AFC Bournemouth vs Burnley Predictions

• Burnley have conceded three or more goals in five of their nine league games
• Burnley have lost seven of their last nine league games
• Burnley have had only 24 shots on target in nine matches, only Luton have registered fewer

Bournemouth can snap winless sequence

After nine games, Bournemouth and Burnley both find themselves in the Premier League relegation zone, so this could be a key clash in the battle to avoid relegation.

Of course, it is too soon to be talking about the dreaded drop, but given the strength of the division it seems likely that relegation will be suffered by at least one of these two.

Positive things were expected of Bournemouth before a ball was kicked under Andoni Iraola, who was also given significant funds to bolster his squad.

But the Cherries remain winless after nine games, having drawn three and suffered six defeats, which has heaped the pressure on Iraola to get a result here.

Bournemouth had a tough run of fixtures to start the season, featuring away games at Liverpool and Brighton as well as visits from Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal.

Pressure building on Iraola

But, despite the fixture list easing, they have still endured back-to-back defeats against Everton and Wolves, which is why Iraola finds his job at severe risk.

Vincent Kompany is likely to be given more time to settle in at Burnley, given he guided them to the Championship title last season and helped them return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

However, they have picked up only four points from nine games on their top-flight return, recording their sole victory away at Luton.

The Clarets were beaten 3-0 at Brentford on their last away trip and they were dominated 23-6 on the shot count, registering only one effort on target.

Toothless Clarets set for damaging defeat

In fact, only Luton have had less shots on target than Burnley’s 24 in nine league games this season, which is 11 less than Bournemouth have managed despite them having slightly harder run of fixtures.

Bournemouth have held West Ham and Chelsea to draws at home this season, while Lewis Cook’s 56th-minute red card evidently didn’t help their cause in last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at home to Wolves.

That means a chance should be taken on Bournemouth getting off the mark for the campaign as only rock-bottom Sheffield United have conceded more than Burnley (23).

Given the desperation for a positive result and the lack of firepower in both camps, it is unlikely to be a classic and Bournemouth are taken to claim a 2-0 victory.