AFC Bournemouth look ahead to a local clash and an opportunity to pick up their first home win of the season against Southampton on Monday evening, after gaining five points in their first five games.
Andoni Iraola will miss the fixture after picking up his third yellow card of the season. However, his Bournemouth side come into the fixture with no fresh injury concerns and only Tyler Adams absent.
They face a struggling Saints side who currently sit 19th place in the Premier League on just one point.
Aaron Ramsdale will return to The Vitality Stadium after trading the red and white of Arsenal for Southampton. Meanwhile, the south coast strugglers will hope to pick up their first away win, following defeats to Newcastle United and Brentford to start the season.
For the home side, a win against Russell Martin's men is crucial to avoid any potential slips down the table and fulfill the ambitions of Bill Foley.
Iraola had plenty to say ahead of the clash.
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A blunt start to the season
After the sale of the club's former talisman Dominic Solanke, goals were always going to be harder to come by for Iraola's side.
Antoine Semenyo has taken over as the side's main goal threat, netting twice and assisting once. Lewis Cook, Marcus Tavernier, and Luis Sinisterra have also chipped in with a goal apiece.
Club record signing Evanilson has not yet hit the ground running with goals, failing to score in his opening four appearances and missing a penalty against Chelsea. However, the signs of the Brazilian's all-round play have kept the faith of Cherries fans.
Despite creating a whole host of chances against both Chelsea and Liverpool, Iraola's men have failed to score in their last two matches. However, the Spaniard remains positive.
“I think it's good numbers to have,” Iraola said.
“Numbers don't give you points, but I think we are having our chances. We are creating things.
“I feel like the wingers, the forwards, the number ten are having chances, are being a threat for the opposition.
“I hope they can continue like this because I think the most important thing is to have the chances to get there, to play a lot in the last third and then I trust my players to finish it also and to score the goals.”
“We have talked about the position we have, probably this number will get lower and will not be the same,” Iraola added.
“It's very early to take conclusions. I want to be always a team that creates chances, but now it's going to be more difficult, obviously, against Chelsea, against Liverpool, against these teams.
“I think we have to be probably more clinical.”
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Marcus Tavernier's performances
Iraola was also asked about the form of midfielder Marcus Tavernier, who has started all five Premier League matches this season and the Cherries' Carabao Cup tie at West Ham.
Iraola said: “I think he's playing very well.
“He's having chances. He's finishing, he's arriving from the crosses the other side. But I think he past season also was very good from him.
“I was very happy and that's why he played so many minutes and he gives us more things, not only the finishing."
Tavernier scored his first goal of the season in the Cherries' opening home fixture against Newcastle.
The 25-year-old has also registered 269 total touches, 14 chances created, and 2.08 non-penalty xG.
“It would be amazing if he could have even better numbers because I think he has the ability to also do the numbers, but I don't want him to lose some of his work because he has to make the numbers.
“So, we ask him to do a lot of things and I want him to continue doing these things and if we can add more numbers like everyone else, much better.”
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Could Alex Scott get game time?
Since joining from Bristol City in 2023, Alex Scott's time on the south coast has been dictated by a host of injuries.
The midfielder has frequently featured from the bench, appearing in all five games and starting just once.
The Guernsey-born player has been a regular replacement for Ryan Christie. However, the 21-year-old has seemingly struggled to match the speed of play at times.
“I think we played a very good 60 minutes against Chelsea. Very, very good," said Iraola.
“Then we started naturally, we started a little bit to decline and to defend a little bit lower than we were doing before.
“We lost, I don't know, 5 or 10 metres. And it gives them a little bit of more breath and they felt less the pressure and I made the change [to bring Scott on] just because of this.
“I felt that we were already losing a little bit of the duels and we needed some energy.
“We couldn't alter this scenario, I think in the second half even if it was quite level.”
Iraola added on Scott: "He trains well, he's very committed defensively also because we know his quality on the ball and I think he has played every game.
“He has been involved in every game and he has to continue," said Iraola.
“It's like all the young players, like I say a lot with Milos [Kerkez], with Zaba [Illia Zabarnyi], luckily for them it's not the end product.
“He still has room for improvement and he has to continue adding things to his play.”
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Looking towards Monday's fixture
Iraola looked towards the south coast derby between two south coast sides as he is set to face Martin's Southampton.
After just five league fixtures, the Spaniard has already accumulated three bookings which means that the manager will watch from the stands of the Vitality Stadium.
On his suspension, Iraola admitted: "It is disappointing. You cannot appeal a yellow card. In Spain you can do it, but not here."
With Southampton returning to the Premier League this season, it is the first chance for Iraola - who arrived in England last year - to be involved in the Dorset against Hampshire rivalry.
Iraola said: "I haven't had the chance to experience it. I suppose the supporters all want to win. A derby is always a game everyone wants to win. Considering the positions in the standings, it is an important game."
It will now be a crucial task for the Cherries as they look to pick up points in a vital fixture and maintain local bragging rights.
