Andoni Iraola stated he doesn’t imagine in “momentum” and “confidence” within the Premier League regardless of Bournemouth transferring into the highest half of the desk after their win over Tottenham.
The Cherries earned a powerful victory over Spurs on Thursday, with Dean Huijsen’s first-half header the distinction on the south coast to pile extra distress on Ange Postecoglou.
Bournemouth have now gained successive Premier League video games for the primary time since April, however are on the highway this weekend as they tackle winless Ipswich City at Portman Street on Sunday.
Iraola’s facet discover themselves only a level adrift of the European locations after 14 video games of their marketing campaign, however the Bournemouth boss was fast to mood expectations at this early stage.
“I don’t belief an excessive amount of on this momentum and confidence factor. The league is so tight. The degrees are so small, from a win to a loss, so we have now to reset,” Iraola stated.
“Now we have a troublesome recreation away at Ipswich with simply two days of restoration. We can’t proceed considering of the standings or of the factors, simply competing each recreation. For me, the top of the season is just too distant. We can’t look a lot additional.
“We must present it [that they are better than last season]. If we end with higher than 48 factors, then we can be. If not, then possibly not. We actually don’t know. We’re having nice nights this season, particularly at house in opposition to troublesome opposition, and we’re getting the factors.”
Simply a few chill guys getting three factors pic.twitter.com/dzZRg2x0Xn
— AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) December 5, 2024
Ipswich, in the meantime, stay searching for that elusive first victory after falling to a slender 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Tuesday.
The Tractor Boys additionally face a troublesome job this weekend in opposition to a facet they haven’t crushed of their final six league conferences, although 5 of these matches have been drawn (L1).
Kieran McKenna confirmed he could be with out Ben Johnson and Kalvin Phillips for the encounter, eluding that adjustments to his facet might be made for the go to of the Cherries.
“We made some adjustments on Tuesday night time that have been vital. It’s not going to be the identical XI each recreation,” McKenna stated.
“On Tuesday you might see the problem for a few our youthful gamers having to play Saturday-Tuesday within the Premier League for the primary time.
“We’d prefer to have one or two extra out there to rotate, however basically we’ve nonetheless obtained a fairly wholesome squad.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ipswich – Liam Delap
Nobody has been concerned in additional objectives for Ipswich than Delap (seven) within the Premier League this season, although he has did not register a objective involvement in his final three video games.
Bournemouth – Justin Kluivert
Whereas not having the ability to add to his record-breaking hat-trick in opposition to Wolves in midweek in opposition to Tottenham, Kluivert can be eager to proceed his goal-scoring kind away from house.
He has scored 4 objectives in his final two Premier League video games on the highway, which is double the quantity that he’d netted in his first 21 away from the Vitality Stadium within the competitors (two).
1 – Justin Kluivert is the primary participant in Premier League historical past to attain a hat-trick of penalties in a single match, with teammate Evanilson additionally the primary to win three penalties in the identical recreation within the competitors. Noticed. pic.twitter.com/KTDO4CYH0T
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 30, 2024
MATCH PREDICTION: BOURNEMOUTH WIN
This would be the first ever top-flight assembly between Ipswich and Bournemouth, making it the 1,453rd fixture to be performed in England’s prime division.
Whereas Bournemouth are favoured by Opta’s data-led simulations, they’ve gained simply one in every of their final 11 away league video games in opposition to Ipswich (D3 L7), a 2-1 win beneath Harry Redknapp in March 1988. Their final three league visits to Portman Street have all been attracts.
The Cherries have additionally misplaced two of their final three Premier League conferences with promoted sides (W1), as many as they’d of their earlier 15 such matches (W8 D5).
Ipswich, in the meantime, stay and not using a win in any of their seven Premier League house video games this season (D4 L3). Of their league historical past, solely in 2018-19 have they’d an extended run and not using a house win from the beginning of a marketing campaign (10).
The Tractor Boys have saved only one clear sheet of their 14 top-flight video games this season. Nevertheless, having conceded 20 objectives of their first 9 this time period (2.2 per recreation), they’ve now conceded simply 5 of their final 5.
And Ipswich’s frustration has seemingly proven. They’ve conceded 180 fouls of their 14 Premier League video games thus far this season. Their fee of 12.9 fouls per recreation is at the moment the very best by a promoted facet in a single marketing campaign since Wolves in 2009-10 (13.8).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Ipswich – 28.6%
Draw – 24.4%
Bournemouth – 46.9%
