ANDONI Iraola has played down talk Cherries could end the season with European qualification, despite rising up the table with victory over Crystal Palace.

Justin Kluivert’s late goal earned Cherries a 1-0 victory, with Iraola’s men now five unbeaten.

That has seen them move up to 11th in the Premier League standings, now just four points off West Ham United in seventh, the final guaranteed European qualification spot.

But Iraola is not checking his passport just yet.

“I think we are still really far from there, because we have top teams above us,” said Iraola.

“But it is good, even if some of them have games in hand, we are there, we are not so far, we are improving and we have to show that we can keep the level and continue now against tougher opposition, because we play teams in difficult stadiums, that are higher in the standings.

“But we have to show that we are able to compete against these teams.”

He added: “It is good we are not so far, but these kind of teams win a lot of games.

“We know that we have to take every game by game. Now we have Luton on Saturday, they are playing for salvation, so they will be extra motivated.

“We have to be with the same level of motivation to go there and fight and know that it is not going to be an easy game.

“We have a tough schedule I would say, to finish the season.

“We have to show that we have improved from the beginning of the season, when we also had a very difficult schedule and see if we are able to compete with the teams at the top.”

Reflecting on the victory over Oliver Glasner’s Eagles, Iraola added: “Obviously happy with the win.

“Probably we played the kind of game we didn’t want, with a slow rhythm.

“They are a team that defends very well with the ball.

“They keep the ball very well, are not too direct, they don’t create chances, but you are not comfortable.

“But I think we dealt quite well with this kind of game.

“We had some patience and I think the clearest chances were for us.”