Meet the opposition | Bournemouth
As Swansea City get set to host Bournemouth at the Swansea.com Stadium on Tuesday night (7.45pm), we take a closer look at the Cherries.
What's their story?
The Cherries are in their second season in the Championship, after a five-year stint in the Premier League came to an end in 2020.
Enjoying their greatest period of success under Eddie Howe, the club rose from the bottom tier to the top-flight and finished 16th in their first season in the Premier League and went on to enjoy a best-ever league finish of ninth in the 2016-17 season.
Despite relegation, they retained a strong squad but missed out in the play-offs last term as Brentford beat them over two legs in the semi-finals.
How's their form?
Bournemouth’s form looks to be good enough to take them up. They have lost just two of their last 15 Championship games, and drew at leaders Fulham at the weekend.
While the Cherries have had a few stumbles over the course of the season, they have so far held their nerve and managed to keep their challengers at arm’s length down the final stretch.
It would take a late collapse to deny them a Premier League return although they do have a tricky run in.
Their away form has been excellent, with only Fulham collecting more points on their travels.
Who’s the boss?
Scott Parker. The former England international took over as Bournemouth boss last summer, after just over two years in charge of Fulham.
Ex-midfielder Parker is the only player to have played for five London clubs in the Premier League, and in total played for Charlton, Chelsea, Newcastle, West Ham, Tottenham and Fulham.
After his retirement, he started his coaching career with Tottenham’s under-18s before joining Fulham in the summer of 2018 as first-team coach under Slavisa Jokanovic.
Parker became caretaker boss following the dismissal of Claudio Ranieri in February 2019, and went on to be named permanent boss and led Fulham to promotion in 2020.
Who’s the captain?
Lloyd Kelly. The defender signed for Bournemouth in 2019 from Bristol City, and he has led the side for most of the season ahead of Steve Cook, who then left the Cherries for Nottingham Forest in January.
Kelly came through the ranks of the Robins academy, making his debut in August 2017 and going on to become a regular during an impressive 2018-19 campaign.
He signed a long-term deal with Bournemouth at the end of that season and has gone on to make just shy of 90 appearances for the club.
Confident at full-back or centre-back, Kelly has been a reliable and consistent performer on the south coast.
Who are the key men?
Striker Dominic Solanke has led the way for Bournemouth in attack and has 28 goals and six assists to his name in all competitions this season.
In midfield, Philip Billing has been in outstanding form and his box-to-box abilities have seen him rack up nine goals and seven assists and he is a key figure in making sure the Cherries tick.
The south coast club recruited heavily in January in their bid to seal promotion, including the likes of Nathaniel Phillips, Todd Cantwell, Siriki Dembele and Freddie Woodman.
They also have the vast experience of the likes of Gary Cahill and Robbie Brady to call upon.
