Bournemouth

Bournemouth midfielder Ryan Christie has reflected on the 0-0 draw against Brentford.

"I am a little bit disappointed [to not win] with how well we played especially against a team that have our number most of the time," he said.

"I thought for the most part we were very good and we controlled the ball, created chances and limited them to a few [chances]. I think with the run we were on, it's one of the better performance so it is frustrating."

He added: "We are still in a very good place and the unbeaten run is still going. It wasn't meant to be but this is positive to go into the next games.

"For us after last season, a season which was incredible and isn't spoken about how well we did and how much we achieved, the danger is to have a one off-season and to slip down but we don't want to do that. For where we are at the minute we are doing really well."

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

We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Premier League game between Bournemouth and Brentford

Here are some of your comments:

Bournemouth fans:

Mark: Bournemouth should have won they missed quite a few chances during the coarse of that game , but well take the point.

Lee: Have to take our chances!!! Not the greatest spectacle but Brentford were there for the taking and despite all of our chances only 2 were on target. This performance and the one versus Sunderland were very similar…chances missed!! here's hoping we can get back on the winning trail when we play Burnley next… Up The Cherries !

Peter: What is the point of having VAR if they can't get the big points right? Bournemouth were robbed of a clear penalty! I admit the finishing of the Cherries was not good enough, but the officials had a big say in the outcome of this game and fans want fairness. We didn't have that today.

Charl: Appalling! Poor decision choices, woeful passing and hopeless substitutions.We cannot replace Evanilson with Unal he's clueless.We are hopeless at dead ball situations not good enough for premier league we must start practicing set pieces. This game was thrown away by shockingly bad finishing.

Brentford fans:

Cliff: Very good point in our quest for European football. Bournemouth were the better team but finishing was woeful. Referee fell for their tactic of constantly going down with supposed head injuries when we were attacking.

Gavin: Brentford remain the Cherries bogey team after a hard fought draw Bournemouth should have won. Brentford were unbalanced by the injury to Rico Henry and the absence of Aaron Hickey and Vitaly Janelt throw previous injury. In the games against the mid table teams looking to qualify for Europe, Brentford need an extra man in midfield. Leaving room for two out and out forwards preferably with pace to come from deep and hit teams on the break. No point in hoofing hopeful balls up to Thiago to battle with two or three defenders single handed. It's not working against Brighton, Fulham and Bournemouth. Great team effort a game in previous seasons they would have lost. This team is still over achieving.

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

While going nine games unbeaten in the Premier League is an achievement not to be sniffed at, manager Andoni Iraola will see Bournemouth's goalless draw with Brentford as two points dropped rather than one point gained.

Bournemouth have now drawn their last three games, all against sides around them in the table. Just one win would have boosted their fading hopes of playing European football next season.

"It's a point. It's very little seeing our performance and our needs. There are also a lot of positives but probably at this stage of the season you need the points," Iraola told BBC Match of the Day.

"We are drawing a lot of games. Draws don't get you a lot. Yes we go to 40 and that's a big positive in the end looking at the big picture. But in this moment after a game we feel the frustration."

The home side had no problem creating opportunities – they had five big chances as defined by Opta and produced an expected goals (xG) rating of 1.99 – but the final touch was lacking.

After an uneventful opening 30 minutes, James Hill headed over from less than 10 yards out before Ryan Christie rounded Kelleher but ran out of pitch before he could finish.

Tavernier curled an effort wide before he forced Kelleher into a smart save with his legs with the game's first shot on target in first-half injury-time.

Bournemouth looked like they would get their reward in the final moments when Kroupi ran on to a cut-back, but a slight deflection denied him a ninth league goal of the season and summed up his side's evening.

Full match report here.

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola speaking to BBC Match of the Day after the goalless draw with Brentford: "It's difficult to explain, I think we played really well today, one of the best games we've played lately.

"We had good chances but overall we controlled Brentford, a team that plays at a high level. But we haven't won it. We've hit two posts. Ryan Christie had a clear, clear chance. I think the penalty, I still cannot accept [how] we haven't had a penalty on [Marcus] Tavernier. Somehow we haven't won, I don't know how.

"It's a point. It's very little seeing our performance and our needs. There are also a lot of positives but probably at this stage of the season you need the points.

"We are drawing a lot of games. Draws don't get you a lot. Yes we go to 40 and that's a big positive in the end looking at the big picture. But in this moment after a game we feel the frustration.

"Some draws are fair and you feel it is a very good point for us. Today, no. I cannot accept. I have to defend my players, but I am sorry I cannot accept after the reviews that they say it is not a penalty. He [Michael Kayode] loses his position and stands on the calf of Tavernier. Yes, somehow he finishes, but this is so clearly a penalty. I cannot understand it."

On the two benches arguing after full-time: "I wasn't in the mix. I think Jordan Henderson and Kroups [Junior Kroupi] are exchanging words. But nothing happened in the end."

You can listen to more from Iraola on BBC Sounds here

Did you know?

• Bournemouth extended their unbeaten run to nine Premier League games (W4 D5), recording three consecutive draws at home in the competition for the first time.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Bournemouth's performance

What did you make of Brentford's display?

Come back on Wednesday for a selection of your replies

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.

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

Sam Davis
Fan writer

Image 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

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.

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.

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

Grace Wheeler
BBC Sport journalist

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

Got a question about Bournemouth? Get in touch and we'll seek an answer

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.

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.

Explore all Bournemouth content on BBC Sounds

Pundits Alan Shearer and Ashley Williams join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Newcastle 2-3 Everton

• Liverpool 5-2 West Ham

• Leeds 0-1 Manchester City

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.

Emily Salley
BBC Sport journalist

Image 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.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Bournemouth's performance

What did you make of Sunderland's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Image 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.

Image source, BBC Sport

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

• Bournemouth v Sunderland (12:30)

• Burnley v Brentford

• Liverpool v West Ham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Newcastle v Everton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Leeds v Manchester City (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

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

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

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".

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."

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