CHERRIES travel to Leicester City this weekend aiming to make it back-to-back wins ahead of the upcoming international break.

Their hosts will be keen to secure their first victory of the season, as they, like Southampton last week, come into the fixture without a win since returning to the Premier League.

But Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth will be hoping to keep them looking over their shoulder at the relegation zone, while it is an opportunity for Cherries to move into the top 10, if results go their way.

The Daily Echo previews this weekend’s clash at the King Power Stadium.

Team News

Cherries continue to be without Tyler Adams, who is recovering from surgery that took place over the summer, but Iraola said the American is ‘almost there’ for a return to the squad.

Beyond that, there is a clean bill of health for the Basque boss’s side, as they travel to the midlands in search of three points.

Steve Cooper will be without Jakub Stolarczyk and Patson Daka for the game, while midfielder Hamza Coudhury is also out, having dislocated his shoulder in training this week.

Jannik Vestergaard has also returned to the squad in training.

Head-to-Head

Across the past six league meetings between the two sides, Cherries have come out on top in four of the games, while Leicester have won two.

But last season, while Leicester were in the Championship, the Foxes beat Bournemouth 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium in the FA Cup.

Then managed by the now-Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, the teams played out a 0-0 draw over 90 minutes, before Abdul Fatawu broke the deadlock after 105 minutes.

(Image: Richard Crease) In the 2022/23 season, though, Cherries did the double over the Foxes, winning 2-1 at Dean Court and 1-0 away from home.

In the home fixture, Gary O’Neil’s Cherries came from behind with Philip Billing and Ryan Christie netting second half goals to secure the points, before Billing scored the only goal of the game at the King Power.

This was Christie’s most recent league goal for Bournemouth.

Last Time Out

Cherries won comfortably against Leicester’s fellow league strugglers Southampton on Monday night.

Three first half goals from Evanilson, Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo were enough for Bournemouth to cruise past their south coast neighbours, despite a second half goal from the visitors, which proved to be little more than a consolation.

Brazilian striker Evanilson’s strike was his first for the club since joining for a record fee in the summer.

(Image: Richard Crease)

Leicester meanwhile had a tough trip to title contenders Arsenal and were level at 2-2 at 90 minutes after being 2-0 down at halftime.

But an own goal from Wilfred Ndidi and a Kai Havertz strike in added time at the end of the 90 condemned the visitors to a 4-2 defeat at the Emirates.

The Foxes have picked up just three points so far this term, in draws against Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Crystal Palace, and they sit in 17th, one place above Palace in the relegation zone on goal difference.

Cooper’s side will be keen to pick up their first win of the season to lift them away from the relegation zone.

Bournemouth could move into the top 10 should they win or draw, if other results go their way, as they currently sit 11th on eight points.