Bournemouth

With the Premier League top two fairly set in stone and the relegation places all but decided, we asked former England midfielder Fara Williams to pick her final table from third down to 10th.

Nottingham Forest will hang on to third based on what they have built this season in terms of being defensively hard to break down and playing in transitions very well. They are finding ways to win games by playing to their strengths.

I do not think Chelsea are good enough to secure fourth. I have put Manchester City there because they have enough firepower and always seem to finish Premier League seasons really well. They have not been in good form but they have that know-how and still a bit of a fear factor against some of the teams they play.

I have Chelsea in fifth because if Cole Palmer can refind his form they will have a good run of games. Newcastle in sixth - where they currently sit - as I think they will continue on the same trajectory with their run of fixtures.

The rest is really difficult. I have put Bournemouth seventh as their pressing and high-intensity play will see them pick up form again and rise a few places.

I have Aston Villa eighth as their focus will be on the Champions League, then Brighton ninth and Fulham 10th as I do not think their form will improve significantly. They are still impressive finishes.

Having said this, it has never been so close in this area of the table from what I can remember. These teams are likely to finish within one win of each other so much can change on one result.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward

Newcastle have made Bournemouth and Spain international Dean Huijsen, 19, their number one defensive target this summer. (Sun), external

Bournemouth are looking to sign Spain goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, 30, on a permanent basis from Chelsea this summer, with 26-year-old Liverpool and Republic of Ireland international, Caoimhin Kelleher, also of interest. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

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Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

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While Andoni Iraola's side are 10 days away from an FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City, Bournemouth are also on the precipice of promotion to the third tier of the women's football pyramid after a remarkable season.

The Cherries, managed by Steve Cuss, beat their nearest challengers Moneyfields 2-1 on Wednesday to extend their record in the FA Women's National League Division One South West to played 17, won 17.

Chloe Gilroy scored direct from a corner and Ellie Strippel doubled Bournemouth's lead, before Brooke Garcia pulled one back for Portsmouth-based Moneyfields.

It was only a penalty save in stoppage time by teenage keeper Erin Foley, keeping Shannon Albuery at bay, that preserved the 100% win record for Bournemouth, whose goal record stands at scored 80 and conceded only three in those 17 games.

Bournemouth now require only one win from their last five games to clinch the title and the division's sole promotion place - and it could have not been stage-managed better as their next game is at Vitality Stadium on Sunday, with Bristol Rovers the visitors.

More than 5,000 tickets have already been sold for the fixture, with hopes of eclipsing the crowd of over 6,000 which watched their last game at the men's ground, a 4-0 success over Swindon in November - attendance figures which would compare favourably with the men's team when they were last in the fourth tier, having averaged 5,720 in League Two in 2009-10.

Bournemouth are targeting 24-year-old Club Brugge left-back Maxim de Cuyper should they need to sign a replacement for their in-demand Hungarian full-back Milos Kerkez, who has been targeted by Liverpool. (Football Insider), external

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Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport senior journalist

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The international break feels like a time for Bournemouth to regroup and take stock before the final nine league games of the season.

Any "regrouping" may be more metaphorical than literal with nearly a dozen players called away for international duty, but having been running away like an express train in January and for most of February, the brakes have been somewhat slammed on in March with only one point from four league games.

Whether the players are feeling the cumulative fatigue of 33 league and cup games under Andoni Iraola's high-intensity, high-energy pressing style – as some television pundits have suggested – is probably one for the strength and conditioning coaches to determine, but over the past few games it feels more like they are being punished for a lack of clinicality at both ends of the field.

After the break, the Cherries face three games in seven days with a Sunday-Wednesday-Saturday fixture list, but following that trio of matches, it settles down to one game per weekend – plus any potential FA Cup progress.

And having lost a little ground on the teams above them in the Premier League, that FA Cup quarter-final with Manchester City takes on added significance with the cup being potentially Bournemouth's best route to owner Bill Foley's dream of qualifying for European football.

While FA Cup yellow-card suspensions will rob Iraola of the services of key defenders Milos Kerkez and Dean Huijsen for the City game, Iraola may decide to throw all his eligible eggs in the FA Cup basket rather than make wholesale changes elsewhere – and that would likely find favour with the supporters dreaming of Wembley.

Image source, Getty Images

Discussed on the latest episode of BBC Radio Solent's Cherries: Unpicked is Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen's call-up to the senior Spain squad for their upcoming Nations League quarter-final games against the Netherlands.

Huijsen had originally been named in the Under-21 setup for this international break, but the 19-year-old was drafted into the senior squad, external following the withdrawal of injured Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez.

Speaking about Huijsen's Premier League performances this season, ex-Cherries defender Joe Partington said: "A great word to describe him is proactive and not necessarily reactive - but he is capable of being reactive too.

"It is really difficult as a striker when you're playing against him because if you feel you have a yard on him, he can get it back, and more often than not he's reading what's going on before it's happened anyway."

Partington said Huijsen being involved in the senior Spain squad at a young age is "such a huge compliment to him and the club", adding: "It's not just necessarily taking him from Juventus and having him as part of the squad, but they've played him in every minute of every game that he's been available. Because of that, he's reached another level.

"It's similar to when Nathan Ake was at Bournemouth. People could see he was maybe a level above. Obviously now he's gone to Manchester City and won everything. Huijsen seems to have that capability to step up to that level."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Bournemouth are leading the race to sign Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, 26, from Liverpool. (Talksport), external

Real Madrid will step up their bid to sign 19-year-old defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth this summer after he was promoted to Spain's senior squad. (Sun), external

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The latest episode of BBC Radio Solent's Cherries: Unpicked looks back at Bournemouth's home defeat by Brentford, as well as discussing Antoine Semenyo's recent form and Dean Huijsen being called up to the senior Spain squad.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Tom Jordan
Fan writer

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It has been quite the season for Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth side, but of late they are most certainly hitting a bump in the road.

While this campaign has seen the Cherries put together a impressive record-breaking run of 11 games without defeat, now, they are without a win in four. Considering the side have been consistently exceeding expectations this campaign, you start to wonder whether a blip was always inevitable.

Weirdly, the dip in form has coincided with many key players returning to the squad from injury - so, in many ways, it does not make sense. During Bournemouth's unbeaten run, they often had a bench full of academy players who had no senior minutes, whereas now, the bench regularly consists of internationals who would start for many big sides.

Similarly, up until recently, the Cherries have pretty much always been seen as the 'underdog' and have often used that siege mentality as a driving force to surprise many neutrals with both their performances and results.

Could it be that our opponents have started to figure out how best to deal with our approach? Both Brentford and Wolves gained results at Vitality Stadium in similar fashion - by frustrating the south coast side, hurting them consistently in transitions. Or perhaps it is simply the case that the aggressive and energy zapping style that Iraola's team play has become a little too much on the legs for certain players?

Either way, it is a long and gruelling season, and with an FA Cup quarter-final around the corner, Bournemouth still have so much to play for.

I still fancy the team to bounce-back and surprise the masses as they so regularly do, but the recent run has perhaps provided a grounding for many an ecstatic Cherries fan.

Find more from Tom Jordan at Back of the Net, external

Bournemouth are confident about beating off competition to sign 26-year-old Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher this summer. (Sun), external

Tottenham have identified Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola and Fulham manager Marco Silva as their top targets, should they part ways with Ange Postecoglou. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Bournemouth and Brentford.

Here are some of your comments:

Bournemouth fans

Mark: We started well and looked dangerous. Then we just switched off. Poor goalkeeping and he lacked the confidence needed for the game. The goal drought from Semenyo is worrying. We need him back popping them in for fun. Europe is now slipping through our hands. We need a hard look to work out if the FA Cup or the league is more important to us.

Alex: Good performance, just not when it was needed. Shocking refereeing.

Chris: Compare the team placement now against the line up and positions before Christmas. That should answer a lot of questions.

Brentford fans

Fred: How we won that I don't know. We have to make a Norgaard chant, he was so good, and shoutout to Keane Lewis-Potter. Is he England's best left-back? It shows real character for a team who could make a late European charge potentially.

Geoff: Captain fantastic again. Brilliant from the skipper.

Jason: Took my mate Jim to his first away game. Not pretty but they all count!

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Ipswich 2-4 Nottingham Forest

• Bournemouth 1-2 Brentford

Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, PA Media

This was the sixth time Bournemouth have played Brentford in the Premier League and the Cherries are yet to beat the Bees.

Andoni Iraola's side had made a fine start as left-back Milos Kerkez, whose wonderful cross set up Marcus Tavernier's opener in Sunday's 2-2 draw at Tottenham, created the first goal of this game.

But, like against Spurs six days earlier, they surrendered points from a winning position.

Although Brentford posed a threat, Bournemouth looked the most likely scorers while the game was poised at 1-1.

However, they were made to pay for earlier misses when Christian Norgaard netted what proved to be the winner.

Bournemouth return to action after the international break with a home FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City on Sunday, 30 March.

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Disappointing result for us. We were better today but not in the most important things. This happening a lot of times lately and we have to be better in key moments.

On creating chances: "We are creating a lot, we have been like this all season but we need to score more. You have to value every chance. Football is small margins. We need to be more ruthless, definitely, we need to improve in the moments that matter more."

On recent results: "Results-wise, we are in the worst moment in the last four games and we are not being clinical enough and inside the box is the most important thing."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Bournemouth's performance

What did you make of Brentford's display?

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

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

• Everton v West Ham

• Southampton v Wolves

• Ipswich Town v Nottingham Forest - full commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Man City v Brighton

• Bournemouth v Brentford (17:30) - full commentary starts on BBC Radio 5 Live Extra

All kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

It was a great game when these two sides met earlier in the season, with Brentford twice going behind before winning 3-2.

Bournemouth were unlucky that day, and they were also unlucky not to beat Tottenham last weekend.

Maybe the Cherries will get a bit of good fortune this time - they deserve it, for the way they have been playing this season.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to BBC Radio Solent before Saturday's Premier League game against Brentford at Vitality Stadium (kick-off 17:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Iraola said "the squad is not going to change a lot" because there are no new injuries since the draw at Tottenham.

• Julian Araujo and Marcos Senesi are both back in training having not played since November.

• On Illia Zabarnyi returning from suspension: "Very happy. Zaba has been very reliable - his performance levels have been very high and we have missed him. The players that have played have done a good job but he gives us guarantees at the back and I hope he comes in like he left us." He said there is a "big chance" the centre-back goes straight back into the team.

• Iraola emphasised the most important thing "is points" rather than a good performance: "It is the wins that make the difference in the standings."

• On the fact the Cherries have not won in three league games: "The worst game [against Wolves] was different because we had 10 players. Against Brighton and Spurs, we played very good games against good opposition. We only got one point, but we kept the same level of performance. To win games we have to change things, but I think we're in a good moment."

• On Brentford: "They're always efficient. They don't change their starting XI a lot and their game management is really good. They've scored late goals against us in games we should have taken more points from. We have to be complete and play the 100 minutes because they're always there and solid in their performance."

• When asked about his future, he said: "I'm very happy - I've said it a lot of times."

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra commentary of Bournemouth v Brentford at 17:30 on Sunday

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

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Brentford are unbeaten in all five of their Premier League games against Bournemouth (W3 D2). This is both their most games without ever losing and Bournemouth's most games without ever winning against an opponent in the competition.

Bournemouth have lost their past two Premier League home games - only twice have they lost three in a row in the top flight, doing so in April 2016 and December 2019.

Brentford have won each of their past four Premier League away games - as many as they had in their previous 27. The Bees have not won five consecutive away league games since a run between October and December 2010 when they were in League One.