By Isaac Mission
Bournemouth will be looking to turn their recent cup success into a first Premier League victory of the season when they welcome Brentford this weekend.
Marco Rose finally celebrated his first win since taking charge as Bournemouth manager after his side cruised past Lincoln City 4-0 in the EFL Cup. That result provided a much-needed boost after a frustrating opening to their league campaign, where promising positions have repeatedly failed to produce maximum points.
Brentford, meanwhile, remain unbeaten in the Premier League. However, Keith Andrews' side also have reason to feel disappointed after surrendering a lead in their latest outing against Sunderland, eventually drawing 1-1 following a late penalty.
The two teams therefore enter the contest with contrasting momentum. Bournemouth have the confidence of a convincing cup victory, while Brentford have demonstrated greater consistency in the league.
Bournemouth seeking a breakthrough
Bournemouth's opening three Premier League fixtures have followed a frustrating pattern. They have taken the lead in each of those matches but have been unable to convert those advantages into victories.
Their record currently stands at one defeat and two draws, making Saturday's encounter an important opportunity for Rose to finally deliver a league victory.
The 4-0 triumph over Lincoln showed the attacking potential available to the Bournemouth boss. The challenge now is reproducing that intensity against a Brentford side that is far more experienced at managing Premier League games.
A victory would give Bournemouth considerably more confidence and provide evidence that Rose's ideas are beginning to translate into league results.
Brentford arrive with the stronger league record
Brentford have enjoyed a much steadier beginning to the campaign and currently sit fifth in the Premier League table.
The Bees are yet to lose and remain within touching distance of the early Champions League places. A victory at Bournemouth could potentially take them as high as third.
Their latest 1-1 draw with Sunderland was frustrating because they had been in a winning position, but the overall picture remains positive for Andrews.
However, Brentford will have to cope with several absences. Nathan Collins, Sepp van den Berg, Mathias Jensen, Joshua Dasilva and Benjamin Fredrick are among those unavailable, reducing the manager's options.
Expected Bournemouth lineup
Bournemouth are expected to retain their 4-2-3-1 formation.
Djordje Petrovic should continue in goal, with Adam Smith and Adrien Truffert operating at full-back. Antonio Silva is expected to partner James Hill in central defence.
Alex Scott and Lewis Cook are likely to continue as the midfield pairing. Ryan Christie could provide another option after scoring a hat-trick against Lincoln, but Rose may prefer to maintain the balance provided by Scott and Cook.
Justin Kluivert should operate behind Evanilson, while Marcus Tavernier and Rayan are expected to provide width.
Evanilson has yet to score despite contributing two assists, but his movement and involvement remain important to Bournemouth's attacking structure.
Probable Bournemouth XI: Petrovic; Smith, Hill, Silva, Truffert; Cook, Scott; Rayan, Kluivert, Tavernier; Evanilson.
Expected Brentford lineup
Brentford are also expected to use a 4-2-3-1 system.
Caoimhin Kelleher should start in goal, with Michael Kayode and Keane Lewis-Potter occupying the full-back positions.
Kristoffer Ajer is expected to continue in central defence, with Jannik Schuster likely to replace the unavailable Nathan Collins.
Vitaly Janelt and Mamadou Sangare should provide the midfield base, while Mikkel Damsgaard operates in the attacking midfield position.
Kevin Schade and Dango Ouattara are expected to support Igor Thiago from the flanks, with Thiago leading the line.
Probable Brentford XI: Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Schuster, Lewis-Potter; Janelt, Sangare; Ouattara, Damsgaard, Schade; Thiago.
Tactical battle
Although both sides are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1, their approaches could be quite different.
Bournemouth are likely to be more aggressive, using their wide players and long distribution to push Brentford backwards. Their average of 58 long balls per match is significantly above the league average of 49, suggesting Rose is comfortable using a more direct route when necessary.
Brentford, by comparison, average 47 long balls per game. Their approach is expected to be more controlled, with the midfield duo of Janelt and Sangare providing protection while Damsgaard searches for opportunities between the lines.
Possession is unlikely to tell the entire story. Bournemouth have averaged around 43% possession, while Brentford are slightly higher at 49%.
One of Brentford's biggest weapons could come from set pieces. They have produced an impressive 0.727 expected goals per match from dead-ball situations, well above the league average. That could prove particularly valuable if Bournemouth succeed in restricting open-play opportunities.
Key battle: Tavernier vs Kayode
The duel between Marcus Tavernier and Michael Kayode could have a major influence on the match.
Tavernier has already emerged as one of Bournemouth's most dangerous attacking outlets, scoring twice and creating four key chances. If he can consistently beat Kayode or force Brentford's midfield to provide additional cover, Bournemouth could create openings on that side.
Truffert's positioning will also be important. He will need to support Tavernier without leaving too much space for Kevin Schade to exploit.
If Kayode successfully limits Tavernier's influence, Brentford could maintain their defensive shape and force Bournemouth to look for alternatives.
Evanilson faces a physical test
Another important contest will take place in the centre, where Evanilson is expected to battle Kristoffer Ajer.
Bournemouth do not necessarily need Evanilson to score to benefit from his presence. His ability to occupy the centre-backs and create room for Kluivert, Tavernier and Rayan could be equally significant.
Ajer's task will be to prevent the Bournemouth striker from gaining that influence while ensuring Brentford remain connected between defence and midfield.
If Bournemouth struggle to make progress through the wide areas, Rose could respond by moving from the 4-2-3-1 into a more attacking 4-2-2-2 system, giving Evanilson a closer partner.
Brentford could make a similar adjustment by switching to 4-4-2, although doing so would remove some of the creativity Damsgaard provides between the lines.
Prediction
This looks like a closely fought encounter, with neither side possessing an overwhelming advantage.
Brentford's unbeaten league record and stronger attacking numbers make them the more reliable team on paper. They have averaged 2.40 expected goals across their last three matches, compared with 1.54 for Bournemouth.
However, Bournemouth's home advantage and the confidence generated by their 4-0 cup victory cannot be ignored.
The hosts have also shown enough attacking quality to cause problems for Brentford, particularly if Tavernier and Evanilson can find space around the visiting defence.
Brentford's biggest concern is that their attacking output has not always been matched by finishing. They have underperformed their expected goals tally this season, leaving the door open for Bournemouth to claim something from the game.
The safest expectation is therefore a competitive contest in which both teams have opportunities.
Prediction: Bournemouth 1-1 Brentford
Other possible outcomes include 2-2 or a narrow 1-2 Brentford victory.
A draw appears to be the most balanced prediction, although Brentford's greater consistency means an away win would not be surprising.
The decisive moment could ultimately come from a late tactical change. Rose may need to sacrifice some midfield protection to add another attacker, while Andrews could introduce a second striker if Brentford sense an opportunity to punish Bournemouth's defence.
With both teams capable of creating chances but neither completely convincing defensively, this has the ingredients of an entertaining Premier League contest.