At the start of the season, most observers believed that Cardiff City would be one of the teams making the drop down to Championship at the end of the year. The Bluebirds proved the doubters wrong early on in the campaign, but as the season has worn on, they are right where they feared they would be. Cardiff are currently in 18th place in the table and three points behind Southampton and Crystal Palace for safety. They are in desperate need of a win and will try to find one at home against AFC Bournemouth.
Don't miss the English Premier League action from Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, Wales at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 2, 2019. Catch every moment of the match live on NBC.
English Premier League Betting at BookMaker.eu
Check Back Later
Odds Analysis
The Cherries started the year strong, and some at Dean Court were beginning to whisper about the small club crashing the European party after being in the top six a quarter of the way through the season. However, Bournemouth had largely avoided the top teams to that point, and they quickly tumbled down the table when their schedule became more difficult. They have been a mid-table team since November, but they are starting to halt their slide. They have picked up wins over Brighton and West Ham and secured a draw against Watford in the last month. Coming into this tilt, they have lost seven straight road games though.
Cardiff City just can’t seem to score. Their 20 goals are the second-fewest in the Premier League, and that has kept them from picking up the wins they need. They have pitched four clean sheets in their last nine matches, but they are 2-2-5 because the Bluebirds have been forced to settle for a scoreless draw twice in that time.
These teams opened the season against one another. Bournemouth were able to secure a 2-0 win at home thanks to goals from Ryan Fraser and Callum Wilson, and Cardiff managed just one shot on goal in the loss.
Key Injuries
The good news for Cardiff is that they are very healthy as a whole. Center back Sean Morrison is the only player listed on the injury report after undergoing a procedure, but he may be able to return in time for this game. Getting their captain back right before a big match where they have a chance of securing a win would be huge.
The losses of Simon Francis and Lewis Cook have dealt Bournemouth a big blow. Francis and Cook had been two of the top performers on the team, and their absence has been felt. The Cherries will be about those two for the rest of the season, and they will not have Dominic Solanke for another three weeks either because of a thigh injury. However, they may have Callum Wilson available for this one after a knee injury that has kept him out for a bit.
Player to Watch
The tragic loss of record-signing Emiliano Sala has dealt Cardiff City a big blow. Cardiff have really struggled to score, and Sala was expected to light a fire under the team before his passing. Without him, Everton loanee Oumar Niasse is going to be the man up top for the Bluebirds, and he has shown promise in his two appearances. He is not yet fit enough to play the full 90 minutes, but he can create chances up top, and that’s more than most of Cardiff’s forwards have been able to do this year.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
I see this match ending in disappointment for both teams. Bournemouth’s subpar road performances keep me from calling for them to win, while Cardiff’s inability to do much up front is enough to back off of them. The draw is the best option here.
English Premier League Odds: Cardiff City 1, AFC Bournemouth 1
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
