Bournemouth v Fulham Betting Preview, Friday 3 October

Friday night football takes us to the south coast as Bournemouth look to extend their impressive unbeaten run, while Fulham arrive hoping to prove their setback at Villa Park was nothing more than a bump in the road. With both sides occupying mid-table positions but with very different narratives, this one has the makings of an intriguing contest under the lights at the Vitality.

Taking a quick look at the outright market before we get into the preview.  After last weekend’s results, Arsenal have moved into favouritism at 5/4, with Liverpool close behind at 7/4. Manchester City are priced at 5/1, while Chelsea sit further adrift at 33/1. The remainder of the field are available at 50/1 or longer.

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BOURNEMOUTH v FULHAM – Click here to bet

Bournemouth extended their unbeaten run in the league to five matches with a 2-2 draw away at Leeds last weekend, their second consecutive stalemate. While Iraola’s men will have wanted more than a point, the bigger picture is one of steady progress. The Cherries sit 6th in the table with 11 points (W3, D2, L1), and their performances suggest there is a growing confidence about the side. At home they have been especially reliable, collecting seven points from a possible nine and conceding just once, a defensive record matched only by Arsenal at the Emirates. Goals have not exactly flowed at the Vitality, with just three scored in three home fixtures, but their structure and discipline at the back has given them a strong foundation to build on.

The man leading the charge has been Antoine Semenyo, who has already netted four times and supplied two assists. His pace, direct running, and eye for goal have made him one of the standout players of the season so far, with only Erling Haaland ahead of him in the scoring charts.

Fulham, by contrast, were brought back down to earth with a 3-1 defeat away at Aston Villa on Sunday, ending their three-match winning run in all competitions and highlighting some of the fragilities that continue to haunt them. Marco Silva’s side are sitting 11th with 8 points (W2, D2, L2), a fair return, but the manner of their away defeats will be a concern. The Cottagers remain winless on the road, having lost their last two league trips by two-goal margins, and of the eight goals they’ve conceded this season, six have come away from Craven Cottage. Their home form has been steady enough to keep them in the mix, but until they fix their travel sickness, they will struggle to climb higher up the table.

Head-to-Head

Bournemouth went unbeaten against Fulham last season, drawing 2-2 in the reverse fixture and claiming a 1-0 win at home in this encounter.

Betting

Bournemouth 9/10

Draw 27/10

Fulham 3/1

Verdict

Bournemouth have been rock solid at home and with Semenyo in top form they’ll fancy their chances to keep that run going. Fulham’s away day struggles and leaky defence make this look like another tough outing for the Cottagers, and I think Bournemouth take full advantage.

Suggested Bet: Full Time Result – Bournemouth at 9/10

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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change