CHRIS Mepham feels that Cherries’ final pre-season friendly was exactly what his side needed heading into the new season.

Cherries begin their Premier League campaign at home to West Ham next Saturday (3pm) in what will be head coach Andoni Iraola’s first competitive game in charge at Vitality Stadium.

They rounded off their pre-season preparations with a 2-0 win over FC Lorient, Mepham’s international colleagues David Brooks and Kieffer Moore scoring in either half.

Mepham played the full 90 minutes of the encounter, his fifth appearance of pre-season.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, the Welsh international shared: “I thought it was good.

“It's exactly what we needed going into the first game of the season.

“I thought the intensity was more there today.

“I think there's probably, you know, some big space in the first half that we need to make sure we close up because against better opposition, that will probably hurt us.

“I thought the intensity was good, very positive.

“I thought we were very direct at times.

“Good result, clean sheet and some good confidence to take into Saturday.”

Since joining in January 2019, Mepham has made 51 top-flight appearances for Cherries.

In total he has played 108 times for Cherries, and has been capped 39 times by Wales.