Bournemouth v Huddersfield preview: Joshua King faces late fitness test

Bournemouth and Huddersfield meet for the first time in the top-flight on Saturday, which will be the 847th different Premier League fixture.

Bournemouth have endured a stuttering start to the season with only Swansea (3) taking fewer points at home in the Premier League.

However, Eddie Howe's side have won two of their last three fixtures, including a much needed 1-0 triumph at Newcastle in the last round of fixtures.

Huddersfield, who are six points off the relegation zone, have also won two of their last three fixtures but are without a win or a goal in their last four away league matches.

This match will be David Wagner's 100th game in charge of Huddersfield as he takes on Howe for the first time in his career.

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Team news

Bournemouth will make a late fitness call on Joshua King because of a back problem.

Midfielder Junior Stanislas remains sidelined by a groin problem. Striker Benik Afobe, though, is back in contention after recovering from a thigh strain picked up before the international break.

Defenders Brad Smith (hip) and Tyrone Mings (back) continue their rehabilitation.

Martin Cranie will start for Huddersfield Town for the first time in the Premier League since 2007 when he appeared for Portsmouth against Manchester United.

The 31-year-old replaces the suspended Christopher Schindler.

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Opta stats

• Bournemouth haven't lost a home league match against Huddersfield since August 2007 when the sides were in League One, winning two and drawing three since (including play-offs).
• The Terriers have won just one of their last 10 meetings in all competitions with Bournemouth (D5 L4), a 5-1 victory in the Championship in August 2013.
• This will be the 847th different Premier League meeting, and 1423rd in the top-flight overall.
• In fact, this match will see Bournemouth and Huddersfield become the 94th different set of teams to have faced each other in all four tiers of English league football.
• Just 40% of Bournemouth's Premier League points this season have come in home games (4/10) - only Swansea (37.5%) and Watford (33.3%) have picked up a lower ratio at home.
• Bournemouth have never lost a Premier League home game against a newly-promoted side (W5 D1), winning the last five in a row by an aggregate score of 17-3.

Paul Merson's prediction

I am going to go Bournemouth here, I thought they played really well at Newcastle. I was really impressed with them and thought they made some good chances, they just picked the wrong pass at the wrong time or the passing just was not good enough at the death.

I think (Jermain) Defoe will play in this game, he looked lively when he came on and for me, he has to play in this game. Huddersfield just do not look like scoring many goals, so I am going to go for Bournemouth.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 13/2)

Betting

Bournemouth are favourites for this clash, priced at 4/5 by Sky Bet, with a Huddersfield win coming at 18/5 while the draw is 12/5. Jermain Defoe, Joshua King and Callum Wilson are all 4/1 to open the scoring for the home side, with Steve Mounie 6/1 to give the Terriers the lead.

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