AFC Bournemouth have their work cut out for them on Monday night as an underrated Fulham side visit the Vitality Stadium after a huge 3-2 win over Liverpool last weekend.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the capital, a difficult 2-2 draw against West Ham saw the Cherries leave the London Stadium with less than what they deserved.
However, Andoni Iraola was able to take some positives from that performance.
The Spaniard said: “I feel like, apart from the result, I think we did a lot of good things against West Ham. I trust that we can be competitive.
“I’m a little bit worried about the last games at home, because away we’ve been very good. But at home is probably the place where we’ve lost opportunities [to gain points].”
In the reverse fixture against Fulham, the points were shared after Dango Ouattara saved a performance that could have earned much more. The 2-2 draw came within that stunning 12-match unbeaten run across all competitions, which now seems so distant with Iraola’s men now winless in their last six Premier League matches.
Although his team has been unable to regain that same form, Iraola still believes that Bournemouth have been ‘competitive’ and the problems lie elsewhere.
He said: “The difference [in run of form] has been the goals we have conceded. We conceded, against Ipswich, two goals. Against Brentford, two goals. The other day against West Ham, two goals.
“I think we’ve made some mistakes. We’ve conceded a couple of corners that we were defending very well. These things have limited us.”
In terms of team news, Ryan Christie’s successful surgery has unfortunately ended his 2024/25 campaign. A few more names will also be under assessment prior to matchday, according to Iraola.
“We still have three days until Monday night. We will try with Justin [Kluivert], with [Marcus Tavernier], with [Luis Sinisterra].
“Probably from the three, [Sinisterra] has less chances.”
Sitting just six points adrift of the European spots, Iraola believes the next two matches against Fulham and Crystal Palace are key in maintaining hope within his side.
“I don’t know if the games [against Fulham and Palace] will be decisive, but very, very important,” he said.
A win on Monday night will be pivotal for the Cherries, as an extra three points to their tally would take them above their opponents courtesy of goal difference. That means those European spots are still up for grabs, but a tough run-in lies ahead – starting with the Cottagers.