Preview: Bournemouth vs. Stoke City - prediction, team news, lineups

Championship promotion contenders Bournemouth host a Stoke City side whose playoff hopes are rapidly fading away.

The Cherries are currently second in the table and two points ahead of third place, while the Potters are 14th and nine points behind the top six.

Match preview

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Bournemouth have not played since February 12 as their last two matches have been postponed due to Storm Eunice.

The Cherries have been sitting on a three-match winning streak in the Championship, their best run of form since the end of October.

Scott Parker's side currently trail league leaders Fulham by nine points, but have two games in hand over the Cottagers.

Bournemouth, who have the best defensive record in the Championship, have suffered just three league defeats at home this season but have won only two of their last six at the Vitality Stadium in all competitions.

The Cherries have won four of the last five meetings between the two sides, with Dominic Solanke scoring the only goal of the game in a 1-0 victory at the bet365 Stadium in October.

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Stoke won on their visit to the Vitality Stadium last season, triumphing 2-0 on the South coast on the final day of the campaign.

The Potters were beaten 2-1 at home by Luton Town on Wednesday night, with Michael O'Neill admitting that his side are "miles away from where we need to be".

The Staffordshire outfit have now won just one of their last seven Championship matches and a fifth consecutive season in the second tier looks increasingly likely.

O'Neill's team travel to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup fifth round on Tuesday night, but the Northern Irishman may still be wise to prioritise this weekend's fixture.

Team News

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Bournemouth pair Adam Smith and Ethan Laird are in contention to feature after long-term absences; Smith has been out since December with a knee injury, while Laird is yet to make his debut for the club after signing in January.

Fellow defender Gary Cahill is also set to be back available after missing the Cherries' last game against Blackpool with a knee issue.

Scott Parker has said that Ryan Christie has "improved drastically" following a quad injury, but is not yet available.

Midfielder Mario Vrancic could make his return for Stoke, having missed the last four matches with a knee injury.

Romaine Sawyers was back in the matchday squad in midweek after recovering from a quad issue, so he will be pushing for a start.

Phil Jagielka missed the defeat to Luton with a knock, but could be available again for the trip to the Vitality Stadium.

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Travers; Stacey, Phillips, Kelly, Zemura; Billing, Cook, Cantwell; Anthony, Solanke, Dembele

Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Bursik; Wilmot, Jagielka, Harwood-Bellis, Tymon; Allen, Sawyers, Baker; Campbell, Maja, Brown

We say: Bournemouth 2-1 Stoke City

Bournemouth will be eager to make up for lost time and start chasing Fulham again, so we think that the Cherries will continue their winning streak. Stoke were poor in midweek and are unlikely to derail Scott Parker's side.

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