The FA Cup fourth round gets underway at the Vitality Stadium on Thursday night as Premier League side Bournemouth play host to Championship outfit Swansea City.
While the Cherries came from two goals down at half time to beat Queens Park Rangers 3-2 in the third round earlier this month, the Swans secured a safe passage through to round four courtesy of a 2-0 home win over Morecambe.
Match preview
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Following their heroics at QPR to kick-start the New Year on a positive note, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola opted against taking his side abroad on a warm-weather training camp during a 15-day winter break, and instead gave his players a well-earned rest following a fine run of form in the final two months of 2023.
The Cherries entered Sunday's clash with Premier League leaders Liverpool in high spirits, but they crashed back down the earth after being thumped 4-0 by the Reds on home soil. Despite competing on level terms with Liverpool for much of the first half, two goals apiece from Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota after the interval condemned Iraola's men to their second successive league defeat.
Bournemouth remain in a respectable 12th place in the top-flight standings, though, and sit nine points clear of the relegation zone, while they are only four points behind Newcastle United in 10th heading into the second half of the campaign.
Before travelling to West Ham United for their next league fixture on February 1, Bournemouth must first shift their focus back to the FA Cup as they endeavour to advance to the fifth round for just the third time in the last 35 years.
The Cherries will be regarded as favourites to come out on top in Thursday's tie, but success is not a given as they have lost each of their last three FA Cup home matches, including their last two against lower-league opposition.
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Swansea were unable to extend their unbeaten run across all competitions to five matches as they were beaten 3-1 at home to high-flying Southampton in the Championship last weekend.
Che Adams and Will Smallbone put the Saints into a two-goal lead inside the first 20 minutes, before Jamie Paterson pulled one back for the Swans five minutes before the break, but birthday boy Flynn Downes netted against his former club on the stroke of half time to quickly restore Southampton's two-goal cushion.
Both Paterson and Jerry Yates hit the woodwork in the second half, and the Swans were left to rue a number of missed opportunities which allowed Southampton to hold on for maximum points on Russell Martin's first return to the Welsh club.
Luke Williams – who has seen his side slip to 16th in the Championship table, albeit still nine points clear of the drop zone – will be seeking a response from his players on Thursday after he was condemned to his first defeat as Swansea boss in just his third game in charge.
The likelihood of success against Bournemouth is slim, though, as Swansea have failed to win any of their last 12 meetings with the Cherries since a 4-1 away victory back in October 2007 when both teams were competing in League One; the Swans have also lost their last six FA Cup ties with Premier League opposition, conceding exactly three goals in five of those defeats.
Team News
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Bournemouth's Max Aarons pulled up with a hamstring injury in the closing stages of last weekend's defeat to Liverpool and the full-back joins Tyler Adams (thigh), Ryan Fredericks (calf), Milos Kerkez (ankle), Adam Smith (muscle) and Darren Randolph (illness) in the treatment room.
Antoine Semenyo and Dango Ouattara are also unavailable as they are away with Ghana and Burkina Faso respectively at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Emiliano Marcondes has joined Hibernian on loan, but Marcos Senesi is available to return from suspension.
Lloyd Kelly made his first appearance in nearly two months as a second-half substitute against Liverpool after recovering from a thigh injury, and the defender will be hoping to get more minutes under his belt on Thursday, while the likes of David Brooks, Alex Scott and Kieffer Moore will all be pushing to start.
As for Swansea, 17-year-old starlet Sam Parker missed last weekend's loss to Southampton with a hamstring injury and the midfielder is set to remain sidelined along with Josh Ginnelly (muscle), Liam Walsh (calf) and Josh Key (hamstring).
Ben Cabango has missed the last three games with an ankle injury, and although he is nearing a return, he is doubtful for Thursday, so Harry Darling, Nathan Wood and Bashir Humphreys are set to continue in the back three.
Joe Allen and Arsenal loanee Charlie Patino will both be pushing to start in centre-midfield, while attacking duo Yannick Bolasie and Yates will be hoping to force their way into the first XI, although Williams will likely stick with a front three of Paterson, Liam Cullen and former Bournemouth man Jamal Lowe.
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Travers; Hill, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kelly; Scott, Cook; Brooks, Billing, Sinisterra; Moore
Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Rushworth; Darling, Wood, Humphreys; Ashby, Patino, Grimes, Tymon; Paterson, Cullen; Lowe
We say: Bournemouth 3-1 Swansea City
Bournemouth were victories in their only previous FA Cup meeting with Swansea 24 years ago, and we expect the Cherries to come out on top once again on Thursday.
The visitors have the potential to frustrate the Cherries and cause problems on the counter-attack, but Iraola's men should ultimately have few problems claiming the win that they need to advance to the fifth round.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
