Andoni Iraola stated he doesn’t imagine in “momentum” and “confidence” within the Premier League regardless of Bournemouth shifting into the highest half of the desk after their win over Tottenham.
The Cherries earned a formidable 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 received 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 aspect 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 now we have to reset,” Iraola stated.
“We now 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 should present it [that they are better than last season]. If we end with higher than 48 factors, then we shall be. If not, then possibly not. We actually don’t know. We’re having nice nights this season, particularly at residence towards 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 towards a aspect they haven’t crushed of their final six league conferences, although 5 of these matches have been drawn (L1).
Kieran McKenna confirmed he can be with out Ben Johnson and Kalvin Phillips for the encounter, eluding that modifications to his aspect might be made for the go to of the Cherries.
“We made some modifications on Tuesday night time that had been mandatory. It’s not going to be the identical XI each recreation,” McKenna stated.
“On Tuesday you can see the problem for a few our youthful gamers having to play Saturday-Tuesday within the Premier League for the primary time.
“We’d wish to have one or two extra obtainable to rotate, however generally we’ve nonetheless bought a reasonably wholesome squad.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ipswich – Liam Delap
Nobody has been concerned in additional targets for Ipswich than Delap (seven) within the Premier League this season, although he has did not register a purpose involvement in his final three video games.
Bournemouth – Justin Kluivert
Whereas not having the ability to add to his record-breaking hat-trick towards Wolves in midweek towards Tottenham, Kluivert shall be eager to proceed his goal-scoring type away from residence.
He has scored 4 targets 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 received simply one in every of their final 11 away league video games towards 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 that they had of their earlier 15 such matches (W8 D5).
Ipswich, in the meantime, stay with out a win in any of their seven Premier League residence video games this season (D4 L3). Of their league historical past, solely in 2018-19 have that they had an extended run with out a residence 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. Nonetheless, having conceded 20 targets 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 to date this season. Their price of 12.9 fouls per recreation is at present the very best by a promoted aspect in a single marketing campaign since Wolves in 2009-10 (13.8).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Ipswich – 28.6%
Draw – 24.4%
Bournemouth – 46.9%