That defeat saw Bournemouth’s run without a win stretch to nine games, with an abject performance in the first half in particular handing the points to the Bees.
Having sat second in the Premier League heading into November, the final two months of 2025 saw Bournemouth fail to win a game.
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While there were some good performances in that time, such as the second half to earn a point against West Ham and in the 4-4 draw at Manchester United, it was a poor run for the club.
They slid down the table and had dropped to 14th after their draw to Burnley the weekend before the trip to the Gtech Community Stadium.
Bournemouth's Lewis Cook (centre) applauds the fans following defeat in the Premier League match at the Gtech Community Stadium, London. (Image: Peter Tarry/PA Wire)
But the form did not turn in the first game after Christmas and the Cherries were well-beaten by their hosts.
Since, though, Bournemouth have lost just once in the league, to league leaders Arsenal, and once in the cup, knocked out on penalties by Newcastle after a 3-3 draw after extra time.
Iraola told the Daily Echo that was probably a big wake-up call for the team.
“At the end, I felt from that game that something was changing,” he said.
“I don't think we won straight away. I remember I think we played Chelsea, we played good games.
“But from that game, I felt, okay, I feel something different on the team. And not going to continue like this until the end. We will have our ups and downs and it always happens.
“But we are going to try to continue in this run the more time we can.”
Reflecting on the Cherries’ recent form, which sees them head to Everton on Tuesday night unbeaten in five after a draw against Aston Villa on Saturday, Iraola said: “I think we are in a good moment, definitely.
“Even before this run of games, I think we were playing well.
“The four or five games before, I think there is a reset or a moment after the Brentford game that we didn't play well and all the games we played after Brentford, already eight games, I think we performed well.
“Some of them we’ve won, some of them we haven't, some we've lost, but I think we are in a good place, we are in a good moment.
“But this changes very quickly. Now we play Everton away in three days. They have won today, I think away against Fulham, so another very difficult game and we have to value every point.
“Today doesn't taste very well the point, but I think you have to value it against Aston Villa.
“It puts us on 34, slowly, slowly. I think the first goal we want, everyone, is to find this 38 points, 39, that more or less you start not looking backwards and you can start looking to a better position, but it's going to be difficult.”