CHRIS Mepham believes Cherries have completely bought into Andoni Iraola’s style of play, saying that the new manager gives the team confidence by taking responsibility if things go wrong.

Replacing Gary O’Neil in June, Iraola brought with him to the south coast a high-pressing philosophy that has been described as ‘organised chaos’.

Mepham, who has played under six different managers since being brought to Vitality Stadium by Eddie Howe from Brentford, shared how he found the new approach to be drastically different to recent regimes.

Such are the demands of Iraola’s system, Cherries have not only had to learn the new tactics, but also work heavily on their fitness levels in order to carry out instructions.

Asked if pre-season matches had looked similar to how the players would have expected based on training, Mepham told the Daily Echo: “Yeah, I’d like to think so.”

“It's tough. I think when you play under previous managers, they might be a bit more conservative and drop off and get back behind the ball.

“But certainly since the gaffer has come in, he's been keen on being on the front foot and pressing hard up the pitch and hurting teams that way.

“And of course, it takes a bit of getting used to and we're still finding our feet, a little bit of it, but I think the intent was there (against Lorient), we're looking to press high and create chances that way.

“And if it needs to be a bit more direct with the ball and turn it in behind a bit more, then we're happy to do that.”

Mepham, along with every defender at Cherries, is now expected to help win the ball high up the pitch, a move away from more traditional and conservative forms of defending.

Asked how he found the attack-minded approach, Mepham continued: “I think we've been given that confidence to step up and try and win things up the pitch.

“And of course, if we're playing against good teams and they get out, then I think that's on the manager and I think he's been clear with that that he'll take responsibility if we press high and concede chances that way.

“I think he feels that's the best way to do it.

“We as players are buying into it and of course it's risk-reward, at the end of the day.”

Cherries start their Premier League campaign with the visit of West Ham to Vitality Stadium this Saturday, August 12.

David Moyes’ Hammers were victorious in both encounters between the two sides last term, winning 2-0 at home before inflicting a 4-0 loss on Cherries at Dean Court in April.