Wolverhampton-Bournemouth Preview

Bournemouth made the surprise call to sack head coach Scott Parker on the eve of their Premier League clash against Wolves at the Vitality Stadium.

The Cherries beat Aston Villa 2-0 in their first game back in the top flight, though they have since lost successive games to Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.

Last week's 9-0 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool - a record-equalling loss in the competition - ultimately signaled the end for Parker, who had spent 13 months in charge.

Club co-owner Maxim Demin said: "In order for us to keep progressing as a team and a club, it is unconditional we are aligned in our strategy to run the club sustainably.

"We must show belief in and respect for one another. That is the approach that has brought this club so much success in recent history, and one that we will not veer from now."

Gary O'Neil will take interim charge of Bournemouth for the visit of Wolves and will be assisted by Shaun Cooper and Tommy Elphick.

Despite Bournemouth's poor run of form, in which they have conceded 16 times and failed to score in their past three outings, they are one point better off than Wolves.

Bruno Lage's men are stuck on two points from four games after being pegged back late on by Newcastle United last time out, but defender Rayan Ait-Nouri is remaining positive.

"This season has been a little bit complicated, but I think we can offer a good game to any team and I'm confident that we will do very well," Ait-Nouri said.

"We are a very optimistic team and I know that we are a very good team. Games are always complicated in the Premier League, but we are not showing any signs of weakness.

"This is only the beginning of the season and there are still a lot of games to play. I do feel very confident that we will succeed this season."

Bournemouth - Mark Travers

The 16 goals conceded by Bournemouth after four matches is the most by a side at this stage of an English top-flight campaign since 1963-64 (Arsenal, 16).

While goalkeeper Travers alone is not to blame for that terrible record, he will need to perform far better than he did in the recent heavy losses.

Wolves - Raul Jimenez

Jimenez has yet to score across two top-flight appearances this season, but this may just be the ideal fixture for the Mexico international to recapture his scoring form.

He has scored in all four of his Premier League meetings with Bournemouth - the best 100-per-cent scoring ratio of any player against a single opponent in the competition.

- Bournemouth have lost just one of their five home league games against Wolves (W2 D2), though it was their last such meeting in November 2019 (2-1).

- Wolves are unbeaten in all four of their Premier League meetings with Bournemouth (W3 D1), last losing against the Cherries in the 2014-15 Championship campaign.

- Wolves have lost just three of their last 22 Premier League games against promoted sides (W13 D6), with two of those three defeats coming in home games.

- Lage's side have picked up only one point in their past six away Premier League matches (D1 L5), losing their last three in a row. They last had a longer losing run on the road in the top flight between September and December 2011 (six in a row).

- Wolves have not lost their first three away Premier League matches in a season since 2003-04, when they went on to finish bottom. Indeed, they have been relegated in the last three campaigns when they have started with three away defeats (also 1983-84 and 1985-86).

Updated August 30, 2022