Bournemouth

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  1. Bournemouth v Brentford: Team newspublished at 18:28 GMT 3 March

    Bournemouth XI

    Andoni Iraola makes two change to the Bournemouth side that drew 1-1 with Sunderland on Saturday.

    Ryan Christie and Evanilson come into the side, with David Brooks and top scorer Eli Junior Kroupi dropping to the bench.

    AFC Bournemouth: Petrovic, Jimenez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert, Adams, Scott, Rayan, Christie, Tavernier, Evanilson. Subs: Mandas, Brooks, Smith, Diakite, Adli, Junior Kroupi, Unal, Toth, Milosavljevic.

    Brentford boss Keith Andrew makes three alterations to his side after their dramatic 4-3 win over Burnley three days ago.

    Caoimhin Kelleher returns in goal after missing that game because of the birth of his child. Jordan Henderson comes into midfielder and Nathan Collins starts in defence.

    Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson, Kristoffer Ajer, and Yehor Yarmoliuk drop to the bench.

    Brentford: Kelleher, Kayode, Collins, van den Berg, Henry, Henderson, Jensen, Ouattara, Damsgaard, Schade, Thiago. Subs: Valdimarsson, Pinnock, Yarmolyuk, Ajer, Lewis-Potter, Donovan, Furo, Bentt, Shield.

    Brentford XI
  2. 'It was never a question to come here'published at 14:07 GMT 3 March

    Media caption,

    Alexander Toth has spoken about the process of moving to Bournemouth at the start of this year.

    The midfielder says he only heard good things about the club when he spoke to fellow Hungarian and former Cherry Milos Kerkez.

    "I had interest from other clubs before Bournemouth and during the negotiations as well but it was never a question," Toth added.

    "Bournemouth is quieter - I lived in Budapest, a big city, but I like the place and the people. Everyone is so kind and I really enjoy being here."

    Access Toth's chat and more Bournemouth audio

  3. 'European dream may yet still be alive'published at 12:30 GMT 3 March

    Sam Davis
    Fan writer

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    Head Coach Andoni Iraola of BournemouthImage source, Getty Images

    Bournemouth have continued on their impressive run this calendar year, with many fans still dreaming of potentially snatching a European spot by May.

    If that were to happen, then the Cherries certainly need to start turning some of their draws into wins.

    The club have already recorded more draws this season than they ever have before in their Premier League history, with a couple of months still to play.

    This statistic alone shows just many missed opportunities there have been for the south coast side. Only a few more wins would really put the Cherries up there mixing it with the big boys.

    In fact only the top three have lost fewer games than Bournemouth this season, but equally only the bottom six have won fewer.

    It's a young and talented squad, and it perhaps is that lack of experience and leadership in certain moments which may be preventing the side getting over the line in some of these games.

    On the other hand, Bournemouth are certainly making themselves harder to beat. If a few of those draws ended in defeat then the Cherries would be worryingly looking over their shoulder somewhat.

    It is a great quality to be able to grind out vital points and maybe being a tougher nut to crack is actually a step in the right direction for Iraola's side?

    Whichever way you decide to view it, it's an incredibly high amount of draws.

    If Bournemouth get the balance wrong then the season will peter out without too much late drama, but if they were to get it right, then that elusive European dream may yet still be alive!

    Find more from Sam Davis at Back of the Net, external

  4. Bournemouth v Brentford: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 08:55 GMT 3 March

    Chris Adams
    BBC Sport journalist

    Bournemouth are closing in on their best Premier League unbeaten run but will face a stern test at Vitality Stadium on Tuesday (19:30 GMT) against a Brentford side in sparkling away form.

    Four wins and four draws in their past eight league fixtures mean the Cherries are unbeaten since the turn of the year, a sequence which has moved them from 15th to 10th in the table, and only Manchester United (11) are on a longer unbeaten spell.

    Just once have Bournemouth enjoyed a longer run without defeat in the top flight, going 11 games without losing between November and January last season.

    Another South Coast stalemate?

    But for a dozen draws – the joint most of any club in Europe's top five leagues this term – Andoni Iraola's men could be in the hunt for a European spot. Indeed, Bournemouth's 12 stalemates – six of them at home – is already their most in a top-flight campaign.

    This chart shows that as of 2 March 2026, Bournemouth and Pisa are the clubs with the most draws across Europe's top five leagues this season, each having recorded 12.

    With much talk about the quality of Brazilian teenager Rayan since his arrival in January, it was his more experienced countryman Evanilson who rescued a point against Sunderland on Saturday, coming off the bench to notch his sixth league goal of the season.

    Worryingly, he was taken off with five minutes to go after suffering a knock to the hip, giving him the quirky honour of becoming the first Bournemouth player to be subbed on, score and then be subbed off in a league match since James Keene against Brentford in October 2005 – when the two clubs were in League One.

    Brentford for Europe?

    While Brentford can't match Bournemouth's unbeaten record this calendar year, their form across the piece has them riding high in seventh place and dreaming of European qualification for the first time in their 134-year history.

    Keith Andrews' side boast an eye-catching recent record on their travels, with Mikkel Damsgaard's late winner in Saturday's epic 4-3 victory at Burnley the latest example – even if they did have a contentious VAR decision to thank for denying the Clarets a stoppage-time equaliser.

    Across their past six away games, Brentford have picked up more points than anyone else in the division.

    The image highlights Brentford's excellent recent away form. They currently lead the Premier League's away form table over the last six games having secured 15 points from a possible 18.
  5. Sutton's predictions: Bournemouth v Brentfordpublished at 07:37 GMT 3 March

    Chris Sutton smiling on a yellow and black background with 'Sutton's predictions' written below his face

    Brentford's late win at Burnley means they have won five of their past six away league games.

    They have already won at Bournemouth once this season, in the Carabao Cup, and also hammered them 4-1 when they met after Christmas.

    But that was when Bournemouth were in the middle of their bad run, and they have picked up a lot since then - they are unbeaten in their past eight league games.

    I was wrong when I said the Cherries would beat Sunderland on Saturday, but I am still backing them this time - and I am tempted to go 2-1 every game this week after what happened on Sunday [when all four games finished with that scoreline].

    Sutton's prediction: 2-1

    Read the full predictions and have your say here

  6. Iraola on Evanilson, set-pieces and Outtara's returnpublished at 15:37 GMT 2 March

    Grace Wheeler
    BBC Sport journalist

    Media caption,

    Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Premier League game against Brentford at Vitality Stadium (kick-off 19:30 GMT).

    Here are the key lines from his news conference:

    • On the injury that forced Evanilson off in the draw with Sunderland: "He couldn't train. It is a matter of managing the pain and I hope he will be available tomorrow. He gives us a lot of good things. He helps us to play higher up the pitch - this is good for the rest of the team and for him. He is a very good forward."

    • He added: "Everyone else came off tired and we had a few cramps."

    • On Bournemouth's position in the table: "We are in a good spot - we are 10th right now. We drew the other day and we lost two positions because everyone else around us won their games. Tomorrow, we will have one of the more difficult games we have remaining."

    • On set-pieces: "Looking back to the last game, we had 21 shots and a lot of them were coming from set-piece situations. I don't have the feeling that we are missing super chances. Overall, it is a matter of balance and lately we are scoring fewer goals."

    • He added: "We have to find a way to protect our keepers. They are not any other players - they are the only ones who can touch the ball with their hands. We are are allowing almost everything in the small [six-yard] box. All the teams are seeing this and trying to maximise this. I think the referees will have to decide what they want to do with the games. I think they [VAR] are going to have to start calling things - if you see it, call it, but don't waste another 40 seconds."

    • On facing former player Dango Ouattara: "We miss him. He is an incredible player but Brentford paid us a lot of money and sometimes you have to do some deals because they are good for the bigger picture of the club. We accepted because the deal was good for the player and the club."

    Hit play above to hear more from Iraola or listen on BBC Sounds here

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

    Listen to commentary of Bournemouth v Brentford on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3 and BBC Sounds at 19:30 on Tuesday

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  7. Bournemouth 1-1 Sunderland - the fans' verdictpublished at 09:13 GMT 2 March

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

    Here are some of your comments:

    Bournemouth

    Paul: Another two points given up by a slow start and missed chances. As maybe expected, the high press just isn't there at this point of the season and the front men aren't getting into the box like they were earlier. Some encouraging performances, notably Alex Scott (again) and Marcus Tavernier, although we have to find a way to get Rayan more involved.

    Adam: With a proper finisher (don't mention Antoine Semenyo), we'd be top five. Glad to not lose but gutted to not win... again.

    James: Always a threat. Always play great football - although the time-wasting at Brighton was appalling. The unbeaten run continues. European football remains a possibility.

    Geoff: On paper, it should have been 90 minutes of attacking football. Sunderland forgot to read the script, but were determined to throw themselves to the ground at every opportunity. Had there been a better referee I am quite sure all fans would have witnessed a better game.

    Sunderland

    Ann: Great away point! Sunderland have done well this season. Glad the captain is back at the helm!

    Stephen: We knew we had to do much more and perform better than we have in recent games, and we did. We had more urgency, more fizz and better structure. We were unlucky not to get the three points.

    K: A good performance against an in-form Bournemouth side. The standard of refereeing and those involved in VAR need a serious review. Week after week, there appear to be some serious errors made.

    Craig: On the face of it, a good point on the road, but in reality, another shocking performance from the officials. In what planet was the penalty shout an acceptable challenge? Three points off the magical 40 takes the pain away, but more consistency from VAR is needed.

  8. 🎧Cherries Unpicked: Eight Unbeatenpublished at 10:58 GMT 1 March

    BBC Radio Solent's Bournemouth's commentator Jordan Clark and former Bournemouth striker and current development squad manager Alan Connell, dissect a 1-1 draw for the Cherries against Sunderland in the Premier League.

    Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

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  9. Bournemouth 1-1 Sunderland: What Iraola and Tavernier saidpublished at 16:03 GMT 28 February

    Media caption,

    Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I think probably a draw is not the result we wanted but we've paid for our slow start. It's taken us a lot of minutes to switch on. In the second half we were much better and closer to winning the game. But we've paid for this slow start. We conceded the first goal and after it becomes difficult."

    On not losing since Antoine Semenyo's transfer to Manchester City: "It's true, we are getting decent results. It's difficult to go eight games without a loss in the Premier League. We are probably drawing to much. We have been drawing a lot in the Premier League. Some of them are very good draws, others not so good.

    "Thirty-nine points, we lose today a chance to get those magical 40 points that everyone marks as the first thing. But we have to keep going. In three days we play Brentford so let's go."

    On Marcus Tavernier's great cross for Bournemouth's equaliser: "Yes, and even the first action of Ryan Christie. In the first half we said we were losing a lot at free-kicks. We said just take it quickly, and give some rhythm into the game. It was difficult today to get rhythm into the game. I don't think the referee has helped a lot. We did this a little bit more with tempo and with the subs I think we got a little bit more at least.

    "We are a team that sees the overall picture. We score a lot of goals and concede a lot of goals. Probably for us the first goal is not important because we've won a lot of games after conceding the first goal and have lost a lot of games after scoring the first goal. It's something we need to improve, the last few games we haven't started well and this makes the game more difficult. "

    Bournemouth midfielder Marcus Tavernier, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I feel like it was a scrappy game from start to finish, it was a tough battle out there.

    "We knew in the second half we had to come out fast. The gaffer pointed out that we had to put in balls early.

    "It's something we've worked on every week, especially as wide players putting the ball into the box for centre-forwards, and luckily it fell for Evanilson for his goal.

    "We never give up. We know the first half wasn't ourselves. In the second half we knew we needed a reaction and we got that today.

    "It's always the plan to try and win games of football. Today it wasn't meant to be but we dust ourselves down because we've got a quick turnaround."

    You can hear more from Andoni Iraola on BBC Sounds

    Did you know?

    • Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last eight Premier League games (W4 D4) – only enjoying a longer streak without defeat once previously in the competition (11 between November 2024/January 2025).

    • Bournemouth have won 15 points from losing positions in the Premier League this season, only Aston Villa (19) and Sunderland (16) have recovered more.

  10. Analysis: Cherries extend run despite slow startpublished at 15:12 GMT 28 February

    Emily Salley
    BBC Sport journalist

    Evanilson of BournemouthImage source, Getty Images

    Only Manchester United (10 games) are on a longer unbeaten run in the top flight than Bournemouth.

    But the Cherries looked far from their in-form best in the first half on Saturday, spurning chances to score while struggling to contain Sunderland.

    Junior Kroupi skewed a strike well wide after latching on to a loose ball, while Alex Scott could not replicate Eliezer Mayenda's opener when Robin Roefs palmed the ball straight to him.

    There will be some debate over whether Sunderland should have been reduced to 10 men in the first half, with Iraola left furious on the touchline when he thought Roefs had unfairly denied Kroupi a goalscoring opportunity.

    But Bournemouth themselves were perhaps fortunate not to see red when the VAR decided to stick with Jared Gillet's on-field decision to show Tyler Adams a yellow card only for his studs-up challenge on Granit Xhaka.

    Regardless of those decisions - and their own slow start - Bournemouth will feel they should have fought back to steal all three points after a late flurry of chances.

  11. Bournemouth v Sunderland: Team newspublished at 11:33 GMT 28 February

    Graphic showing Bournemouth line upImage source, BBC Sport

    Andoni Iraola makes two changes to the Bournemouth side that played out a goalless draw with West Ham last weekend.

    Striker Evanilson drops to the bench along with Amine Adli, with David Brooks and Marcus Tavernier coming into the starting line-up.

    Bournemouth XI: Petrovic, Jimenez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert, Scott, Adams, Brooks, Rayan, Kroupi, Tavernier.

    Subs: Mandas, Evanilson, Christie, Smith, Diakite, Adli, Unal, Toth, Milosavljevic.

    Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris makes four changes after a 3-1 home defeat by Fulham.

    Captain Granit Xhaka returns to the starting line-up for the first time since 17 January after recovering from an ankle injury.

    Lutsharel Geertruida, Eliezer Malenda and Chemsdine Talbi also come into the side, with Romaine Mundle and Jocelin Ta Bi set for a "few weeks or months" out after suffering injuries against the Cottagers.

    Sunderland XI: Roefs, Geertruida, Ballard, Alderete, Hume, Sadiki, Xhaka, Le Fee, Diarra, Mayenda, Talbi.

    Subs: Ellborg, Angulo, Rigg, O'Nien, Isidor, Traore, Aleksic, H Jones, J Jones.

    Graphic showing Sunderland line-upImage source, BBC Sport
  12. Follow Saturday's Premier League games livepublished at 11:29 GMT 28 February

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    There are five games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

    Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

    Follow all of the action and reaction here

    You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Liverpool v West Ham" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Newcastle v Everton", for instance.

    Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

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  13. 'It's clear the impact Iraola has had on us players'published at 10:15 GMT 28 February

    Media caption,

    Bournemouth's Ryan Christie says the players are "all desperate" for boss Andoni Iraola to sign a new contract to stay at the club.

    "I don't think you'll find many people at this club hoping he goes somewhere else this summer," the midfielder told BBC Radio Solent.

    Hit play above to hear more from Christie or listen here on BBC Sounds

  14. Bournemouth v Sunderland: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 19:44 GMT 27 February

    Tom McCoy
    BBC Sport journalist

    Sunderland make the long journey to the south coast vying for their first league double over Bournemouth since 1990. BBC Sport examines some of the key themes before Saturday's match (12:30 GMT).

    In-form Cherries aim to extend unbeaten run

    Bournemouth have been one of the Premier League's streakiest sides this season. They ended October second in the table after losing just one of their first nine league fixtures but plummeted down the standings following an 11-match winless sequence.

    However, despite selling star man Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City in January, the Cherries are staging a formidable third act. Andoni Iraola's team are one of the top flight's form sides right now and have avoided defeat in each of their past seven league games – only Manchester United are currently on a longer unbeaten run.

    Victory on Saturday would take them seventh, for a few hours at least, and boost their hopes of qualifying for Europe for the first time in their history. An achievement of that scale would underline why Iraola is one of the game's most in-demand managers.

    Yet after last weekend's goalless draw at West Ham, Iraola was looking down the table rather than up, stressing that his priority is getting 40 points on the board to secure safety.

    He was also disappointed with his side's uncharacteristically passive first-half display at London Stadium, complaining his players didn't win enough duels and "were not being aggressive on the ball".

    A list of the longest current unbeaten runs in the Premier League. Bournemouth are undefeated in their past seven top-flight games, which ranks second overall behind Manchester United (10 matches)

    Sunderland on the slide

    A run of three consecutive league defeats has seen Sunderland overtaken by Bournemouth, with the Black Cats also dropping out of the top half of the table.

    The newly promoted club have been this season's surprise package and with 36 points on the board have probably already done enough to achieve their key objective – staying up.

    The Wearsiders were hard to beat in the first half of the campaign but have not maintained that stubborn streak since the turn of the year, losing five Premier League fixtures in 2026 – one more than in 2025.

    However, head coach Regis le Bris insists perspective is required. "In the Premier League, it's not unusual for us and for every team in the league – you can be in the top six and you can have a long sequence of poor results," he said following last weekend's defeat.

    "We are now in this part of the journey – resilience, togetherness, consistency and standards are always the same values we need and we won't give up."

    A comparison of Sunderland's Premier League record in 2025 (W7, D7, L4) and 2026 (W2, D2, L5).
  15. Sutton's predictions: Bournemouth v Sunderlandpublished at 18:11 GMT 27 February

    Chris Sutton smiling on a yellow and black background with 'Sutton's predictions' written below his face

    Sunderland just seem to be fading a little bit.

    They went fourth in the table when they beat Bournemouth 3-2 at the Stadium of Light at the end of November, but their results have tailed off recently and they have missed Granit Xhaka's influence in recent weeks.

    Xhaka came off the bench in last week's defeat by Fulham and, if he starts this time, they will be better organised here.

    I still fancy Bournemouth to win it, though. They always create chances and Rayan has done well since signing in January to replace Antoine Semenyo.

    Sutton's prediction: 2-0

    Read the full predictions and have your say here

  16. Winning and winning fastpublished at 18:11 GMT 27 February

    Tony Pulis - Going Direct banner

    My first chance as a manager came with Bournemouth in the summer of 1992. At first I was not thinking much beyond my first game - a draw on Preston's plastic pitch by the way - and neither, it seems, was my chairman, Norman Hayward.

    I'd been given a club car, which was about 20 years old and, a few months into my first season, we went up to watch Grimsby play one night.

    We drove there in his Mercedes and on the way back he dropped me off where I'd parked up. The windscreen was iced up so I turned on my engine and Norman got out his credit card to try to scrape the ice off.

    While he was doing that, I heard him shouting: "Oh no, I can't believe it!" I thought he had snapped his credit card but he'd actually seen my tax disc. "They've given you 12 months. I told them six months!"

    I laughed and said: "Thanks Norman, that gives me loads of confidence!"

    Still, I was fortunate to get the chance at Bournemouth, and also lucky in that I received some good advice on how I might stick around.

    I always remember the late Alec Stock - another member of the 1,000 club, who had long spells in charge of Leyton Orient, QPR and Fulham as well as with Yeovil, Roma, Luton and Bournemouth - ringing me up one night and explaining why I should work on a three-year plan.

    The first season, he said, was to assess the players, staff, and get to grips with all the other aspects of how the club is run.

    The second season was to reset it, to get it working on and off the pitch and win all the battles to get things my own way for the third season which, according to Alec, was the season that everyone - supporters, directors and yourself - should see progress.

    He also told me any manager would only ever be judged a success by producing a winning team.

    During my time at Bournemouth, I learned how true that was - never mind how hard you worked or how much you did to protect your club financially, management was all about winning.

    Norman was a hard chairman, but he was honest and we remain friends today. I was left more determined than ever to get back in the saddle and go again.

    Read Tony's column on the challenge of leading a club

  17. 🎧 Season ticket relocation is 'critical' - Frevolapublished at 17:49 GMT 27 February

    Bournemouth president of business operations Jim Frevola insists relocating season ticket holders to make way for a refreshed hospitality offering is "critical" to retaining the club's Premier League status.

    About 600 season ticket holders have been contacted to say they will have to move seats as part of the club's redevelopment of Vitality Stadium, which would increase the capacity from 11,000 to 20,000.

    Speaking at a media conference on Friday, Cherries coach Andoni Iraola spoke of the need for fans and club to work together to create "the best atmosphere we can".

    Fans have expressed disappointment that the long-serving loyalty of season ticket holders is coming second to the need to accommodate hospitality guests.

    But Frevola said that such a decision is standard, and is required to protect the club's future.

    "The reality is for a football club, this is pretty normal," Frevola told BBC Radio Solent's Cherries Unpicked podcast.

    "The reality is that a redevelopment programme needs lots and lots of money, we've got to be able to add hospitality, as that's really what drives our revenue.

    "It's critical for the programme to go through. Without growing the matchday revenue, we're not keeping up with the revenue.

    "Squad cost ratio is a real issue - we were one of six clubs to vote against it - it puts us at a competitive disadvantage."

    Frevola pointed out that, once expanded, Vitality Stadium's 20,000-seater stadium still puts Bournemouth at a financial disadvantage next to the Premier League clubs with capacities of 70,000 - "but we've got to start somewhere".

    He noted that the 6% of the stadium which accommodates hospitality provides 40% of the club's matchday revenue - thus, the focus on hospitality funds the addition of 8,700 general admission seats under the redevelopment plans.

    Though Frevola listed many clubs in the division who are planning to or have recently upgraded their stadiums - Nottingham Forest, Leeds, Fulham, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Arsenal, Liverpool, Brentford and Aston Villa - he also expressed sympathy for the supporters who will be affected by the move.

    "This is the hardest discussion that we've had since we've been here," Frevola said. "We are completely sympathetic.

    "We have looked at different ways to do this. I understand that no matter what we did... If we built a new stadium, 11,000 people would have to relocate in some fashion of another.

    "This is the plan. It is difficult. I've gone through this with other organisations. If you've worked in the sport industry and you've redeveloped a stadium, you go through things like this. It's not easy. It doesn't make it right that some people have to move but sometimes difficult decisions have to be made."

    Reassuring fans that all those season ticket holders affected have already been informed and will have first priority when it comes to choosing new seats both for next season and when the new stands open, Frevola said: "We're going to hold their hand through the process."

    Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

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  18. 'A massive own goal purely driven by commercial reasons'published at 13:38 GMT 27 February

    A general view inside the Vitality StadiumImage source, Getty Images

    On the surface, there are exciting times ahead for Bournemouth and their fans.

    The club are thriving on the pitch and Monday's announcement has set out plans for the redevelopment of the smallest ground in the Premier League.

    However, about 600 season-ticket holders have been told they will have to move seats to accommodate for extra hospitality seating as part of a stadium extension plan.

    Andoni Iraola was asked in his Friday news conference about the "very disappointed" reaction of some fans, and said: "It's important to get it right first time.

    "The club has to hear what the supporters want and we have to, all together, get it right because we need to create the best atmosphere we can in our stadium."

    But this is unlikely to placate those fans who will need to move seats.

    Cherries fan Andrew Parkin said: "Me and my parents have had season tickets since the stadium was opened back in 2001. A good chunk of our family life has been spent attending Bournemouth games at home.

    "The important thing to stress to people is this isn't us being anti-progress for the club at all. We understand revenue needs to be driven with off-field activities.

    "The issue for me and a lot of fans is timing and trust and the treatment of long-standing supporters. The club is making a choice and that seems purely driven by commercial reasons at the expense of 600 fans.

    "The club have scored a massive own goal with this."

    Bournemouth Echo senior sports reporter Alexander Smith added: "As Andrew said, and others I have spoken to, they don't feel the stadium is growing by enough capacity that they and the groups they sit with will be able to stick together.

    "It's a cause for concern for a lot of people."

    Listen to full reaction to the news on BBC Sounds

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  19. Iraola on injuries, Smith's record and Sunderlandpublished at 10:57 GMT 27 February

    Melissa Edwards
    BBC Sport journalist

    Media caption,

    Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Sunderland at Vitality Stadium (kick-off 12:30 GMT).

    Here are the key lines:

    • Lewis Cook has a hamstring injury and Iraola suggested he won't be back until after the international break at the end of March.

    • Iraola said: "It's not a big one but he's had a lot of issues [this season]. When he's played, he has been very good for us but he had the MCL pre-season and then the shoulder and now he has a hamstring. In a positive way, he's someone who comes back from injuries very well, straight away he's available and he plays well but it's true that for him personally, it's been a difficult season."

    • Elsewhere, Ben Gannon-Doak is progressing in his hamstring recovery and is likely to return after the international break, while Justin Kluivert faces a "race against time" to be back to see out the rest of the season.

    • A portion of Bournemouth season-ticket holders have been asked to move seats by the club, as part of the planned stadium expansion, leaving some fans "very disappointed". Iraola said: "I've been asking also about these things - about how we're going to save the situation, what's going to be built, what's it going to be in two years, how it's going to be provisionally and I think that it's a moment where the club has to make important decisions. It's important to get it right first time. The club has to hear what the supporters want and we have to, all together, get it right because we need to create the best atmosphere we can in our stadium."

    • On Adam Smith reaching 250 Premier League appearances and signing a contract extension with the Cherries: "We've proved that we value him with his new contract. He is still going and fighting and he has added more numbers to a very, very good amount. I think it's fully deserved because every time we need him he is there, he performs and if he doesn't play, he pushes whoever is in front of him. Now he's in a fight with Alex Jimenez for minutes and Alex knows, if he doesn't play very well, Adam Smith will be there and that's good news for us."

    • On Sunderland: "It's a team that has played really well this season. Starting from the goalkeeper - he has been very, very good for them. He has a really long kick so it puts you under pressure really early. Every free-kick and every set-piece situation, they put a lot of pressure on you, they manage the situations very well."

    Hit play above to hear more from Iraola on the season-ticket decision or listen on BBC Sounds here

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