Chelsea won’t have it easy, warns Bournemouth boss

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe says disrupting Chelsea’s rhythm from kick-off will be the key to beating them on Saturday.

The newly-promoted Cherries will pull level on points with last season’s Premier League champions if they win at the Vitality Stadium.

Bournemouth beat the Blues 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in December, shortly before Jose Mourinho was sacked as Chelsea manager, and Howe is keen to repeat the trick.

He said: “One of our motivations this weekend is to try and pull level with them, if we possibly can.

“The top teams can turn it on and it’s all about the early stages of the game, making sure we don’t let them think they’re going to have an easy afternoon.”

Howe hinted striker Callum Wilson will probably not be risked from the start, having made a couple of brief substitute appearances following six months out with a serious knee injury.

He said: “The most important thing for him at this moment in time is he stays fit and is able to train – then we’ll build his minutes up.”

Former Arsenal striker Benik Afobe, who has not featured since mid-March, had made good progress from a hamstring injury while winger Junior Stanislas is fully fit.

Defender Adam Smith is nursing a groin problem, and midfielder Harry Arter remains sidelined with an Achilles injury.