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Cherries approaching crunch time of season - Bournemouth's final 12

Currently sat ninth in the table after 26 games with 37 points, Bournemouth are among the form teams in the league.

Unbeaten in six, with four wins in that time, Andoni Iraola’s side are second in the form table across those games, ahead of their trip to West Ham this weekend.

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Iraola has spoken about reaching the ‘magical’ 40-point mark, which they could do this weekend, although the Hammers are also a side in form.

But looking at the trip to the London Stadium and beyond, what is in store for the Cherries?

The Daily Echo looks at the side’s run in to the end of the season in May.

West Ham - away

A trip to the capital awaits for Iraola’s side on Saturday, with the Hammers fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side remain in the relegation zone but they’ve collected 10 points from their past six games, so they’ll be hoping to continue that form.

Earlier this term, the sides played out a 2-2 draw at Dean Court, which saw Bournemouth roar back from two goals down at the break to earn a point.

David Brooks (Image: Richard Crease)

It was that same scoreline when the Cherries visited the London Stadium in the league last season, too.

Sunderland - home

The Black Cats have impressed in their first season back in the top flight, and they currently sit safely in midtable. They’re in the group of teams that have a chance to qualify for Europe, and they’ll be hoping to complete the double over the Cherries.

The reverse fixture saw Bournemouth open up a two-goal advantage in quick time at the Stadium of Light, but they were pegged back and eventually beaten 3-2 by their hosts.

Brentford - home

The Cherries and Iraola’s poor form against the Bees continued earlier this term, and the boss will be hoping to right the wrongs of the game at the Gtech Community Stadium.

That was arguably the worst performance of the season as the Cherries lost 4-1, after they were beaten by Brentford at home in the League Cup back in August.

Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo appears dejected after Brentford score their side's second goal of the game, via an own goal by Bournemouth goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic (not pictured) during the Premier League match at the Gtech Community Stadium, (Image: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)

Last season, the Bees took all three points in Dorset in a 2-1 win.

Burnley - away

Another team fighting to stay in the Premier League, Burnley are more adrift than West Ham at this stage, trailing 17th place by nine points and needing an impressive turnaround to survive.

But Scott Parker’s side snatched a point at the death in the game at the Vitality Stadium earlier this term as Bournemouth struggled to put the game to bed when leading by one.

Manchester United - home

There were fireworks in the game at Old Trafford in December as the two teams played out one of the games of the season in a 4-4 draw.

United have found some form under interim boss Michael Carrick, but Iraola will be hoping to continue his good record against the Red Devils.

This game last term produced a 1-1 draw as Rasmus Hojlund scored six minutes into stoppage time to earn the visitors a point.

Arsenal - away

The league leaders will be hoping to continue their impressive campaign so far and by the time the Cherries visit the Emirates, it will be deep into crunch time in the season for the Gunners.

Mikel Arteta and Andoni Iraola (Image: Richard Crease)

They’ll be hoping their current four point gap will have held or even extended come April, leaving them in the driving seat to claim the title.

The Cherries, though, will be seeking a repeat of last season’s 2-1 win in north London, to enact some revenge on the 3-2 defeat at the Vitality Stadium earlier this season.

Newcastle - away

This fixture has served up two thrillers in the past two meetings between the sides with 11 goals across the two games at St James’ Park.

Bournemouth were the victors in the league last term, as Justin Kluivert’s hattrick fired them to a 4-1 win, before the Cherries visited in the FA Cup earlier this season.

The sides were level at 3-3 after extra time and Bournemouth were knocked out on penalties, but the games in the north east have served up more goals than the ones at Dean Court, with the teams playing out a 0-0 back in September.

Leeds - home

Another newly promoted side that have performed well this season, Leeds are currently six points clear of the relegation zone and they’ll hope to be further clear and safe by the end of April when they head south.

Bournemouth's Marcos Senesi (right) and Leeds United's Dominic Calvert-Lewin, during the Premier (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

The Cherries rescued a dramatic late point at Elland Road earlier this season thanks to a late Junior Kroupi strike.

Crystal Palace - home

Palace are the next to visit Dorset kicking off the final month of the season.

Like the game against United, the match between the Cherries and the Eagles at Selhurst Park is among the games of the season so far.

Bournemouth led 2-0 thanks to a Kroupi brace, two strikes from Jean-Philippe Mateta drew the hosts level, Ryan Christie restored the Bournemouth lead before Mateta completed his hattrick to earn a point.

The game between the sides at the Vitality Stadium last season was a 0-0 draw on Boxing Day.

Fulham - away

The Cherries triumphed at Dean Court earlier this season against the Cottagers, winning 3-1 having gone behind, and they picked up a point in a 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage last season having trailed, too.

Justin Kluivert celebrates his goal against Fulham (Image: Richard Crease)

Fulham are another side in the same group of teams as Bournemouth at the moment, but that could all change before this meeting in the capital in the final three match weeks of the season.

Manchester City - home

City will be hoping that they are still in with a shout of the title in the penultimate game of the season, while the Cherries could well come into this game with Europe on their mind.

Bournemouth secured their first-ever victory over City in this game last season, winning 2-1 at the Vitality Stadium.

Nottingham Forest - away

The season ends with the Cherries heading to the City Ground – and it could well be a game where their hosts need a result to avoid the drop.

Forest are in chaos having sacked Sean Dyche and appointed Vitor Pereira, and the new boss will hope to guide the Tricky Trees to safety.

Kroupi's strike made it 2-0 at halftime. (Image: Richard Crease)

But Bournemouth have a good record at Forest, and they could well play a big hand in the Nottingham side’s future in the league.

Last season, a late Antoine Semenyo strike earned the Cherries a point at Forest on the opening day of the campaign.

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