Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has expressed his worries over the team’s ongoing slump after suffering a 1-0 loss to Everton on Tuesday night.
The defeat extended their winless run to five matches as they also dropped out of the top half of the standings, despite showing promise early in the season.
Iraola’s men lost only one of their first nine league games, but have now lost four of the last five, recording just a single point in that period.
“We have played the game Everton wanted to play. Not a lot of chances for either of the teams and we have not been good enough”, Iraola said after the loss.
“It was going to be one goal for one team or the other; it is a deserved win. On the ball, we have been very poor in the build-up.
“When you struggle in the build-up and don’t progress properly, it is more difficult to press them. We were not conceding chances but were playing their game.
Bournemouth were denied a first half goal after Junior Kroupi’s strike was ruled out for a marginal offside.
The game lacked a spark, but Jack Grealish made sure of maximum points for Everton with the goal in the second half.
The on-loan Man City forward cut inside in the 78th minute and fired an effort which took a heavy deflection into the net.
It marked Everton’s first win at the Vitality Stadium, as they moved up to ninth on the standings.
“We have not played well at all. This can’t happen, they have quality players to make the difference. We have not been brave enough on the ball and it makes you look worse defensively”, he continued.
“I am concerned, now we have Chelsea and Man Utd. We do not have an easy schedule. We lacked energy and I hope we can recover it because we need it.”
Bournemouth face Chelsea next Saturday, hoping to return to winning ways, while Everton and Nottingham Forest also clash on the same day.
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