SONGS of Barcelona, Lazio and Roma rung out from the away end at St Mary’s Stadium, as a jubilant Cherries travelling contingent celebrated a 3-1 win over Southampton to see the club sat fifth in the Premier League.
Bournemouth had bounced straight back from a defeat to Liverpool that had ended an 11-game unbeaten run, but a difficult run was to follow for Andoni Iraola’s side.
Returning home to Dean Court, they played host to Wolves and fell to a 1-0 defeat after Illia Zabarnyi was sent off after half an hour.
(Image: Steven Paston/PA Wire) Matheus Cunha scored five minutes after Zabarnyi saw red as the Cherries was still adjusting, and they were not able to draw themselves level.
After an unsuccessful appeal for that red card, the Cherries headed to Brighton and sought to bounce back.
But, after drawing themselves level through a brilliant Justin Kluivert goal shortly after the hour mark, they were beaten by a Danny Welbeck strike 15 minutes from time, as the Seagulls completed the league double for Iraola’s team.
(Image: Steven Paston/PA Wire) Into March, the Cherries face Wolves for the second time in a week, this time with an FA Cup quarterfinal spot up for grabs.
Evanilson gave the hosts the halftime advantage, before a Cunha stunner drew Wolves level in a game where the Cherries were much the better side but weren’t able to prevent it from heading to extra time and then penalties.
The Brazilian was sent off in stoppage time at the end of 120 minutes for a punch, kick and headbutt on Milos Kerkez – something that perhaps proved crucial as the Cherries went on win the shootout.
Wolves had the advantage in penalties as Dean Huijsen missed the Cherries fourth spot kick, the three before all scored for both sides.
(Image: Adam Davy/PA Wire) But Matt Doherty put his penalty wide and Boubacar Traore had his penalty saved off the crossbar, Luis Sinisterra converting his penalty to send the Cherries into the final eight of the historic competition.
Up next in the league was a trip to Spurs, and the Cherries came away with a point – albeit a disappointing one.
Iraola’s team were much the better side and should have put the game to bed.
They led 1-0 at halftime, after Marcus Tavernier finished a wonderful Kerkez cross, and that advantage was extended by Evanilson with 25 minutes to play.
But Spurs came back into it, Pape Sarr finding the back of the net with a cross/shot two minutes later.
(Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire) Kepa then brought down substitute Son Heung-Min with six minutes left of the 90, and the South Korean international converted from the spot to seal a point for Ange Postecoglou’s side.
Aiming to bounce back from that disappointment, the Cherries hosted Brentford next, but like Brighton before them, the Bees were able to complete the double over Bournemouth.
Iraola’s Cherries led after a Vitaly Janelt own goal after 17 minutes, but Yoanne Wissa equalised 13 minutes later and Christian Norgaard scored from a long throw to give Brentford a lead they would not relinquish.
(Image: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire) Bournemouth faced Manchester City the following weekend in the cup, hoping to secure a spot in the semifinals for the first time.
It was a brilliant first half from the Cherries – they led 1-0 through an Evanilson goal, and rode their luck, Erling Haaland having a penalty saved by Kepa and missing two golden chances in the opening half.
But Pep Guardiola’s side went on to dominate the second half, Haaland drawing the Citizens level four minutes after the interval and substitute Omar Marmoush scoring to knock Bournemouth out of the cup.
(Image: Richard Crease) The Cherries’ disappointing run continued as they fell to defeat to Ipswich Town on the Wednesday night after their cup run ended.
That defeat meant the Dorset side had picked up only one point in their past five league games and had slipped to tenth in the table.
Nathan Broadhead and Liam Delap gave the Tractor Boys a two-goal advantage, Evanilson getting one back with 23 minutes to play, but Iraola’s side couldn’t bring themselves level.
(Image: Richard Crease) The Cherries stopped the rot in the next two games, though, picking up four points.
First, they drew at the London Stadium to West Ham.
Evanilson scored a brace having given Bournemouth the lead in the first half before equalising after Niclas Fullkrug and Jarrod Bowen scored twice in seven minutes to give the Hammers the lead with 22 minutes left.
(Image: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire) Next, the Cherries returned home and picked up their first win in almost two months, Semenyo scoring after only 53 seconds against Fulham to pick up the points.
Despite the poor run, Bournemouth were still in with a shout of European qualification, sat eighth in the table.
(Image: Richard Crease) Back-to-back draws followed, with a 0-0 at Crystal Palace followed by a 1-1 at home against Manchester United.
And the Cherries felt it was two points dropped to the Red Devils – Evanilson given a red card with 20 minutes left to play and Rasmus Hojlund equalising six minutes into stoppage time.
(Image: Richard Crease) Into May, that red card was successfully appealed and the Brazilian made a telling contribution as history was made at the Emirates Stadium.
Declan Rice had given Arsenal the lead at halftime, but Huijsen headed home a Semenyo long throw with 23 minutes left of the 90 to equalise.
And Evanilson bundled home a corner at the far post to earn the Cherries a first ever away win at Arsenal and their first double over the Gunners.
(Image: John Walton/PA Wire) But Bournemouth were brought back down to earth the following week as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa at home.
Another defeat would follow in the final week of the season, Man City sealing a comfortable 3-1 win at the Etihad Stadium in Kevin de Bruyne’s last home game for the club, although Daniel Jebbison scored his first Premier League goal for the Cherries.
Onto the final day, that City defeat confirming that the dream of Europe was over for Iraola’s side, but the Cherries were determined to finish strong.
And they did exactly that – a 2-0 win thanks to a Semenyo brace saw Bournemouth end a record-breaking season on a high.
(Image: Richard Crease) It was a campaign that delivered the highest ever points tally in the Premier League for the Cherries, bringing a record-equalling ninth placed finish, with the most wins and their longest unbeaten run in the top flight.
Iraola has seen records tumble while at the helm at Cherries – what is in store for next season?