Premier League | Gameweek 29

Mar 15, 2025 at 5.30pm UK

Vitality Stadium

Bournemouth vs Brentford

Match preview

Still basking in the glow of reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, Bournemouth were also on course for Premier League redemption when Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson put the Cherries two goals up at Tottenham Hotspur.

A Pape Sarr strike and a Son Heung-min penalty later, however, saw Andoni Iraola's men drop two more points in the fierce battle for Champions League football, where they have fallen off the pace following a disappointing three-game winless streak.

Taking just one point from nine in that time has seen Bournemouth slip to ninth in the Premier League table, but such is the crowded nature of the top half that Iraola's side are still only five points behind Chelsea in fourth.

Of course, a strong UEFA coefficient could also see fifth place guarantee UCL football next season, but the Cherries are not the eye-catching force they once were; after going 11 top-flight games without defeat between 30 November and 25 January, they have now lost three of their last five.

In fact, only Southampton, Ipswich Town and Leicester City - the bottom three - have taken fewer points than Bournemouth's four since the start of February, and the hosts could now go three consecutive Premier League home games without scoring for the first time in their history.

Bournemouth's bid to avoid this unwanted chapter in the club's history will not be helped by Brentford's recent unexpected revival on the road, but the Bees' impressive away form has come at a considerable cost at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Once the most feared team in the country on their own patch, Thomas Frank's men have now gone eight games without a win on home soil following last week's defeat to Villa, in which Ollie Watkins inevitably scored the only goal against his former club.

With Bournemouth struggling to prove their continental credentials, the European adventure will have to be put on hold for Saturday's visitors, who have slipped to 12th in the table, eight points adrift of seventh-placed Brighton & Hove Albion.

For all Brentford's recent misery at home, they have remarkably won each of their last four Premier League games away from home; the last time they won five consecutive league games away from home was as a League One side in 2010-11.

In the autumn, when Brentford's home form was at its best, Frank masterminded a 3-2 win over Bournemouth to extend their unbeaten run to eight league games against the Cherries, who have never played a Premier League side longer without a win than the Bees; coincidentally, Brentford have never played a Premier League side longer without a defeat.

Recent Performance

Bournemouth Premier League form:WLWLLD

Bournemouth form (all competitions):WWLLWD

Brentford Premier League form:WLWWDL

Team News

Injury added insult to injury for Bournemouth against Tottenham last weekend, as Ryan Christie - who has been battling a chronic groin injury - was unable to play the full 90 minutes, while Antoine Semenyo was also forced off in the closing stages.

However, early indications are that the latter was simply suffering from cramp and will not join Enes Unal (knee), Marcos Senesi (thigh), Adam Smith (calf) and Julian Araujo (thigh) on the sidelines this weekend.

On the bright side, defensive rock Ilya Zabarnyi is available after serving a three-match ban, meaning James Hill could move to right-back while Lewis Cook replaces Christie in midfield.

For Brentford, Frank has confirmed that Sepp van den Berg is on track to return from a knee problem in time for the weekend, but Michael Kayode (undisclosed) is unlikely to feature.

None of the Bees' other long-term injury victims will return to action as Gustavo Nunes (back), Josh Dasilva (knee), Aaron Hickey (fitness), Rico Henry (thigh) and Igor Thiago (knee) remain sidelined, with Fabio Carvalho, who recently dislocated his shoulder, joining them on the sidelines.

Despite last week's disappointment, Frank may decide to stick with the same line-up, with Yoane Wissa chasing two goals that would take him to 50 Premier League direct contributions, with 39 goals and nine assists to his name.

Possible starting lineup

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:

Kepa; Hill, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Cook, Adams; Semenyo, Kluivert, Tavernier; Evanilson

Brentford possible starting lineup:

Flekken; Ajer, Collins, Pinnock, Lewis-Potter; Janelt, Norgaard; Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Schade; Wissa