Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs urged his team-mates to keep their heads up amid a recent run of form that has seen them drop to 12th in the Premier League. 

Having started the campaign strongly, Regis Le Bris' side were touted to challenge for a place in Europe next season, but they have since lost their last three top-flight fixtures. 

Their latest defeat saw them go down 3-1 against Fulham at the Stadium of Light, with Raul Jimenez's quickfire double in the damage doing the damage for the Cottagers. 

Sunderland make the long trip to Vitality Stadium this Saturday to face Bournemouth, and Roefs is hoping the Black Cats can provide a response to halt their downturn in results. 

"We gave a lot of counter-attacks away. In the second half, we were a little better. We had good chances, but we weren't there in the key moments," Roefs said. 

"We should have done better, we want to do better, but onto the next one, and we keep our heads up. At this level, you get punished if you don't finish chances.

"Overall, it's one chance missed. It's not good enough, and we need to step up our game.

"We fight for each other but when we have the ball, we need to be more secure. The only way to keep on going is to keep our heads up and get three points next week."

But Sunderland come up against a Bournemouth side whose resurgence back up the top-flight table has taken them up to eighth and within touching distance of a European spot.

Andoni Iraola's side were, however, held to a goalless draw against West Ham in their last Premier League encounter at London Stadium, but they were perhaps fortunate to escape with just a point. 

West Ham's expected goals (xG) total of 2.82 against Bournemouth is the most of any side who failed to score in a single Premier League match this season, while the Hammers' 20 shots was their most in a top-flight game in 2025-26. 

But Iraola was pleased with the Cherries' display in the capital, adding that Bournemouth are one step closer to surpassing another points mark in their campaign aspirations. 

"We had good individual performances. At least we have not conceded any goals, and we will go with a point," Iraola said. 

"It is about winning your duels, wanting the ball and attacking the spaces, and we improved in the second half.

"We have recovered a bit more depth and, especially in the second half, it was very good. Away from home, this is a difficult stadium to come to.

"We have 38 points and I hope next to get past 40, and then we will see where we are when we arrive."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Bournemouth – Junior Kroupi

Junior Kroupi has scored eight goals from just 26 shots in the Premier League this season, the best shot conversion rate of any player with 20+ attempts (31%).

However, he has failed to find the back of the net in the top flight in his last three games, while the last time he scored at Vitality Stadium was on January 7 against Tottenham.

Sunderland – Robin Roefs

A player that will be out to stop Kroupi is Roefs, who, up to and including their 0-0 draw with Manchester City on New Year's Day, has the best goals prevented rate in the Premier League (4.7 – 17 goals conceded from 21.7 xGoT).

However, since then, he's conceded almost four more goals than expected (15 goals conceded from 11.4 xGoT), with only Guglielmo Vicario having a worse rate in that time (4.1, 18 conceded from 13.9 xGoT).

MATCH PREDICTION: BOURNEMOUTH WIN

Despite being favoured by the Opta supercomputer, Bournemouth have lost three of their four home league games against Sunderland, with the exception being a 2-0 win in September 2015.

However, only Manchester United (10) are on a longer run of unbeaten Premier League matches than Bournemouth (seven – W4 D3). Should they avoid defeat here, it would be their second eight-game unbeaten run in 2025-26, having gone 11 matches winless between these streaks.

But only Crystal Palace and Newcastle United (both four) have had more 0-0 draws than Bournemouth's three in the league this season, with this also their joint-most in a top-flight campaign (also three in 2015-16 and 2019-20).

Sunderland, meanwhile, have lost their last three Premier League games, as many as they had in their previous 12 (W4 D5). They last lost more consecutively in December 2015 (five).

The Black Cats are, however, looking to complete their second league double over Bournemouth, after the 1989-90 second tier campaign following their 3-2 victory in November.

Le Bris' side have 36 points in the Premier League this season, and an expected points total of just 27.2. Only Aston Villa (+17.2) have overperformed their expected points more than Sunderland this term (8.8).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Bournemouth – 59.6%

Draw – 21.1%

Sunderland – 19.3%