Isidor has been posting strong shot numbers for Sunderland so far this season. The Sunderland front man has 25 shots across 740 minutes of Premier League football, giving him an average of 3.04 shots per 90. 

Sunderland have been looking a bit more progressive in home matches, more prepared to impose themselves upon the game. It’s no surprise that 16 out of Isidor’s 25 shots have come in home matches; it’s therefore pretty easy to infer that he’s averaging around 4+ shots per 90 at the Stadium Of Light. These averages bode very well for the selection. 

Opposition strikers seem to be getting a large number of shots against Bournemouth at present. During their last five games, opposition strikers have averaged 4.6 shots per game. Stylistically speaking, there’s clearly a tendency for Bournemouth to defend in a way that gives opposition strikers the opportunities to get into shooting positions regularly.

While Bournemouth were keeping a good amount of clean sheets at the start of the season, these numbers have subsequently regressed. The visitors have now conceded a goal in six out of their last seven games. However, finding the net hasn’t proved to be much of an issue, with Bournemouth scoring a goal in six out of their last seven games. Bournemouth have only failed to score a goal on three occasions this season.

As previously touched upon, Sunderland have been a more progressive side at home, and this has shown in the numbers. The hosts have scored in every single home match this season, managing a very respectable 11 goals in six games. The hosts also managed to score two against Arsenal, which is a fantastic effort given Arsenal’s imperious defensive capabilities. 

While Bournemouth have admittedly played some tough away games this season, they have conceded 16 goals in six away games, the second most in the league. However, Bournemouth have still managed to score nine goals in these away games. The goal patterns point towards both teams to score.

When Bournemouth are playing, it can often turn into a very transitional game, that’s just the nature of their tactics, which involve going man to man.

This can also lead to players coming into contact with each other more regularly, creating tackle and fouling opportunities. Marcus Tavernier has committed 13 fouls in the Premier League this season, giving him an average of 1.24 fouls per 90. Tavernier has now committed a foul in four out of his last five matches, which is a good sequence of results for the logic of the selection. 

Another complementary variable is that Tavernier may end up playing on the right-hand side of midfield. This would put him directly up against left wing-back Reinildo Mandava, the Mozambique international has drawn 18 fouls from opposition players this season, going at a hefty 2.15 fouls won per 90.

This particular variable adds another layer of confluence for the selection.

Bournemouth are pretty consistent in their approach to football matches, and I expect no different on Saturday. The visitors will look to be aggressive and suffocate Sunderland, and the hosts will be happy to sacrifice the ball at times, offering Bournemouth some level of impetus offensively. 

Bournemouth are perfectly capable of getting on the front foot in away matches, exemplified by their corner data. The visitors have accumulated 4+ corners in each of their away games this season, averaging out at a rather healthy 6.16 corners per game. 

Ultimately, I think there’s a good chance Bournemouth could fall behind and be chasing the game on Saturday, especially given the amount of goals they’re conceding on the road at present. A favourable game state with Bournemouth chasing the match will improve the likelihood of corners.

This was particularly apparent in games against both Liverpool and Aston Villa, where they fell behind and ultimately lost the game, but still recorded seven and nine corners in the process.