Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil expects Leicester City to be “scrapping for everything” when the sides meet in a relegation six-pointer at the King Power Stadium this weekend. The Cherries joined City in the bottom three on goal difference, following their 2-0 defeat to Brighton in midweek. Bournemouth have been on a tough run of fixtures but have gained plenty of credit along the way, particularly in their displays against Arsenal and Liverpool.
Unlike the Foxes in recent weeks, O’Neil’s side have proven their ability to record important victories, winning three of their last six matches. However, the Bournemouth boss is preparing his side for a battle at the King power Stadium this weekend.
Gary O Neil said: “I think it’s the sixth game on the trot where we’ve played a team in the top 10 and we’ve had a right go in all of them, taken a decent amount of points and put ourselves in a decent position to have a right good crack at the last few games. The boys are positive, of course, whether you’re in the bottom three or not. “When you go through a run like that it’s possible not to pick up many points and we have. We’ve had a real good go, it doesn’t mean the next ones are going to be any easier. As I’m sure Brighton found, when you play teams that are down the bottom, they put up a real good fight. Going to Leicester will be tough, no doubt, they will be scrapping for everything.”
The Foxes will be hoping to find the catalyst against Bournemouth to help lift the team out of their current rut and kick-start a run of form to ensure Premier League survival. Adam Sadler and Mike Stowell are expected to still be in temporary charge at the weekend, having overseen Tuesday’s game against Aston Villa.