents. They’ve stuck to their philosophy since their promotion.
“Continuity in team selection is important. The fact that Wolves have used so few players this season is credit to their staff and management. We know we’ll be in for a tough game.”
Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo: “The table doesn’t mean anything, we just go game by game.
“[We] don’t think about anything else – don’t think about the result, just think about the performance, the way we want to play. “[We] realise that we are going to have a tough opponent in front of us, that is how we keep our feet on the ground.”
LAWRO’S PREDICTION
I was going to back Bournemouth here, but Callum Wilson and David Brooks are both out injured, which is a big blow for them.
Wolves are going very well – into the FA Cup sixth round and with three wins in their past four league games. They have the chance to really kick on now.
Prediction: 1-2
Lawro’s full predictions
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Wolves beat Bournemouth 2-0 at Molineux in December and can record their first league double against the Cherries.
- Bournemouth have never lost a home league game against Wolves, winning two and drawing one of the three previous matches.
Bournemouth
- The Cherries have won their last two home games by an aggregate score of 6-0.
- They have never won three successive Premier League home matches without conceding a goal.
- Eddie Howe’s side have won 24 of their 33 points at home this season, equivalent to 73% – the second-highest such percentage in the division.
- They are unbeaten in nine previous Premier League home games against newly-promoted opposition, winning seven of those matches.
- Bournemouth’s last six home defeats in the Premier League have come against clubs from the established top six, including all three of their losses this season.
- The last team from outside the current top six to win a league game at the Vitality Stadium were Burnley in November 2017.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Wolves have won three of their last five Premier League away games (D1, L1), as many victories as in their previous 25 games on the road.
- They are chasing a 12th league win of the season – which would be their highest total in a top-flight campaign since claiming 13 victories in 1980-81.
- They are also one point short of matching their record tally of 40 in the Premier League, set in 2010-11.
- Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have scored 74% of their Premier League goals in the second half of games this season, a league-high.
- Wolves have used 18 players in the Premier League this season, fewer than any other side.
- However, they have had 13 different scorers, a tally exceeded only by Manchester United’s 14.
Source: BBC News
