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Preview: Luton Town vs. Bournemouth - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Luton Town and Bournemouth, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Bournemouth will be aiming to keep the pressure on Championship leaders Norwich City when they travel to Luton Town on Saturday.

The Cherries are currently in second place – three points behind the Canaries – while the Hatters sit in 13th.


Match preview

Junior Stanislas celebrates scoring for Bournemouth against Wycombe Wanderers in the Championship on December 15, 2020© Reuters

Bournemouth were 1-0 winners at home to Wycombe Wanderers in midweek, as Junior Stanislas's second half goal proved decisive.

After the game, Jason Tindall said he "felt we were the only team that were going to score", and also played down a late bust-up between Stanislas and teammate Sam Surridge.

With Swansea City and Reading losing and Watford and Brentford drawing, the Cherries now have a three point cushion to third place.

They are the league's top scorers with 35 goals to their name and have kept four consecutive clean sheets.

However Bournemouth are slightly inconsistent away from home. While they have only lost once on the road, they are yet to achieve back to back away victories this season – most recently drawing 0-0 at Swansea's Liberty Stadium.

Matty Pearson celebrates scoring for Luton Town against Birmingham in the Championship on November 24, 2020© Reuters

They now travel to a Luton side who have won their last two home matches and scored six goals in the process, but lost 1-0 away to 10-man Middlesbrough in midweek.

James Collins had a penalty ruled out for kicking the ball twice at the Riverside, as the game was decided by a second half goal from Chuba Akpom.

The result has left Nathan Jones's side six points behind the playoffs, and Bournemouth's visit to Kenilworth Road is the first of three consecutive fixtures against teams above them, with matches against Reading and Bristol City to come over the festive period.

Saturday will be the first league meeting between Luton and Bournemouth since January 2009 when the two clubs were in League Two, but the Cherries did win 4-0 in an FA Cup third round tie against the Hatters in January of this year.

Luton Town Championship form: LWLDWL

Bournemouth Championship form: DLWDWW


Team News

Bournemouth manager Jason Tindall pictured on November 7, 2020© Reuters

Luton's Glen Rea picked up his fifth booking of the season in midweek, so is suspended for Saturday's game.

Goalkeeper Simon Sluga and defender James Bree are both on the verge of returning from injury, but Nathan Jones may be cautious of starting them too soon.

Bournemouth were boosted by Josh King's return from injury off the bench against Wycombe, and the Norway international is in contention to start at Kenilworth Road.

The dilemma for Jason Tindall is where King fits in, as Cherries attacking trio Dominic Solanke, David Brooks and Junior Stanislas are all in good form.

Luton Town possible starting lineup:
Shea; Cranie, Lockyer, Bradley, Potts; Tunnicliffe, Dewsbury-Hall; Cornick, Mpanzu, Moncur; Collins

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Begovic; Smith, S. Cook, Simpson, Kelly; Billing, L. Cook, Lerma; Brooks, Solanke, Stanislas


SM words green background

We say: Luton Town 0-1 Bournemouth

Bournemouth are really beginning to click into gear, but Luton are no pushovers so this won't be an easy game for the Cherries. However their attacking talent should shine through and their defence is proving hard to break down.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


ID:426916:cQx

How you voted: Luton vs Bournemouth

Luton Town
22.0%
Draw
10.2%
Bournemouth
67.8%
59
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Bournemouth manager Jason Tindall pictured on November 7, 2020
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Jason Tindall plays down Surridge-Stanislas bust-up in Wycombe victory
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Norwich CityNorwich23145431201147
2Swansea CitySwansea23127427131443
3Bournemouth22118337181941
4Brentford22118336211541
5Reading2312473428640
6Middlesbrough21106528171136
7Stoke CityStoke239862622435
8Watford219752417734
9Barnsley2310492729-234
10Bristol City2210392324-133
11Blackburn RoversBlackburn2395938271132
12Preston North EndPreston23102113031-132
13Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2394102832-431
14Luton TownLuton228682024-430
15Cardiff CityCardiff228592925429
16Coventry CityCoventry236892231-926
17Millwall2151061820-225
18Birmingham CityBirmingham2358101729-1223
19Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2357111626-1022
20Queens Park RangersQPR224992030-1021
21Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2367101523-819
22Derby CountyDerby2247111424-1019
23Rotherham UnitedRotherham2044121929-1016
24Wycombe WanderersWycombe2336141635-1915

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