AFC Bournemouth v Southampton: Struggling attacks unlikely to entertain fans

AFC Bournemouth will leapfrog Southampton in the Premier League standings should they take all three points against the Saints at Vitality Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Eddie Howe's men have often struggled to find their best form so far this season, highlighted by the Cherries' 2-1 loss to Burnley on Wednesday night, meaning they have won just twice at home in the Premier League this season.

Bournemouth, though, will be hoping for victory against Southampton and Betfair Sportsbook go 15/8 (2.88) that the Cherries climb the Premier League table by seeing off the Saints; the same firm go 11/5 (3.20) that these two teams are forced to settle for a share of the spoils from this fixture.

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Southampton will have renewed hope that they are starting to find their feet under the stewardship of Mauricio Pellegrino, with the fantastic 4-1 win against Everton last weekend coming just days before the agonising loss to table-topping Manchester City at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night, where the Hampshire club were only denied a draw by Raheem Sterling's sublime stoppage time winner.

Should Pellegrino's men replicate that form in this fixture, they would have a good chance of claiming a vital victory against the Cherries and Betfair Sportsbook offer 13/8 (2.63) that the Saints secure all three points against Howe's stuttering side.

Goals, however, could prove to be at something of a premium when these two teams meet; despite putting four past Everton last weekend, Southampton have scored just 14 league goals so far this season - and only four of those have come in matches away from home - whilst Bournemouth have scored fewer than two goals in all but two of their last nine matches in this competition.

With both teams struggling to find a spark in the final third, Betfair Sportsbook's 10/11 (1.91) quote for either side to fail to find the net could well prove popular with punters, while the same firm go 8/11 (1.72) that there are fewer than three goals in the game; Betfair Sportsbook go 7/4 (2.75) that the match remains goalless at half time.

A tight, tense tussle looks likely when these rivals lock horns and there could be value in backing fewer than two goals to be scored at 2/1 (3.0) when two shot-shy teams meet at Vitality Stadium on Sunday afternoon; the selection would have landed in three of Bournemouth’s last five fixtures.