Bournemouth vs Chelsea verdict, predicted score, key stats and suggested bets

Premier League, Saturday, May 6, Kick-off 3pm

Bournemouth 3-1 Chelsea

Over 2.5 goals

Bournemouth are unbeaten in three of their last four matches against Chelsea, winning twice.

Five of the six meetings between the sides at Vitality Stadium have featured at least three goals.

Chelsea have lost six consecutive matches. Defeat against Bournemouth would equal their worst-ever runs in the top division (1952 & 1960).

Chelsea have scored 13 goals in their last 20 league matches, their worst goalscoring run since the Premier League began.

Hamad Traore (ankle), Keiffer Moore (head) and Chris Mepham (thigh) are all well on the road to recovery and at least one of them has a chance of being fit for the visit of Chelsea.

Ryan Fredericks (calf), Junior Stanislas (groin) and Marcus Tavernier (thigh) are likely to miss out.

Armando Broja (knee), Kalidou Koulibaly (thigh), Mason Mount (groin), Marc Cucurella (thigh), Reece James (thigh) and Marcus Bettinelli are all expected to miss Saturday's match.

Bournemouth have flown up the Premier League table thanks to six wins in their last nine matches. Having called for Gary O'Neill's head not so long ago, Cherries fans will be thankful the club demonstrated patience.

Their 4-1 demolition of Leeds last weekend was their third win in five home matches having also beaten Fulham and Liverpool on either side of the international break.

Chelsea are a complete shambles at the moment. And we don't just mean the sort of shambles where the spoilt-rich club is in disarray because they're going to finish sixth instead of fourth.

The Blues have lost six consecutive games and haven't laid a glove on anyone in that run. Their only two wins in their last 15 outings, back-to-back wins over Leicester and Leeds, were relegation six-pointers in disguise.

Both of those games went their way in the second half despite a below-average performance in which their opponents created enough to take a point.

Only Leeds, Southampton and Everton are in worst form than Frank Lampard's side and given the meteoric rise of Bournemouth in recent weeks, Chelsea can be thankful they're not part of the relegation scrap.

Bournemouth averaged close to two goals per game in April and two goals is usually more than enough to put the blunt Blues to the sword.

Chelsea's tally of 13 goals in their last 20 league matches is their worst goalscoring run since the Premier League's inception. Since Lampard was appointed, Gallagher and Madueke are joint top scorers with one goal.

As much as this game could be about Chelsea's failings, we have to acknowledge how good Bournemouth have been in recent weeks. Their foot approach and high pressing is likely to cause Chelsea problems at the Vitality Stadium.

The visitors are severely lacking in confidence and Bournemouth's position makes this a free shot, while their current form makes it a very winnable fixture.

If the hosts can put Chelsea under pressure and get off to a positive start, then there's every chance they win this game. We think there's a touch of ignorance in the bookmakers' odds and Bournemouth are worth backing.