- Bournemouth U21 have scored six goals and conceded five in PL2 this season, indicating an open game.
- Stoke City U21 have scored six and conceded three, suggesting a more solid shape in PL2.
- Bournemouth U21 are the league's early pace setters with six points from three matches, while Stoke City U21 have four points from three matches.
Promising pair meet at The Wyatt Homes Stadium
Bournemouth U21 and Stoke City U21 will go toe-to-toe at The Wyatt Homes Stadium, England, on Monday in what could be an absorbing Premier League 2 - Division 1 encounter between two young sides that will likely feature prominently in the division in the coming months.
Bournemouth U21 have made the brightest start to the new PL2 season with six points from their opening three matches, although one of those came in a home 2-1 win over Chelsea U21 and another in a 3-1 success over Middlesbrough U21. The Cherries have already lost one, 3-1 away to Southampton U21, so they could be open to a quick counter at home to a team that can run.
Stoke City U21 have had a more mixed start to the PL2 campaign after losing 2-3 to Brentford, being held by Norwich City 0-0 and then thrashing Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0, so they've proven that they can turn it on in a flash.
Cherries can nick it, but Stoke will be in the mix
Bournemouth U21 come into this one as the favorite in the match result market at 31/50, while Stoke City U21 are 31/10 and the draw is 16/5, so the market clearly expects a tight home lean in this encounter.
We think that the Cherries are in with the best chance of winning, but the odds and the two young teams' early season performances suggest this will be a close encounter rather than a runaway.
Expect plenty of goals at both ends
Alan Connell's Cherries have been setting up in a possession-heavy, high-pressing style this season with plenty of verticality, so they should look to press Stoke deep in this one and get in behind them early on. Ethan Sills is the main creative spark in the centre of the park, but Dane Ndimukum adds goal threat and tempo from the midfield third.
In contrast, Sam Stockley's Potters have been a little more compact, sitting deeper, getting forward quickly on transitions and being a threat from set pieces. Bournemouth U21 have been an open side this term, scoring six and conceding five, so over 2.5 goals at 19/50 and both teams to score at 2/5 are our fancy in the goal markets.
Adriel Walker could be the spark for Stoke City U21 after his goal and assist in the 4-0 win over Wolves, but The Potters have real finishers in Ato Ampah and Tyler Martin that could punish Bournemouth U21 at the other end. Caleb Clothier's clean sheet against Wolves was no fluke, he's a real defender and Stoke City U21 can be a solid unit when set up well.
Malcom DaCosta, Jonny Day and Ben Winterburn have all been regular attackers for Bournemouth U21 this term and they will keep the front end lively for The Cherries.
