Bournemouth had just beaten Arsenal when Andoni Iraola confirmed he would leave at the end of the season, and since then his team have hardly missed a beat. A promising season might easily have faded away. Instead, it gathered momentum and is finishing with a roar.
'It was not an easy decision but once it is made you feel relief,' said Iraola after victory at Fulham kept the Cherries in sixth, on course for their first ticket to European competition. 'I feel we have used it in a positive way. Since that day, we’ve had great results but also the mood. Everyone is clear, the relationship is so clean and honest. OK, this is going to happen, next season Marco Rose will be our manager. Everyone knows what’s happening. We are in good place and can use this in a positive way.'
Iraola is top of Crystal Palace’s wish list, although there is sure to be competition. His next move had yet to be decided, he insisted. 'I’m in no rush,' he said after the win at Craven Cottage. 'I will not talk about my future. I’m fully focused on trying to finish this season with a reward, something tangible for the players and supporters.'
Matchwinner Rayan celebrated with the Bournemouth fans at the end of the 1-0 win at Fulham. Cherries fans sang his name as they filed out of the Putney End having seen Rayan score the only goal of a game in which both teams were reduced to 10 men at the end of a first half dominated by Fulham.
Christie was first to go in the 41st minute for a tackle from behind on Timothy Castagne. Referee Andrew Madley pulled out his yellow card only to upgrade after a VAR intervention and a check on his monitor. Sliding in at pace, Christie sank his studs into Castagne’s left calf. Andersen climbed high and headed the resulting free kick against the bar before following Christie down the tunnel in similar circumstances. Again, it was a sliding challenge at speed. Again, Madley pulled out a yellow. Again, he was invited to check the replays. Again, he upgraded to a red. Marco Silva grumbled that his team should have shown more maturity, been aware the officials might be looking to level up. Andersen claimed he won the ball and he did. The problem was his boot riding over the ball and crashing high into the shins of Adrien Truffert.
Both managers tweaked accordingly and Bournemouth, so subdued in the first half, appeared much happier with the extra space of 10 against 10. Junior Kroupi hit the bar with a curling shot from the edge of the penalty box early in the second half, before the visitors took the lead. Rayan jinked inside from the right wing and took aim from distance, a shot which clipped Calvin Bassey and flashed past Bernd Leno.
In Rayan, Bournemouth have unearthed another gem. He is a powerful winger signed for £24.7 million from Vasco da Gama in January to replace Antoine Semenyo. This was his fifth goal since for the club and his third in the last three. Like his team, the 19-year-old Brazilian is finishing the season with a flourish, and on Tuesday week will go up against Manchester City and Semenyo.
Silva changed his wingers and sparked a response. Oscar Bobb fired over, Djordje Petrovic saved from Kevin, and still Bournemouth continued to threaten on the break. Another powerful Rayan charge ended with two vital interventions by Josh King. First, to tackle Tyler Adams and then to block an effort by Truffert. And, in the fourth minute of added time, there was a staggering miss by Amine Adli, a miskick with the goal gaping. Adli must have had his heart in his mouth seconds later when King rattled the bar at the other end.
But these things are going Bournemouth’s way. They have acquired a charmed life as they bid farewell to Iraola and dream of a European tour and a Rose-tinted future.
