Bournemouth

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport journalist

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Manchester United (kick-off 14:00 GMT.)

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Iraola offered a squad update: "If not the same, it's going to be a very, very similar squad [to West Ham]. No changes."

• He was asked if Enes Unal should be in the first XI given his recent performances: "He's not starting a lot of games but he is playing in almost every game. I'm very happy for him and I'm also very happy for Evanilson. It's a difficult decision and I hope I make the right decision."

• He explained why his side are not as clinical in front of goal as they could be: "The way we play, it makes our forwards arrive more tired to finish our chances - it is not the same chance you have as if you just waiting for a chance as a nine. You have to do all of the work and maybe you don't arrive with your mind as clear to finish in same way."

• Iraola spoke on how Antoine Semenyo can improve his attacking threat: "When you are a full-back, you try to guess what the opposition is going to do and cover his strong foot. I think he has to mix everything a bit. I try to encourage him to change during the game so they can cover him."

• On Manchester United under Ruben Amorim: "I think they play in a different way [to under previous manager Erik ten Hag]. They keep the games more under control and have really good patterns. They concede very few chances and are continuing [to improve]."

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

Listen to full commentary of Manchester United v Bournemouth on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra from 14:00

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport senior journalist

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The Christmas repeat season is in full swing as the holidays approach – check your local listings for when you can catch The Great Escape or Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for the umpteenth time – and there was an air of cosy familiarity at Vitality Stadium on Monday as, once again, Bournemouth left it late to earn a share of the points against West Ham.

It would be tempting to copy and paste what I wrote on this page last week about the Cherries' tendency to score late goals (with nine of their 24 Premier League strikes now coming after the 86th minute), and highlight Andoni Iraola's use of substitutes again after replacement Enes Unal's free-kick equaliser.

That took the Dorset club to the heady heights of sixth in the table – and made sure that by any metric, this has been their best start to a top-flight season.

Bournemouth's previous best record after 16 Premier League games came in 2018-19 when they were eighth, with 23 points. They are now sixth, with 25. Indeed, the Cherries have never made it this far into a season in the top division while still maintaining a positive goal difference.

But whether fans' jokes about checking their passports for Europe next season become a reality, will likely depend on becoming more clinical in front of goal.

That they are creating enough chances is beyond dispute. In the past three games, Iraola's side recorded 29 shots against West Ham, 22 at Ipswich and 21 against Tottenham – but those 72 shots (of which 23 were on target) have only produced four goals.

Manchester United are the next opposition in the Cherries' crosshairs on Sunday, but not before the Red Devils will have endured a potentially gruelling Carabao Cup quarter-final at Tottenham on Thursday, as well as several days of media scrutiny over Marcus Rashford's future.

Despite the supposed near-random nature of the fixture computer, this will be the fifth time in six visits that Bournemouth have been sent to Old Trafford either in December or early January. Anything approaching last season's festive cracker, when Iraola's side were 3-0 winners after a dominant display, would be a perfect Christmas present for a side on the crest of a wave.

Sam Davis
Fan writer

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Bournemouth now occupy a European place following their home draw with West Ham on Monday - and another late goal.

This time it was courtesy of a screamer from substitute Enes Unal, who has now scored back-to-back goals from the bench. It feels like it is time to discuss the Cherries' Turkish frontman and whether he can be more than just an impact sub.

Signed from Getafe with a decent goals record, the expectations were high, but he has had to settle for a constant seat on Bournemouth's bench.

An injury in the summer cost Unal his place in the Turkey squad for the Euros and this in turn meant he was not available for any of pre-season, so he is understandably behind in terms of match sharpness and general fitness levels.

Bournemouth also decided they had to invest big in a striker following Dom Solanke's departure, opting for Porto's frontman Evanilson. The Brazilian has been a bright spark and it feels as if he has the spot nailed over Unal, but with the latter starting to impact games more regularly of late, maybe he can start to push for that striker spot.

The Cherries are in fine form and are in the top five for xG in the Premier League. Glaringly, though, they are in the bottom five for shot conversion, so maybe Unal is providing some evidence that he can help address the issue of hitting the back of the net.

It remains to be seen if Unal has enough to push Evanilson and could find his way to be a regular starter for the club. But one thing is for sure: he is most certainly on free-kicks for the foreseeable!

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We asked for your thoughts after Monday's Premier League game between Bournemouth and West Ham.

Here are some of your comments:

Bournemouth fans:

Sam: So frustrating when you see the amount of chances we create. We should be putting West Ham to the sword. I get the feeling if it was the other way round West Ham would win 4-0 against us, but we have to settle for a point. So irritating. Ah well - at least we didn't lose, which we didn't deserve to.

Jonathan: It's a point, at least we pulled it back. But... we need to be more clinical. Was it 29 shots? If we were more clinical we could have been out of sight long before West Ham took the lead. Penalty? Not sure. You can't sprint with your hands by your side. A lot of positives - we're playing some of the best football of any team in the league. Let's just score some more goals. In Andoni we trust!

Paul: Sub-par performance in the first half; much more like our usual selves in the second. Harsh penalty but Adams knows he has to keep his hands down in that situation. Sublime free-kick by Unal. Deserves to get a start at Old Trafford.

Mark: We played well but 29 shots, nine on target. We must convert more. We were lucky to come away with a point. Other teams will punish us for not taking our chances.

West Ham fans:

Mike: Lopetegui is doing a decent job - organised and tries to play on the front foot. Needs to be given more time. Changing a style of play is worth it. In the thick of it and makes positive changes. Good result.

Charley: The line-up was very questionable, especially with the exclusion of Crysencio Summerville. Despite that, the team defended brilliantly. Fabianski put in his best performance of the season. I did notice there was very little communication between the players, which needs to improve. Overall it was a very tight game and I'm happy to come away with a point against such an in-form side.

Pete: Great free-kick and fair result. I wouldn't have wanted to win by that ridiculous penalty but, after a decent performance with plenty of shots, I would have been disappointed to lose. The substitutions and the change to a back three seemed to hinder but promising and good to see some young academy players introduced.

Paul: When you are winning with just minutes left in the game, the gameplan is simple - don't do anything stupid. Then up steps Mavropanos. He has had a decent game up until then, but makes an unnecessary challenge, gives away a free-kick and chucks away two points. The story of this team.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Bournemouth are an excellent team but struggle to turn their superiority into goals.

Even in victory over Tottenham in their previous home game, the feeling was the margin of the win should have been greater than a single goal.

On this occasion, 29 shots still were not enough for all three points.

Although they hit the post early through Antoine Semenyo, it was the end of the opening period when Bournemouth should have capitalised, only for Lukasz Fabianski to deny Dango Ouattara at the far post.

Fabianski getting in the way became a recurring theme for Bournemouth in the second half.

Justin Kluivert, Semenyo, Ryan Christie and Evanilson were all denied by the veteran former Poland international.

Arguably, his best effort was his last as Philip Billing, then Christie, forced him into excellent reaction saves.

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, speaking to BBC Sport: "We have to take the point. In the second half we were closer to winning than them but we couldn't do it in the end."

On the penalty decision: "We spoke with the referees before the start of the season. They gave an instruction for us not to tell players to defend with arms behind their back because it is not natural.

"I said: 'Are you sure, because I don't want it to cost us?' They told us it wouldn't. First one, penalty. It was natural. Anyone who has played football knows when you run to block [the ball], you finish with one hand up and one hand down.

"Sometimes referees make mistakes and it goes against you. You have to deal with that. This one, they explained and spent five minutes discussing it. The first time it happens, it is a penalty. Now I don't know what they will tell us next summer."

On Enes Unal's free-kick: "He is a specialist. He trains a lot and his consistency is very good. I knew it was a big chance for us."

On if being in the European places affects his aims for the season: "No. Right now, the position doesn't matter. Right now, it is a good amount of points for the games we played. We go to Old Trafford [next] and know it is going to be very difficult."

Did you know?

• Bournemouth's 29 shots against West Ham is their second-most in a Premier League game, only registering more against Sheffield United in March last season (32).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Bournemouth's performance

What did you make of West Ham's display?

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

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 16, he takes on darts star Stephen Bunting, who is a Liverpool fan.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

West Ham's win over Wolves last time out was a step in the right direction under Julen Lopetegui but he needs to maintain that improvement over a longer period, otherwise he is always going to be under pressure.

Jarrod Bowen is looking sharp for the Hammers and I think they will make a game of this, but I can only see one winner here and it is Bournemouth.

What a team the Cherries have been this season. They always create a lot of chances and I'm expecting them to make it four wins in a row.

Bunting's prediction: 1-1

West Ham are playing for Michail Antonio after his car crash, so they have got a bit to play for, but I don't see them winning this.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Tasnim Chowdhury
BBC Sport journalist

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Monday's Premier League game against West Ham (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Marcos Senesi is out with an injury that will require surgery. "It's a big one. Three, four months normally is what it takes," said Iraola. Marcus Tavernier also has a muscle injury but Iraola said it is a "normal" one and he will be out for "some weeks". Tyler Adams is expected to be available on Monday.

• On Tavernier: "He's a very good player and gives us a lot in all facets of the game. Tactically, he's very smart and we can use him in different positions. He's playing a lot in the middle as a 10 but the other night, as an eight, he did very well. He is an important player for us."

• On three wins in eight days: "When you're in a competition, you don't enjoy it a lot. If you win or you lose you have to do this [enjoy it or not] in a period of 24 hours and then start thinking about the next game. It has been a very good week - it's nine points."

• On whether he has changed much since his first game in charge: "I hope that I have changed and improved. I know my players better. I have more clear [ideas] on what should be. They know me much better and we understand each other. That's the advantage of being here for 18 months."

• On West Ham: "They are a very good team and they have very good players. We had experience [against them] in the cup - it was a very level game that they won in the last minute. I expect something similar and they also had an important win on Monday."

• On whether August's Carabao Cup defeat by the Hammers will be useful: "I think it's useful, because the players in the main will be the sameand we've kept the structures quite similar, so it's a good reference. We played quite well that game but it wasn't enough to beat them. I hope we can be better, especially in the last third."

• On Julen Lopetegui: "We have crossed [paths] many times. Julen is always difficult - he's a very good coach, experienced and it's the Premier League. every week you face a good opposition manager and you have to be ready for the challenge - and I hope we are on Monday."

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

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Bournemouth are averaging the second youngest starting XI in the Premier League this season (25y 310d) behind only Chelsea (23y 239d).

Meanwhile, no side has had more different goalscorers (excluding own goals) than the Cherries in the competition this term (12 – level with Arsenal and Brighton).

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Bournemouth have suffered a double injury blow after confirming that defender Marcos Senesi and midfielder Marcus Tavernier are both set for a spell on the sidelines.

Senesi has has had to have surgery on a quadriceps issue that he suffered during the win at Wolves on 30 November.

Team-mate Tavernier is also set to miss "an extended period" after picking up a hamstring issue at Ipswich on Sunday.

In a statement, Bournemouth said: "We send our best wishes to both players in their recovery, and we hope to see them playing again soon."

The Cherries are currently eighth in the Premier League following three straight wins, having also beaten Tottenham 1-0 last week.

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport senior journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Not content with winning the Premier League's 'Most Improbable Comeback' award two years running, Bournemouth are seemingly staging their own mini-competition to see which of their dramatic late shows will challenge to claim the prize for a third time.

In a similar vein to their 3-2 heist at Everton at the end of August, the Cherries were trailing as Sunday's game at Ipswich entered its 87th minute, only to come away with all three points.

While it is difficult to pinpoint exactly why they keep plundering late points - 11 of their 23 league goals have come in the 70th minute or later, including a staggering eight after the 86-minute mark - their fitness levels, plus Andoni Iraola's use of substitutes, have played a key part.

Plenty of times this season, Iraola's side have been maintaining their high-energy approach well into stoppage time as opponents have wilted.

When Enes Unal equalised at Portman Road, the Tractor Boys' fuel tanks were out of gas, while defender Dean Huijsen - thrown up front for the dying minutes as the Cherries went gung-ho in all-out attack - grabbed the ball from the Ipswich net and sprinted back to the centre circle as the visitors sought another goal.

Substitutions are one way in which Iraola is able to keep the energy levels high. At Ipswich, four of his five replacements were involved in the goals, with Dango Ouattara crossing for Unal to level, before Philip Billing and David Brooks combined to set up Ouattara's 95th-minute winner.

Indeed, Ouattara, Justin Kluivert and Luis Sinisterra have all scored or assisted goals off the bench this season, with the other 19 clubs only able to muster one player between them who has done so - Brighton's Joao Pedro.

Make no mistake, this is a squad game, and Iraola will need to carefully manage his resources as the busy festive season approaches.

Tyler Adams was not involved at Portman Road, having played every minute of back-to-back wins over Wolves and Tottenham following his return after a long injury absence, and "Captain America" is one whose minutes will be closely monitored, having shown against Spurs the value he brings to the side.

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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It is always a temptation to talk about the big, sexy clubs with all the supporters and most of the money.

Manchester United, with their 75,000 capacity, are one of seven clubs with more than 50,000 punters turning up every week, paying vast amounts for the privilege. The turnover of these behemoths can be three or four times the size of smaller clubs.

‌It is worth re-emphasising every now and again the fantastic jobs being done by the Premier League's 'B' teams. By 'B' teams I mean Brighton (seventh), Bournemouth (eighth) and Brentford (ninth).

‌Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium can squeeze in about 17,500 souls and they are all being royally entertained, winning 22 out of the 24 points available to them at home.

‌Bournemouth are arguably even more impressive. Their tiny Vitality Stadium can only seat 11,500, yet there they sit comfortably above the likes of Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United.

‌These clubs are staggeringly well run in comparison to others who regularly lose eye-watering sums of money on expensive players that fail to impress.

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Tom Jordan
Fan writer

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When that final whistle blows at the end of an inevitably thrilling encounter between Bournemouth and their opponents, you'd be forgiven of not knowing where any of the Cherries players have ended up playing.

Since Andoni Iraola arrived on the south coast he's provided some absorbing and chaotic football, and the role of each individual is equally as chaotic. From changing specific roles to instructing players to play in positions that they're somewhat alien to, we continue to be pleasantly surprised.

The high energy and aggressive press always remains, but players' roles are constantly tinkered with, and it has made for some interesting 'in game' changes .

At the weekend for example, the Cherries once again provided some impressive late drama and despite being behind on 86 minutes, won their third game on the bounce. Centre-back Dean Huijsen went up top and fellow defender James Hill came on in the centre of midfield. Combined with this, we saw Lewis Cook moved to right full-back and David Brooks operate in a central area.

The way the lads seemingly switch positions and roles with such ease is to be applauded, and the bravery and gambles taken by Andoni is wonderfully courageous.

We have no idea why we keep being surprised by this gaffer and this group of players. At the moment it is simply a joy to watch and long may it continue. No risk, no reward I guess!

At the moment, we can be exciting, we can pragmatic, we can be clinical, we can be wasteful, we can defend for our lives, and we can leave gaps, but - it doesn't matter, as Iraola's mentality monsters are grinding out points all over the place, and once again, it proved scintillating for the supporters.

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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Ipswich Town and Bournemouth.

Here are some of your comments:

Ipswich fans

Olly: Worked our socks off for 88 minutes for the keeper to completely lose the plot. He doesn't do that, I'm certain we win 1-0. Then momentum was always going to be hard to stop to salvage a point. Going to be hard to get the players to go again to that gut punch. Not sure how many setbacks or nearly performances they can recover from. So close but so far away… again.

Michael: Defeat down to the manager. Should have reinforced midfield earlier when 1-0 up. Too predictable with substitutes. Most teams would have protected what they had.

James: For an hour of this match, we played some excellent football and would have been worthy of the win. Nerves set in as we tried to see it out, and Bournemouth sensed this with two late, late goals. Overall, there were far more positives than negatives to come out of the game, but they are going to have to translate into points sooner rather than later if we are to stand a chance of survival.

Bournemouth fans

John: A deserved win. We wore Ipswich down in the end, with our press, pace and speed of passing. However we need to finish more of the chances we create. It was similar to the Spurs game in that way.

Tom: Two wins in four days and up to eighth, am I dreaming? But, please don't keep us waiting an on tenterhooks again.

Paul: Another outstanding team performance by a side who never stop running and fighting. So proud to be a Cherry!

Mark Chapman presents highlights and analysis from Sunday's four Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to Sunday's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Fulham 1-1 Arsenal

• Leicester City 2-2 Brighton

• Tottenham 3-4 Chelsea

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Andoni Iraola spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Bournemouth's victory against Ipswich: "We definitely didn't deserve to lose, we had great chances but just failed to take them, especially in the first half. Even in the second half we had momentum from the beginning. You start to think it's not your day but luckily we took them in the end."

On the impact from the bench: "The subs gave us the end product that we were missing. We were arriving in the right places but just not finishing.

"They finished well, we were almost in desperation mode at that point. We didn't have much structure and it was just about trying to get something."

On whether he is looking at the top four: "I don't think we have to look at the standings, it's too early. The most important thing is trying to win and then we see how many points we can get by the midway point."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Ipswich’s performance

What did you make of Bournemouth’s display?

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