Wolves have been improving under Lopetegui and have also brought in a lot of new faces to improve the options and quality of the starting eleven and squad. On the face of it, their comeback win against 10 men Southampton last week was a perfect example of the new manager and new players doing the business. This week they’ll be looking to build on the win against Liverpool (3-0) and Southampton (2-1) against Bournemouth.
Digging a bit deeper though the win against Southampton was more to do with the Southampton players not playing for their manager and couldn’t keep the ball or put in any kind of decent defending against a side with ten players and with them at home. Wolves got two scrappy goals and managed to win. Today will be a different challenge for them.
Wolves have been quite solid defensively this season but in the past number of games are starting to concede more chances. They have averaged 14 shots conceded per game in the leageue this season. At home to West Ham (1-0 win) they conceded 16 shots, against Southampton 17 (albeit with 10 men), 13 against Man City (3-0 Loss) and 23 to Liverpool (3-0 win). That’s over 17 shots per game.
What is more, their defending against Southampton before and after the sending off was weak, with at least three weak clearances from crosses into the box, one of which lead to the goal (Dawson error) and others they got away with. And with so many new players it is going to take them time to adapt to the league, the manager and eachother. So I am more interested in Bourenmouth in this fixture and the idea that they might be value to turn them over.
Bournemouth have only averaged 8.5 shots per game in the league this season. Bournemouth too have added quality players in the January transfer window who are making an impact on their team, more so in the attacking sense. In the past three games where these players have started they have averaged 13 shots per game (Nottingham Forest 1-1, Brighton 1-0, Newcastle 1-1).
Solanke is also back in the starting line up last week against Newcastle and he had 5 shots in that game. He has now averaged nearly 3 shots at goal per game in his last seven games. New signing Traore is averaging 2.9 key passes per 90 which is helping creativity and Ouattara has also picked up two assists in his three appearances. Ouattara is also contributing to the attack with 1.38 key passes and 3.45 shots per 90. So I think Bournemouth are value in some of the markets today.
Bournemouth have averaged 17 shots conceded per game in the league this year and that has only marginally come down to under 17 in the past four games. So Wolves scoring at least once should be expected in this game also.
Tavernier is also back in the squad and means more competition upfront in the wide areas for Anthony and Ouattara.
Bets:
Solanke 2 shots on target, 4.9, €14
Ouattara 2 shots on target, 10.0, €14 (waiting for teamnews)
Bournemouth 2-0 HT, 42.0, €4
Bournemouth -1, 15.5, €4
Bournemouth Score 4 and Win, 85, €4