CHERRIES will know how they measure up to their Premier League rivals come the halfway point of the season, according to boss Andoni Iraola.

A comfortable 3-1 victory away at Sheffield United has lengthened the gap between Cherries’ current perch of 16th and the relegation zone, with a seven-point buffer between Iraola’s charges and the bottom three.

Cherries have currently taken 12 points from their first 13 games, and by the end of December, they will have faced every Premier League side at least once this campaign.

The final month of 2023 is packed full of games, with Cherries welcoming Aston Villa to Vitality Stadium on Sunday, December 3.

A busy week continues as Cherries travel to London to face Crystal Palace on Wednesday, December 6, before another away day the following weekend, visiting Manchester United on Saturday, December 9.

Cherries’ attention has already switched to the Villa fixture, according to Iraola, who is aiming to pick up as many points as possible.

Asked if Cherries could start to look up the table following three wins from their last four league matches, Iraola told the Daily Echo: “For me it is the same thing as two or three weeks ago.

“It's not like it’s too early in the season to start looking at the standings, it’s just now we have Villa at home. Very difficult game. We have to prepare for this game. Let's try (get) the points – very good, then we prepare for Crystal Palace.

“After, I don't know, the first half of the season, we can think maybe we are here.

“Right now we have to play against all the teams and know exactly where we can be.

“The good thing is, right now we are playing well. We are in a good moment.

“We have some players that are performing well and let's try to keep it going and take more points.”