Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola salutes the fans after the Premier League match at the King Power (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola salutes the fans after the Premier League match at the King Power (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
THE Cherries will have to earn a victory against Leicester on Sunday, with the Foxes hitting some good form at the end of the season despite being relegated, Andoni Iraola said.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side have picked up seven points from the last nine possible, beating relegated Southampton and Ipswich and drawing with Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest.
The Foxes arrive at the Vitality Stadium having already been confirmed to be dropping down to the Championship but have hit something of a late resurgence.
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The two sides met earlier this season in October, Leicester winning 1-0 at the King Power Stadium thanks to a Facundo Buonanotte goal.
(Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
Bournemouth threw everything at their hosts in the second half to try to get themselves level, but they had an Evanilson goal disallowed and struck the woodwork as they were unable to equalise.
That drew the Foxes to within two points of their visitors on the day under then-boss Steve Cooper – but since that game the fortunes for the two teams have been drastically different.
While the Foxes slumped back down to the second tier, the Cherries were challenging for Europe and will be hoping to secure a top ten finish on Sunday.
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Looking back on that game, Iraola told the Daily Echo: “I think obviously our season has been much better.
“The points are there, but we are in different scenarios. I think they had a different coach, players, most of them are going to be the same.
“But it's a game where I remember we missed a lot of chances in the second half. We pushed them a lot but we were not able [to score].
“I remember playing a bad first half. They were playing well actually and we were not in our level. And then second half we were better.
(Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
“We pushed them a lot. We had some chances. I remember a disallowed goal, one post, but we didn't score.
“I don't know how the game is going to go. If we want to control the game, the possession, push them it’s because we are good also, we earn it.
“I don't think they are coming with that idea seeing the three games that they've played recently.”
Asked about Leicester’s current form, and whether they are playing without pressure having already been relegated, Iraola said: “They are playing well.
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“I don't know if it's because they are without pressure because they have nothing to lose. But they are playing well.
“So we have to be ready. It's a team that has beat us twice.
“The two times I played against them, they have beaten us twice. So definitely it's something that we have to do better if we want to get a good result.”
AFC Bournemouth host Leicester City on Sunday, May 25, kick off at 4pm.