Bournemouth play host to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night looking to bounce back from Saturday's humiliating 9-0 defeat at Liverpool.
However, the Cherries head into this contest sitting ahead of their next opponents in the Premier League standings, who travel to the South Coast still looking for their first league victory of the season.
Match preview
Ahead of Bournemouth's fixture at Anfield, Scott Parker would have been realistic about his team's chances, even with Liverpool having failed to impress in their opening triple-header.
As Parker anticipated, their hosts were like a wounded animal with Jurgen Klopp's team utterly ruthless in how they dismantled a side who were realistically out of the game by the sixth minute.
The only positive from the afternoon was that Bournemouth avoided conceding triple figures, but that has not been enough to keep Parker in a job at the Vitality Stadium.
On Tuesday morning, a club statement announced the Englishman's departure, seemingly down to disagreements over transfers rather than a run of three successive defeats.
Nevertheless, Gary O'Neil will now take temporary charge of the team as they look to return to winning ways in the top flight.
Bruno Lage's team will have also had one less day to prepare for this contest after playing out a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon.
Wolves appeared on their way to a crucial win through Ruben Neves's low long-range strike in the first half until Allan Saint-Maximin topped that effort with a sensational volley which found the bottom corner.
While fingers will be pointed at Hwang Hee-chan's clearance which inadvertently set up the Frenchman, full credit should go to the finish given the circumstances and time left on the clock.
There is an argument that Wolves were fortunate to hold on for a point, and Lage must now find a way to get more out of his team, particularly in creative areas where Wolves need to be more direct.
Despite Wolves' poor work in the final third, they will head into this fixture with the joint-fourth best defensive record in the division.
- W
- L
- L
- L
- W
- L
- L
- D
- L
- L
- D
- L
- D
- L
- D
- L
- W
- D
Team News
Having come through 45 minutes on his return from injury, Dominic Solanke will almost certainly be restored to the Bournemouth XI.
Philip Billing may also come back into the midfield, with Jaidon Anthony and Kieffer Moore potentially dropping out of the side.
Bournemouth will hope to have Lloyd Kelly and Ben Pearson available after an adductor injury and dead leg respectively.
The short turnaround may lead to Lage making several changes to his Wolves starting lineup, with Rayan Ait-Nouri possibly replacing Nelson Semedo who has come through two matches after missing much of pre-season.
Leander Dendoncker could bring fresh legs to the midfield, while Daniel Podence is an alternative to Goncalo Guedes.
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Travers; Smith, Mepham, Senesi, Zemura; Cook, Lerma, Billing; Christie, Solanke, Tavernier
Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Sa; Jonny, Collins, Kilman, Ait-Nouri; Dendoncker, Neves, Nunes; Podence, Jimenez, Neto
We say: Bournemouth 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Parker heads into this contest desperately hoping that his players show the character required to bounce back from the weekend, while Lage knows that Wolves need to improve going forward. All things considered, we can see this game ending in a low-scoring draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
body check tags ::
Previews by email
