Bournemouth will view Tuesday's clash with Sheffield Wednesday as a vital game as they aim to put a stop to their recent poor form.
The Cherries have lost three successive Championship matches, slipping to sixth in the table, and now host a Wednesday side that are inside the bottom three.
Match preview
Bournemouth are winless in four league games in total - their worst run of the season so far - with the pressure on Jason Tindall to restore the squad's confidence as they aim to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
The South-Coast side lost 3-1 at fellow promotion hopefuls Reading on Friday night, conceding all three goals in the space of 19 first-half minutes to be out of the game by half time.
It means that they are now five points behind the fifth-placed Royals and looking nervously over their shoulder at the teams chasing the playoffs; indeed, Middlesbrough, Blackburn Rovers and Bristol City are all within three points of the Cherries.
However, their next five games are all against sides in the current bottom six so they will be optimistic of turning the tide and putting a string of wins together.
Bournemouth will also be hopeful that a return to home comforts can play a part as they have lost just twice at the Vitality Stadium this season, but one of those defeats came in their most recent home game – a 1-0 loss to Luton Town.
Visitors Wednesday, while enjoying a recent upturn in form at home, are winless in their last nine away league matches and only Wycombe Wanderers have picked up fewer points on the road. What's more, no team has scored fewer away goals than the Owls (six).
Wednesday are still without a permanent manager, but caretaker boss Neil Thompson has led them to three wins in four league games; they claimed a 1-0 victory over Preston North End on Saturday as Liam Palmer's first goal in over nine years proved decisive.
The result kept the Owls in 23rd but moved them to within four points of safety, while they also have a game in hand against 21st-placed Nottingham Forest.
Both Bournemouth and Wednesday had a man sent off in the reverse fixture in November, which the Yorkshire outfit won 1-0 thanks to Barry Bannan's penalty; that was the 21st competitive meeting between the two sides and made it seven Wednesday wins, seven Bournemouth wins and seven draws.
Bournemouth Championship form: LWDLLL
Bournemouth form (all competitions): WDLLWL
Sheffield Wednesday Championship form: WDWWLW
Sheffield Wednesday form (all competitions): WWWLLW
Team News
Tindall made three half-time changes at Reading on Friday night as he brought on Adam Smith, Jack Wilshere and David Brooks, and the trio could feature from the start on Tuesday.
Junior Stanislas also came on as a substitute in Berkshire and scored, which could earn him a start, while new signing Ben Pearson is in line for a debut.
Lloyd Kelly missed the trip to the Madejski Stadium with ankle injury but may return to the squad.
Wednesday are hopeful that Chey Dunkley, who has missed the last five games with injury, will be able to return this week, but he may start on the bench on Tuesday night.
Young defender Osaze Urhoghide made his first league appearance of the season against Preston on Saturday and put in an impressive performance so should keep his place in the side.
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Begovic; Stacey, Mepham, S. Cook, Smith; Pearson, L. Cook, Wilshere; Brooks, Solanke, Stanislas
Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Westwood; Lees, Hutchinson, Urhoghide; Palmer, Pelupessy, Bannan, Penney; Reach; Paterson, Windass
We say: Bournemouth 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday
Bournemouth are desperate to get out of their current rut, and a home game against Wednesday presents a good opportunity. The Owls will not be easy opposition but have found life tough on their travels and could struggle if the Cherries' players find their form again.
