2021-22 EFL Championship Betting Preview – Bournemouth

Bournemouth 2021-22 betting odds & predictions

David Brooks / Bournemouth ©IMAGO / Sports Press Photo 07/28/2021

Bournemouth 2021-22 EFL Championship Preview
Can Parker take Cherries up?

In their first season back in the EFL Championship following Premier League relegation, Bournemouth finished in sixth spot and secured a play-off place. With new man Scott Parker in the dugout, the Cherries will be gunning for automatic promotion this time around.

Parker did a fine job during his time at Craven Cottage, guiding the London outfit to Championship promotion at the end of the 2019-20 season. Can he do the same with a talented Bournemouth outfit? We have the latest and greatest 2021-22 Championship odds and predictions in our in-depth Bournemouth betting preview.

Premier League Bets at Paddy Power

 

2020-21 Review: Cherries reach top six

Bournemouth made a solid start to their 2020-21 Championship campaign under Jason Tindall, who took over from long-serving Eddie Howe. The Dorset club kicked off their season with a nine-game unbeaten run in the league, winning four and drawing five. They suffered their first defeat on 3rd November, losing 1-0 at Sheffield Wednesday, but bounced back with three wins and a draw from their next four.

After suffering a shock home reverse to Preston North End at the start of December, Bournemouth hit back with three wins and two draws from five. They ended the year in fourth position, losing to Brentford in their final match of 2020, which saw them drop from second to fourth.

Our betting prediction:
Bournemouth to beat West Brom
13/10

Bet at Paddy Power

 

(odds taken 1634 GMT, Friday 30 July)

 
Bournemouth started 2021 with a win at Stoke City, but that was about as good as it got for Tindall, as the club went on to take just one point from the next 15 on offer. Tindall, who had been at the club for 22 years, was sacked and replaced by Jonathan Woodgate. The new boss started with wins over Birmingham City and Rotherham United, and a draw with Nottingham Forest in his first three.

After poor back-to-back defeats to Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff City, which saw the Cherries slip out of the top six, they struck back in tremendous style to put themselves back in the promotion picture. Bournemouth won nine of the next 11, including seven victories in a row. They ended the regular season with three straight defeats but were safely in the play-offs.

The club from the Vitality Stadium faced play-off favourites Brentford in the semi-finals. An Arnaut Danjuma goal was enough to give Woodgate’s team a 1-0 home victory. However, despite taking an early lead at the Brentford Community Stadium, the Bees would go on to beat ten-man Bournemouth 3-1 in the second leg and go through to the final with a 3-2 aggregate win. Woodgate left the club in late June.

Our betting prediction:
Bournemouth to finish in the top six
6/4

Bet at 22Bet

 

(odds taken 1656 GMT, Friday 30 July)

 

 

2021-22 Fixtures: Bournemouth kick off league season against Baggies

Bournemouth’s season starts before most clubs as they entertain MK Dons in the first round of the Carabao Cup. A week later, the Cherries kick off the new Championship season on the Friday night when West Bromwich Albion visit the Vitality Stadium. The two clubs are among the favourites for promotion.

Bournemouth then face Nottingham Forest and Birmingham on the road. The month of August ends with a home match with Blackpool and a trip to Hull City – both clubs were promoted from EFL League One last term.

December looks a tough month on paper, with the Cherries facing Fulham, Middlesbrough and Cardiff City. They start 2022 with a home matchup against Peterborough United on New Year’s Day.

In an extremely busy February, Bournemouth have six Championship fixtures, taking on the likes of West Brom, Swansea City and Stoke. Their league season will end in early May with a home game against Millwall.

Bournemouth Key Facts

  • Bournemouth were Championship champions back in the 2014-15 season
  • The Cherries were losing play-off semi-finalists last term
  • After winning promotion in 2015, the Dorset outfit spent five years in the top flight
  • The club’s highest ever finish was ninth in the Premier League in the 2016-17 season

 

Bournemouth Transfer News: Marcondes moves to the Vitality

Jack Wilshere was released in the summer, while Asmir Begovic joined Premier League club Everton. Nnamdi Ofoborh has moved to Scotland to join Scottish Premiership champions Rangers, and Diego Rico has signed for Spanish outfit Real Sociedad.

In the other direction, Bournemouth’s best of business is the capture of Emiliano Marcondes, who joined on a free from Premier League new boys Brentford. Marcondes was a favourite in west London, and the 26-year-old netted in the Bees’ Championship play-off final victory over Swansea in May. Leif Davis has also joined on loan from Leeds United.

Who Are Bournemouth Biggest Challengers: Will Parker’s boys be in the mix?

The race for Championship promotion could go to the wire this season. With the finances tight at present, the gap in quality from top to bottom might have closed slightly. Even the three promoted clubs from League One will fancy their chances of gate-crashing the play-off party.

On paper, Bournemouth should be in the mix for promotion this season. At this moment in time, only Fulham, West Brom and Sheffield United, who were all relegated from the Premier League last term, are available at shorter odds for promotion. Those three could be their closest challengers this season.

Fulham Preview: Instant return for Cottagers?

Marco Silva’s Fulham are the bookies’ favourites to win this season’s Championship. However, with so many top teams in the second tier this year, the title race will no doubt be as captivating as ever, and the Whites may not have it all their own way.

Silva has made some shrewd signings, and the Cottagers’ team looks as strong as anyone’s in the Championship. After suffering relegation from the Premier League last term, can Fulham bounce back at the first time of asking?

West Bromwich Albion Preview: Can Baggies recover from poor PL campaign?

Valerien Ismael is the new man at the helm at The Hawthorns after West Brom’s relegation from the Premier League. Ismael did a remarkable job at Barnsley last season, fully warranting his big move to the Midlands. The Frenchman will be hoping to hit the ground running at The Hawthorns.

Several players have left the club in the summer months, including Kieran Gibbs, Hal Robson-Kanu and Branislav Ivanovic. Can Ismael build a team capable of challenging for the Championship title this season?

Sheffield United Preview: Blades to bounce back?

Sheffield United will need to rebuild after a dreadful campaign in the Premier League last season. Chris Wilder worked wonders at Bramall Lane during his time there, guiding his beloved Blades to the promised land against all odds.

Slavisa Jokanovic is the new man in charge in the red half of the Steel City. Jokanovic took Fulham up via the play-offs in 2018 as well as winning promotion with Watford back in 2015. Can he take Sheffield United back to the Premier League after one year away?

Cardiff City Preview: Bluebirds to build under Big Mick?

Mick McCarthy’s Cardiff could be the dark horse in the race for promotion this season. The ex-Republic of Ireland boss did an outstanding job in Wales after arriving last January, taking the Bluebirds from 15th to eighth. City even had a spell in the play-off places.

Cardiff have added to their squad in the summer with some sensible signings, and Wales star Kieffer Moore will be raring to go again after an excellent first season at the Cardiff City Stadium. Keep your eye on the Bluebirds this year.

Swansea City Preview: How will Swans fare after Cooper?

At the time of writing, Swansea are still looking for a new manager after the shock departure of Steve Cooper. The Welshman did an excellent job at the Liberty Stadium, guiding the Swans to the play-offs two years in a row.

It will be difficult to predict how life will be for Swansea after Cooper, but they still have a talented squad. At Paddy Power at present, only Fulham, Sheffield United, West Brom and Bournemouth are available at shorter odds to be promoted.

Bournemouth players to watch out for in the 2021-22 season: Will Danjuma shine again?

Bournemouth still have a supremely talented squad of players, with many of them sticking around from their Premier League days. One man to watch out for is Danjuma, who moved to Bournemouth for a £13.7m fee from Club Brugge in August 2019.

The Nigerian-born Holland international scored 17 goals in all competitions last term. Danjuma is currently priced at 50/1 to be top scorer in the Championship this season, odds that could be worth having a punt on.

Our Bournemouth Predictions: Play-offs again?

Finishing in the top two could take some doing, but Parker and his troops will be eyeing up a play-off spot at the very least. Last term was a struggle at times, but Bournemouth still made the play-offs in a turbulent year.

We are backing the Cherries to finish in the top six in this season’s Championship, which is nicely priced at 6/4 with Paddy Power. However, for those brave Bournemouth fans out there, your club are available at 11/2 to finish in the automatic spots.

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