HALLOWEEN is upon us, with costumes and sweet set to be a plenty on Saturday, it is also a huge weekend for English football as teams meet across the pyramid.
However, will it be a trick or a treat for football fans?
AFC Bournemouth Host Leeds United
Back at home for a fourth time in 15 days, it’s been a busy period for Bournemouth. Nonetheless, a fabulous one for their German boss.
Beginning the season without a win in their opening six games, pressure began to ramp up on Marco Rose. However, since their disappointing 5-1 drumming against Chelsea, the Cherries have been near-perfect and firing.
Rose’s side come into the fixture against Leeds, with five straight wins, five straight clean sheets, and 14 goals scored. Bournemouth also secured wins over AC Milan and Manchester United in that time.
On the other hand, Leeds come into the game without a win in four games as Daniel Farke’s side have slipped down to 7th in the Premier League table.
Summer signing for the Whites, Harry Wilson, will be hoping that his early season luck will change against his former club – the Welshman currently without a goal or assist for his new club.
Leeds have won one of their last four visits to the Vitality Stadium, and with the Cherries’ current form, it could be a tough afternoon for Farke’s men.
Southampton Welcome In-form Queens Park Rangers
Since the conclusion of the Spy-Gate saga and South Coast derby, it has been full steam ahead for Southampton as they currently sit 6th in the Championship table.
Unbeaten in their last four, with three wins amongst that run, Saints are coming into the clash with the Rangers off the back of a superb 3-2 away win against West Ham.
However, Tonda Eckert’s side could be without top goalscorer Cyle Larin, who is yet to return from an injury that he picked up against Bolton.
The visitors, QPR, also go into the fixture at the top of their game as the London side have netted nine goals in their last three games.
Richard Kone is the man to watch for the R’s having scored a hat-trick in their previous game against Swansea.
With two of the division’s top scorers meeting at St. Mary’s, one thing that will be guaranteed for this clash is goals.
A Tricky Trip to The Turf for Portsmouth
Since derby day defeat to Southampton, John Mousinho has had the perfect response from his players with his Portsmouth side winning three of their last four matches.
Pompey recorded impressive wins against Sheffield United, Norwich, and Millwall, while also drawing late on away against Wolves.
Sat two points behind the Championship’s playoff spots, Portsmouth will go into the weekend full of confidence. However, they haven’t beaten this weekend’s opponents, Burnley, since a 1-0 victory in 2011.
The tie’s home side, Burnley, have had an awful start to the Championship season as they sit in 22nd.
Now looking to start a new era and re-ignite their season, Celestini will want to make the perfect start to life at Turf Moor with a second victory of the season.
