PUNDITS have praised Cherries for showing patience with Andoni Iraola, saying his side “now seem like such a difficult team to play against”.
Goals from Marcos Senesi, Enes Unal and Justin Kluivert saw Cherries continue their fine form with a dominant 3-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion at Vitality Stadium on Sunday.
It lifts them back into the top half of the Premier League table, having now accumulated more points in a top-flight season than ever before.
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Discussing the win over Brighton in his role as a pundit on BBC’s Match of the Day 2, former Wales international Ashley Williams said: “The manager came in and he said that he wanted his team to play a certain style, which was high pressing. Now we’re really seeing it.
“Right at the start of the game, they set their stall out, front-footed with Kluivert, (Dominic) Solanke, (Alex) Scott and Unal.
“We know Brighton want to play out from the back, but they didn’t let them settle at all. (Dango) Ouattara made up 20 or 30 yards to press and win the ball back high.
“Alex Scott worked so hard all afternoon. Kluivert looks so difficult to defend against.
“In possession they also played really good stuff as well. It wasn’t just a pressing team. They’re very comfortable in possession.
“Bournemouth with the ball and without the ball, very impressive. From minute one, they were really at it and wanted to win the game.”
He added: “I remember when the manager came and said he wanted his team to play a certain way and we weren’t really seeing that.
“Maybe he just needed a bit more time, a few more sessions on the grass to really implement it.
“Now they seem like such a difficult team to play against. They’ve got so much pace and power in the top end of the pitch.
“It’s nice as a defender when you’ve got strikers, wingers and centre-mids that want to step forwards and go and put pressure on.
“Especially when you’re playing against Brighton, who are good at playing out. They were willing step forward and everybody gets going then.”
Shay Given, who made more than 450 Premier League appearances throughout his career, added on Andoni Iraola: “He’s done a great job.
“We spoke at the start of the season, experts saying you should be careful what you wish for with Gary O’Neil, who did a great job last year.
“It shows given the time, sometimes Premier League managers don’t get that time, he’s doing a brilliant job.”
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