The 19th game of Bournemouth’s season sees them visit Stamford Bridge in poor form, with the first half of the season split into two halves.
The first part of the season saw Andoni Iraola’s side flying high, losing just once in the first nine games of the campaign, on the opening day at Liverpool.
But in the nine games since they have not tasted victory, and have picked up just four points, with Brentford condemning them to a poor defeat on Saturday at the Gtech Community Stadium.
_(Image: Steven Paston/PA Wire)_
The Daily Echo previews Tuesday’s game.
**Team news**
Iraola will be without long-term absentees Ben Gannon-Doak, Veljko Milosavljevic and Tyler Adams through injury, while Alex Scott faces an assessment before he is passed fit to play.
The Englishman picked up a knock at Brentford on his jaw, which he broke at the end of last season against Aston Villa.
For Enzo Marseca’s Chelsea, Levi Colwill, Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo are ruled out through injury.
**Head-to-head**
The Cherries will be hoping to collect their first victory over the Blues since 2019, although they did come close in this fixture last season.
Winning 2-1 as the game entered stoppage time, Reece James scored from a free kick to deny Bournemouth the three points at the Bridge.
_(Image: Steven Paston/PA Wire)_
The two sides have met already this season, just four games ago, and they played out a draw without score as the Cherries responded following a disappointing defeat to Everton at the beginning of the month.
But overall, Chelsea have the much better historical record in the fixtures between the two, although Iraola’s Bournemouth will be hoping a positive result can kickstart their form once again.
**Form**
As mentioned, the Cherries are in a particularly bad run of form at the moment.
They have not won since the end of October, a run which stretches to nine games, and they were particularly poor at the weekend against Brentford.
They fell to a 4-1 defeat at the Gtech Community Stadium, after a disappointing draw against Burnley followed more positive performances and results in draws with Chelsea and Manchester United.
_(Image: Steven Paston/PA Wire)_
But, with Tuesday’s game signalling the midway point in the season, Iraola’s side have one game to reach his target of 25 points at that stage, a goal he outlined last week.
Only a win will achieve that for the Cherries, against a Chelsea side which sits towards the top of the table.
But Maresca’s Blues have won just once in their past six games, drawing three and losing two, including last time out against Aston Villa on Saturday, when Unai Emery’s team came from a goal down to win 2-1 in London.
AFC Bournemouth visit Chelsea aiming to do as Villa did on Tuesday, December 30. Kick off is at 7.30pm.