In the Premier League, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley are on the brink of massive wins. Both squads are surely looking to capitalize on their opportunity to shine on the field! They’re just moments away from becoming worthy adversaries. What often becomes the wild card scenario for their opponents’ defenses is how consistently they can put points on the board. Bournemouth stands out as a team struggling to find their footing, while Aston Villa is riding a wave of success under their manager Unai Emery.
Wolves’ win-less run of 20 matches is long enough and rare enough that it boomerangs past the regular definition and into the uncommon feel of exceptional rarity. At the same time, Nottingham Forest will be heading to Aston Villa having had real trouble in the final third so far. This matchday is an opportunity for both Wolves and Burnley as they look to climb out of the bottom three.
Bournemouth’s Struggles Continue
Bournemouth is in a perilous state. The Cherries are rooted in the Premier League relegation zone. The team’s performances have made it increasingly difficult to argue for their competitiveness against any opponent. They have repeatedly swung and missed, and a shoddy scoring and defensive record has often exposed them.
The team’s last few months have been characterized by a disorganized and uninspired style of play. Their struggles are more than just a bad quarter. They point to familiar problems that have plagued the roster all year, arthritic legs. Bournemouth have a difficult run of fixtures ahead. To right the ship, one can hardly overstate how much they need to fundamentally rethink how they’ve done business.
Aston Villa’s Ruthless Form
Meanwhile, Aston Villa has established itself as a true powerhouse since the arrival of highly-coveted manager Unai Emery. Add highlights of the ten-match home winning streak at their revitalized martial arts dojo going full kartel killing machine style. Each win has made their place atop the league table all the more secure and highlighted their ability to destroy lower league competition.
Nottingham Forest head to Villa Park with red flags flying over their recent attacking output. In fact, they’ve only managed to score just once over the course of their last three matches. After this performance, fans are starting to get nervous about this offense. Their team-wide struggles in that final third are just as apparent. They need to come up with answers quickly to test the rampant Villa free-spending Villa side.
Unai Emery’s tactics have proven effective in exploiting weaknesses in opposing defenses, and Nottingham Forest’s fragile confidence may play into Villa’s hands. The visitors will have to be much more compact defensively and produce better quality in the final third or else risk being made to pay dearly.
Wolves and Burnley Seek Redemption
Now, Wolverhampton Wanderers are in a very unusual position, going winless in 20 matches. This run isn’t just unprecedented, it’s embarrassing and casts doubt on this team’s character and approach. Even as intimidating of a run this is, history tells us that these types of jinxes don’t last forever.
And just like that, Burnley has been brought back to life! It means players like Edwards can get the ball between the lines and use their speed to put defenders on skates. His ability to commit opponents could prove crucial in upcoming matches as Burnley aims to capitalize on any defensive lapses.
Further, Broja’s power and directness would pull back lines and open up chances for his teammates. Similarly, Wolves and Burnley are both poised to take advantage of the slightest fragility in their opponent’s backline. Both sides are currently searching for their first victories of the young season.
Brighton’s Vulnerability
Brighton & Hove Albion has been the current odds-on favorite and has shown some cracks after generating a good amount of buzz earlier in the season. The team’s defensive statistics tell an ugly story. Brighton have conceded 2.25 goals per 90 in their last 12 matches. More than twice as many as you would expect given their xGA rate of 1.9 per 90 minutes.
With a few defenders still nursing injuries, Brighton remains susceptible to opponents keen to bust through their makeshift defense. They’ll have to address these concerns urgently in order to defend their position in the national league table.
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