Bournemouth

Sean Byrne
BBC Sport journalist

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at West Ham (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On Ryan Christie's groin injury: "Christie is going to be out tomorrow. His situation is worrying because he has been dealing with a lot of injuries since the beginning of the season. He wanted to push and even with pain, he wanted to play and he has played very well for us. But it's a situation that we have to analyse because I think it has arrived at a time where his body is telling him not to push too much."

• On if Christie will play again this season: "There is a situation where we might even decide for him to take his time, recover and be ready for next season. But it's something we have to analyse well."

• Speaking to BBC Radio Solent about Christie's importance to the squad, Iraola said: "We know how important he is. Even if he is not playing all the games at 100%, he gives us a very high level. But sometimes you cannot have players and you have to adapt, and we will have to think of other options."

• On Justin Kluivert: "Justin [Kluivert] is going to be difficult. I wouldn't say he is definitely out. We will see today if he can train with us and help us from the bench at least. It is tight."

• An update on the rest of the squad's availability: "The good news is we have [Julian] Araujo back in the squad. He is training well. He is good. We are recovering some of the defenders who have been out but now the issue is on the offensive side."

• On the midweek defeat by Ipswich: "Analysing the Ipswich game, the mistake was defensively. It's a game where you cannot concede two goals. They needed very little to score the goals and that is my biggest concern."

• On what needs to change to get a result against West Ham: "There are things that we need to improve. We now have to do the basics really well - defend well, don't make big mistakes, stay focused and grow from there. That's our focus at the moment."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Bournemouth loanee Max Aarons says he is "loving" his time in Spain after moving to Valencia in January.

The 25-year-old has made two appearances since the move, both against Barcelona - the team he was close to joining five years ago.

"From a young age it was always a dream of mine to play in Spain," Aarons told BBC Radio 5 Live's Euro Leagues podcast.

"In 2020 it nearly happened with Barcelona. Ever since then, I've said it doesn't matter which team, as long as it's in La Liga I would love to be there and the opportunity happened in January.

"You do have to be a certain kind of character to do that, especially as an English player. It doesn't happen a lot and I can understand for some players why it wouldn't be the right thing.

"But, for some, especially myself, it's something you always want to do and if you're to do it you have to immerse yourself in the culture and be all in. You can't expect to come in and it be England - you have to jump in and be ready.

"Learning the language, trying the food - everything. It's an experience and I have to say I'm loving it."

Valencia's Mestalla stadium holds 49,000 compared to the Vitality Stadium's 11,000 capacity and Aarons is enjoying the change in setting.

"I knew the Mestalla stadium was incredible before coming here," he added. "One of my Bournemouth team-mates Justin Kluivert played here and told me 'you're going to be blown away'.

"The first game I couldn't believe it, it's crazy. It's no disrespect for where I came from in Bournemouth but going from there to here in January... you have to get used to the difference in the stadium and atmosphere."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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West Ham are unbeaten in their past seven Premier League games against Bournemouth, with each of the past three finishing 1-1.

Bournemouth have never kept a clean sheet in their seven Premier League away games against West Ham, but have avoided defeat in all four games in which they've found the net themselves (W2 D2).

The Cherries have picked up 23 away Premier League points in 2024-25, their most in a top-flight campaign, while their 30 goals are also their most on the road.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Ipswich's victory at Bournemouth on Wednesday. Here are some of your comments:

Bournemouth fans

Lee: A poor performance from the Cherries, the front-foot high press and attacking pressure has disappeared and we offered very little against an average but spirited Ipswich Town. Delap was the best player on the pitch by a mile.

Matthew: Running on empty currently. Key players missing and our frantic tempo is taking its toll. Not sure there is enough time to regroup for a European push. Top half and a best points total may have to suffice.

Tony: Baffling. A team of players who collectively and individually looked to be almost unbeatable six weeks ago suddenly seem to have lost their individual and collective mojos and appear to be exhausted.

Ipswich fans

Damien: Great team performance. Everyone worked hard for each other. Took our chances, which were limited - but two quality goals and a great defensive display earned us vital three points away from home.

Terry: Football is a results-based business and this was a badly needed result. Nothing more, nothing less. This gives us belief to beat Wolves next time out and perhaps give the most optimistic fans to shout about staying up.

James: Wasn't the prettiest of wins - but what a great win. Palmer and the back four were great. Cajuste was class again, going to miss him next season. Pity we didn't have Enciso from the start of the season. Well played, Town.

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Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

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Bournemouth suffered a fifth successive Premier League loss as struggling Ipswich Town held on to leave Vitality Stadium with three points and a 2-1 victory.

"It's a bad result for us, but we need to stay together and focus on the things we can improve," said boss Andoni Iraola. "We are in a bad period. They scored two goals with two shots on target, that was the worst part as we controlled the game."

Bournemouth have never played in European competition and a 3-1 win at Southampton in February had left Iraola's team fifth in the Premier League.

However, they have not won a top-tier match since and, although they remain 10th, this was a big opportunity missed to get back on form.

They probably deserved at least a point, but, despite sustained pressure late on, Bournemouth could not find an equaliser as Ipswich secured only their fourth league win of the campaign.

It has been a fine season for the Cherries, but Iraola and the club's fans will be worried the campaign could end in disappointing fashion with this latest defeat hurting the chances of European football coming to Vitality Stadium.

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Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "We are in a bad period. They scored two goals with two shots on target, that was the worst part as we controlled the game.

"We had chances one minute before the 1-0 when the defender [Dara O'Shea] cleared off the line and those are the small margins when you are in a bad moment and everything is against you.

"It's a bad result for us, but we need to stay together and focus on the things we can improve. We had all the ball in the opposition half, but when they [Ipswich] arrived [in the penalty area] they punished us. We had chances to score more and it is costing us a lot.

"We finished very strongly and physically we were in a good place. Our offensive players were not in the form they have been for most of the season and we have to keep believing in them. We need to improve defensively and not make any mistakes or concede chances so we don't have to get three or four goals to win a game."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Bournemouth's performance

What did you make of Ipswich's display?

Come back to this page on Thursday to find a selection of your replies

Six matches make up Wednesday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Bournemouth v Ipswich

• Brighton v Aston Villa

• Man City v Leicester City

• Newcastle v Brentford - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Southampton v Crystal Palace

• Liverpool v Everton (20:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

All kick-off times 19:45 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport senior journalist

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Bournemouth's FA Cup adventure is over, but as April begins, they find themselves in a situation for which most fans would have settled at the start of the season.

With nine games to go, despite only taking one point from their past four league games, they are only three points away from a likely European qualification spot.

Andoni Iraola's side face two games in the space of four days against 18th-placed Ipswich and 16th-placed West Ham as they seek a first league win since mid-February.

They will welcome back defenders Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez, who both missed the FA Cup quarter-final through suspension.

But while fellow defenders Marcos Senesi and Adam Smith also made comebacks in the cup after several months on the sidelines, handing Iraola more options in defence than he had for most of the winter, the Cherries have depth concerns further forward.

Marcus Tavernier missed the cup game with injury, while Iraola reported on Tuesday that Justin Kluivert was a doubt to face Ipswich. With Luis Sinisterra already back in the treatment room and Enes Unal out for the season, suddenly attacking options look limited.

Another potential selection headache involves possible suspensions. Ryan Christie and Antoine Semenyo are now both on nine yellow cards in the Premier League - though Christie has been walking that tightrope for a while, while also attempting to manage a groin problem that is llikely to need surgery in the summer.

A 10th caution for either player in the next three games - against Ipswich, West Ham or Fulham - would mean a two-match ban as the cut-off point for 10 bookings is each team's 32nd league game.

Thankfully for Iraola, no other player has more than six league cautions to his name, so only Christie and Semenyo are at risk of totting up 10 before the deadline.

Bournemouth have lost a bit of form of late, going out of the FA Cup and taking only one point from their past four league games.

They really need a positive result to get back on track, so who better to face than an Ipswich team who are struggling badly?

I thought Bournemouth played well in the first half against Manchester City on Sunday and carried a goal threat - but the mindset of the Ipswich players is likely to be a bigger factor in what happens in this game.

The bottom three are doing so badly that we maybe should have relegated them over the international break - it feels like all three of them need a miracle if they are going to survive from here.

As I've said many times, I actually like the Ipswich model and how they play, and I am a fan of Kieran McKenna as a manager.

I have felt for them this season and, out of the bottom three sides, they have given it the best go at staying up, but it is quite a damning statistic that they are the only side in the top five tiers of English football yet to win a league game in 2025.

Maybe the international break will have done them good but this feels like an open goal for Bournemouth, who are still right in the race for Champions League football next season.

The Cherries needed two late goals to win at Portman Road before Christmas but I am not sure McKenna's side will put up the same fight this time.

It is starting to feel like they are resigned to their fate, and they might have to think about how they will bounce back next season - if they can keep their squad together then I'd be confident that will happen.

There will be suitors for Liam Delap, of course, but if he wanted to move somewhere nice he could just come and live in Norwich - it is quite a long drive to Ipswich though.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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Following their 2-1 win at Portman Road in the reverse fixture, Bournemouth are looking to complete their first league double over Ipswich since 1949-50 in the Third Division South.

Ipswich have only won one of their 16 away league games against Bournemouth, beating them 3-2 in September 1953. This is their first visit since a 2-2 draw in the Championship in November 2014.

Tyrese King
BBC Sport journalist

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game against Ipswich at Vitality Stadium (kick-off 19:45 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Iraola revealed he is still "not completely sure" about the availability of some of his players but "Justin [Kluivert] is the one we are more in doubt with" because "he finished with some issues and we have to check today to see if he's ready to go again".

• On Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez returning from suspension: "It's very good to have Huijsen and Kerkez back because they are in a good moment of form."

• On asked what message he has for clubs linked with the defensive duo: "I don't comment. For me, I don't have to give other clubs any comments."

• Iraola said having Adam Smith back is "very good news" because he has been a "very important" member of the squad.

• On whether being out of the FA Cup will help the chances of qualifying for Europe: "I would have preferred to still be in the FA Cup and play more games, but we cannot change our reality. We had our chance and we tried, but it wasn't enough. City were better than us, especially in the second half and it's them who will play in the semi-finals. We need to focus on the league."

• Iraola believes his side were not "good enough" in the second half of the quarter-final: "We have normally been good in the second half of games, scoring lots of goals, but now it concerns me a bit that we are losing points in the second half. Normally we are better at the end of games than we are at the beginning."

• On whether Bournemouth can play European football next year: "We will try to win every game and then we will see our position. We are 10th right now. Not long ago we were sixth, but distances are still quite short. At the end, we are competing for every game, and we have to take them as finals - very important games."

• On his lack of attacking options because of injuries: "It's a challenge for me, as a manager, if you cannot replace man for man, winger for winger in the same type of profiles. You have to manage the ones you have available and that impacts your decision on who starts and who comes off from the bench. Sometimes you start the best starting XI, others you put the best finishing XI."

• On opponents Ipswich: "They play with a very clear philosophy. I think they have dangerous offensive players. Liam Delap and Jaden Philogene are players who have the quality to make a difference."

Follow all of Tuesday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Sam Davis
Fan writer

Image source, PA Media

What is the first thing I would do for the run-in if I was the manager of AFC Bournemouth? The simple answer would be - not much!

While the recency bias of a league dip and cup exit suggests that "disappointment" should be the key emotion, it should not be forgotten that this is the best it has ever been as a Bournemouth fan, given the Cherries are only a couple of points off the club's best total in the top flight.

Add to that the fact that we have just equalled our best ever FA Cup campaign, it would be wild to change too much.

Although it feels alien to us Bournemouth fans, the realistic aim for the run-in genuinely is a stab at getting European football.

One of the many key players this campaign has to be Dean Huijsen. The centre-back has been nothing short of a revelation and he is unsurprisingly now being linked to every big club around. Reports suggest he has a £50m release clause in his contract, meaning that any club who bids this amount would have the chance to talk with Huijsen, with little the club can do.

Having signed in the summer for about £15m, it would be a healthy profit for Bournemouth, but he has been that good - which suggests that in today's market, even £50m sounds like a bargain for any suitor.

Therefore, the first thing I would do is demand that the club sort an improved contract for Huijsen, one which removes or changes the £50m release clause. There would be even better vibes around the place if that were to happen, and that may be the little lift to get Bournemouth over the line and ready to bring European football to the south coast.

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Bournemouth want £45m for full-back Milos Kerkez, amid interest from Liverpool. (Times - subscription required), external

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Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker says Bournemouth's FA Cup exit could benefit them for the run-in as it allows them to have "tunnel vision" on qualifying for Europe via league position.

Andoni Iraola missed out on leading the Cherries to Wembley for their first FA Cup semi-final after they lost to Manchester City on Sunday.

"It's just a blip for Bournemouth," said Reo-Coker. "Now that they are out of the FA Cup, it can be tunnel vision for them now - just the Premier League to focus on.

"They need to get back on the winning track and get the results that they need. I don't think it's panic stations for them. They have had a promising season so far though they have some tough games coming up.

"But they are capable of beating anyone on their day. We have seen them put in performances - not by luck but by the quality they have and the good manager they have."

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We asked for your views on Manchester City's victory over Bournemouth in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Here are some of your comments:

Bournemouth fans:

Tim: Five shots in the game and none after the 38th minute! Crikey, that doesn't sound like Bournemouth. Let's go all out for league points and recapture the form that has disappeared recently.

Mark: Classic game of two halves. First half intensity slipped away while City's subs made a difference but ours not so much. A must-win home game against the Tractor Boys on Wednesday under the lights.

Matt: A rollercoaster of emotions ended ultimately in disappointment. Gave it a right go first half, but ran out of steam, ideas and threat in the second. League points now the priority to avoid what would feel like a damp squib of a season.

Zia: I think the first half was the more dominant half for the Cherries but in the second half, they just fell asleep.

Man City fans:

Brian: A game of two halves. Bournemouth pushed City all the way but youth won the day in the second half and their belief and commitment shown. City are on track for a cup when a trophy was not at all likely this season. They are so dangerous in attack when the game is played at pace and with one-touch football. The new faces are smiling and that is the investment we need for the future. Defence has its issues and Pep needs to address the goalkeeping frailty. But this was a good day and they have their sights firmly focused on the FA Cup.

Clint: A fair result. City struggled to make inroads in the first half, without being overly-troubled, other than the goal. In the second half there was only one team in it. Nottingham Forest have flattered to deceive this season and Pep will, hopefully, have learned enough about them from the smash-and-grab a couple of weeks back. Would be lovely to finish the season with a cup final.

Geoff: We beat a nasty Premier League pub team and only suffered one injury - an excellent result.

Abdullah: All I've got to say is that Omar Marmoush is a real star player, and Nico O'Reilly is a must to keep for the future.

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Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has been speaking to ITV after today's FA Cup defeat: "I think the game first half we played very well but second half the game was for them. We couldn't keep the same intensity level, we were not as aggressive and we were a lot more passive.

"Even with the changes, we were lacking energy, especially up front. We were not able to play at the same level we did in the first half."

On whether Kepa should have saved Omar Marmoush's goal: "Yes probably. There is a chance but overall I don't think we lost because of this. Overall I think we were better in the first half, we played the game we wanted to play but second half they were better and we couldn't affect the long possessions. We were not dangerous enough."

On whether the injuries/suspensions in the side had a negative impact on the side today: "Yes. It isn't just the starting eleven. It gives you good options from the bench to give us the same level. I felt David Brooks, Evanilson, after 50 minutes or something - they can play but they don't play at the same intensity level, the press is not the same as before. We couldn't maintain that level."

On the goals for the team for the remainder of the season: "We need to recover quickly because we are playing in three days against Ipswich and try and win. We need to go again with the three points and improve our position."