Having demonstrated respectable performances in their own leagues this season, Bournemouth and West Brom go head-to-head to play the single-legged third round of the F.A. Cup tie at the Vitality Stadium this weekend.

This Saturday’s meeting between the two sides will be their first encounter since January 1999, when an Eddie Howe goal steered Bournemouth to a 1-0 victory. The Cherries are a different team altogether this season as they currently sit 7th in the Premier League standings with 33 points from 20 matches.

Andoni Iraola’s men are unbeaten in their previous five games. While they drew against West Ham, Crystal Palace and Fulham, victories over Manchester United and Everton have strengthened their run for a European spot.

Bournemouth will face a fifth straight Championship opposition in the tournament as they defeated QPR and Swansea City in rounds three and four before falling to Leicester City last year. They were thwarted by Burnley in January 2023 to a 4-2 defeat in the third-round tie.

West Brom approach this match on the back of a 1-1 stalemate with Swansea. The visitors that day were on course to victory as Tom Fellow’s second-half strike gave them the potential decider but the Welsh team surged late in the game as Joe Allen’s added-time goal made them share points.

The Baggies could not find a response to their defeat to Derby County against Sheffield United but were back with a bang with a thrilling win over Preston North End. Josh Maja’s brace and Callum Styles’s strike were enough to render Ryan Ledson’s 70th-minute redundant as West Brom marched to the three points.

West Brom have failed to register a single win in each of their last five away fixtures against Bournemouth across all competitions but they could end that rut this weekend.

Results from their last five matches across all competitions

Bournemouth:

W D D W D

West Brom:

D W D L W

Team News

Mark Travers is set to start in goal for Bournemouth as Kepa Arrizabalaga is in Spain for the birth of his twins.

Milos Kerkez, Illia Zabarnyi and Dean Huijsen are expected to be rested. Justin Kluivert is set to start after returning from suspension.

As for West Brom, Semi Ajayi and Daryl Dikes are out of action.

Predicted XIs

Bournemouth: Travers; Ouattara, Hill, Kinsey, Aarons; Cook, Adams; Kluivert, Billing, Brooks; Jebbison.

West Brom: Palmer; Furlong, Holgate, Hegger, Styles; Molumby, Diakite; Wallace, Grant, Johnstone; Maja