Bournemouth vs Fulham Prediction and Betting Tips: Back Solanke to score on the south coast

Fulham travel to the south coast to take on Bournemouth on Boxing Day with the game kicking off at 3pm. We’ve asked our man Anthony Eadson to provide us with his best bets, which weigh in at 2/1 and 11/2. 

The Cherries sit in 12th place in the top-flight table on 22 points after 17 matches. Andoni Iraola’s side came out 3-2 winners at The City Ground against Nottingham Forest on their most recent outing, thanks to a hat-trick from Dominic Solanke, which extended their unbeaten streak to six (W5 D1 L0).

Fulham find themselves just one place behind Tuesday’s opponents in 13th. After winning back-to-back matches 5-0 against Nottingham Forest and West Ha, Fulham have since suffered consecutive defeats to Nil against Newcastle and Burnley.

For my main play I’m getting behind Dominic Solanke to get on the scoresheet anytime in the match at 2/1. Bet365 are a standout top-price on the Bournemouth talisman scoring, with other betting sites such as Sky Bet going considerably shorter at just 5/4. 

I’ve been really impressed with Solanke this season and he now has 11 league goals in just 17 appearances. Only Erling Haaland and Mo Salah have bagged more this campaign and I fancy him to continue his purple patch against a side he often performs well against. Solanke has scored in each of his last four league appearances against The Cottagers and only against Huddersfield Town (6) has he netted more goals in his league career.

Andoni Iraola is giving Bournemouth a real identity with his brand of attacking football and his side have now won five of their last six. The only blemish on that record was a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa where Unai Emery’s men scored a late equaliser. The Cherries have recorded victories against Newcastle, Manchester United, Sheffield United, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest in that period and I’m backing them to get the better of Fulham here on Boxing Day.

I’ll be combining Bournemouth to win with a card for Joao Palhinha which takes us up to 11/2 via the bet365 Bet Builder feature. The midfielder was shown the most yellow cards of any player in the league last season (14), and is well on his way to matching that tally once again already having racked up eight 15 appearances. Palhinha once again leads the way for yellows shown in the top-flight this term and it would be no surprise to see him collect his ninth booking against Bournemouth.