THROUGHOUT the season we have highlighted eyebrow-raising stats and standout figures from Cherries’ games in our Numbers Game series.

Overall, the most important statistic is the 39 points Cherries reached this season – more than enough to secure a second season of Premier League football since promotion back to the top-flight last term.

Now that the campaign is over, we have taken a look back at some of the most notable numbers over the past 38 Premier League games.

Cherries’ lowest Premier League goals tally – and record amount of goals conceded

Other teams that survived recorded lower tallies for goals scored. Wolves finished in 13th but only scored 31 times, whilst Everton staved off the drop with 34 goals.

In their five previous Premier League seasons they scored at least 40 goals. They reached that exact mark when they were relegated in 2019/20, their highest tally 56 the season before.

It is the first time Cherries have failed to average a goal per game in the league since the 1996-97 campaign, 26 seasons ago.

Under Mel Machin that year, they scored just 43 times in 46 third tier games, their measly goal output tempered by a defence that only conceded 45 goals.

This campaign, Cherries cannot boast the same defensively stability. Only relegated Southampton (73) and Leeds United (78) conceded more than the 71 times Cherries did this season.

It is the second time Cherries have beaten the drop with a porous backline, following in the footsteps of Leeds United (79) in 2021/22, Cherries (70) in 2018/19, Swansea (70) in 2016/17, West Brom (71) in 2010/11, Wimbledon (70) in 1995/96.

All of those teams offset their defensive woes with at least 42 goals scored, with only one other team surviving in the 20-team Premier League era with less than 38 goals scored and more than 70 conceded.

That would be Wigan Athletic in the 2009-10 season, who scored 37 and conceded 79.

Whilst they remained in 16th place the following season, they improved on both fronts – scoring 40 times and conceding 61, whilst also gaining another six points.

Cherries will hope to do the same in the second season of their second Premier League stint.

Set-piece woes a major theme

Bournemouth Echo: Cherries players standing around after conceding at a corner has been a common sight this season

A large proportion of Cherries’ goals conceded stemmed from one source – set-pieces.

21 of Cherries’ goals conceded came from set-plays, the highest in the division.

Even when combined with the six further goals they conceded from the penalty spot, it is not a record, but certainly a cause for much concern.

Only eight teams since the 2009/10 season have conceded 20 times at dead-ball situations, with half of those relegated.

It has already been identified as an area of improvement by Gary O’Neil, with fans and pundits likely to use it as a barometer of growth for next season.

Of course, Cherries’ goal difference was rocked by what has since proved to be a relatively anomalous result.

Matching a Premier League record…

Bournemouth Echo:

Losing 9-0 in the Premier League follows a team around – ask Southampton, who suffered the ignominy of such a result twice.

The highs of Scott Parker’s reign have pretty much been forgotten in the wake of his final game as Cherries boss, although the final scoreline at Anfield in August was not the final blow to his stint in charge.

Even the embarrassing ‘cupset’ at the hands of Boreham Wood has somehow been washed away by the new nadir reached as Liverpool equalled a Premier League record with their nine goals without reply from Cherries.

The fact that Cherries managed to bounce back days later under a first-time manager to keep a clean sheet was an early indicator of the spirit and resilience they would have to show to remain in the division.

…and almost setting a more positive record

Bournemouth Echo:

There was almost further Premier League history made this season by Cherries.

The 3-2 defeat at then league leaders Arsenal does not tell the full story, Cherries 2-0 to the good with 30 minutes remaining.

Their first goal came directly from kick-off – Phil Billing converting a pre-worked routine in just 9.11 seconds.

That was the second-fastest goal in Premier League history – beaten only by former Cherry Shane Long for Southampton in the 2018/19 season, the Irishman scoring after 7.69 seconds against Watford.

All-action Ryan Christie

Bournemouth Echo:

Ryan Christie runs, a lot. That is highlighted by the fact that only two other players averaged more kilometres covered on average per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season.

Liverpool’s James Milner (11.18km) and Leeds United’s Brenden Aaronson (11.17km) were the two, with Christie racking up 11.04km covered.

Jack Stacey also ranked highly for a different running stat – his top sprint speed of 35.6km/hr was the 11th highest recorded in the Premier League this season.