Fresh from their FA Cup elimination by the hands of Manchester City, Newcastle United visit a Bournemouth team clamouring for the alleviation of their relegation fears on Wednesday.
The Cherries' deterioration has continued past the restart of Premier League football, with defeats to Wolves and Crystal Palace. A winless streak of six games that goes back to February.
Whilst the Magpies have been consolidating their place in mid-table, with an impressive 3-0 win over European football hopefuls Sheffield United and a score-draw with a struggling Aston Villa.
Eddie Howe's men are displaying a staggering decline, finding themselves at the very foot of the league's form table and showing a worrying bluntness going forward – they are yet to nestle the net since their return-to-action, with only Norwich City and Crystal Palace scoring fewer goals in the league this season.
If their poor form continues with a loss midweek, Newcastle United will complete a first ever league double over their south-coast counterparts and will have won back-to-back Premier League away games for the first time since January 2018.
Bournemouth's ineptitude in front of goal will not be helped by the unavailability of Callum Wilson for Wednesday's clash, who received his 10th yellow card of the season. However, fellow forward Josh King is likely to return from injury.
Phillip Billing is also expected to return to the squad despite having to be subbed off five minutes into the second-half during their defeat at Wolves, but experienced duo Simon Francis and Charlie Daniels will remain side-lined.
With Newcastle reliant on a late fitness test of former Cherries' player Matt Richie to clear him for action, Florian Lejeune and Ciaran Clark will miss out once again.
The clock is ticking on Bournemouth's status as an English top-flight club, and if there's any time they need to start getting results, it is now. However, with the absence of their top-scorer and the sheer lack of goals throughout their squad full-stop, I think Newcastle will likely ease past them and will continue to substantiate the likelihood of their Sky Bet Championship future.
Bournemouth 0-2 Newcastle
Match Preview written by Ethan Evans
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