AFC Bournemouth vs Manchester United Predictions

• Manchester United are winless in five Premier League meetings with Bournemouth..
• Bournemouth have conceded just one goal across their last four games (all draws)
• United have won just two of their last seven away games.

United head to bogey team Bournemouth

Michael Carrick has got Manchester United firing on all cylinders and on course for a place in next season’s Champions League, but his side may not have it all their own way when they travel to Bournemouth for a Friday night Premier League fixture.

The Cherries’ own European hopes now appear slim with an eight point gap between themselves and the top five, but they have proven to be a bit of a bogey team for the visitors in recent seasons.

Bournemouth have two wins and no defeats in the last five league meetings between these sides and they tend to raise their levels against the division’s best, while they have only lost two of their 15 league games so far.

Cherries can take at least a point

United have won seven of their last nine league games and come into Friday’s fixture as the deserved favourites.

However, Bournemouth are unbeaten in 11 games in normal time across all competitions and have been solid at the back with three clean sheets in their last four games. The hosts may not be able to grind out a win but they can at least avoid the defeat and backing Bournemouth in the double chance market stands out for our main bet.

Bournemouth’s unbeaten streak and their record in head-to-head matches makes this bet a good angle, and it is also worth noting that United’s road form has been less impressive with just two wins in their last seven trips and only five in 15 Premier League away days all season.

Spoils could be shared at Dean Court

Bournemouth are the Premier League’s stalemate specialists with 14 of their 30 games ending honours even. United have six draws and just four defeats in their 15 trips, so this one may well finish all square.

The Cherries defence has been impressive in recent weeks with only one goal conceded in their last four games but keeping United at bay may be too big an ask. United have scored in 19 consecutive games and they last drew a blank in a home defeat to Everton back in November, before Carrick took charge.

Both teams have scored in six of Bournemouth’s last seven home games and in 12 of United last 13 away. Bournemouth have been strong at the back lately and a repeat of the 4-4 draw in the reverse fixture looks unlikely but we should see both teams strike and a 1-1 draw seems like a reasonable correct score prediction.

Matheus Cunha scored in United’s win over Aston Villa last time out and can follow that up with an anytime effort on the south coast. Cunha has a modest seven strikes in 27 league games this season but has scored in back-to-back games on two previous occasions this season, and he was on target in the reverse fixture in December.