AFC Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola was left “really happy” after his side saw out a 1-0 win away at Wolverhampton Wanderers, sharing his belief that his side were worthy winners.

Cherries managed to convert their first-half dominance into a 1-0 lead heading into the break, Antoine Semenyo bagging his eighth Premier League goal of the campaign.

Wolves recovered in the second period, seeing a goal controversially ruled out for a foul in the build-up, before Cherries were left to defend their lead with 10 men after Milos Kerkez received his marching orders for a foul on Matt Doherty.

After surrendering a lead away at Aston Villa on Sunday, Iraola was pleased for his charges to leave the Midlands with their lead intact, but admitted that he feared a repeat after his side spurned numerous first-half chances.

He told the Daily Echo: “I think we deserved to win today, probably earlier in the game.

“I think our first 60, 70 minutes have been really, really good.

“But probably we were thinking of the Villa game, where we were also 1-0 up, you don't score the second one, you don't take your chances it probably always happens - you will find a moment where they push and especially after the red card, we couldn't keep our territorial advantage.

“We have to concede some space and defend lower and but we could finish the job.”

In the reverse fixture Wolves came from a goal behind to beat Cherries at Vitality Stadium, Lewis Cook’s dismissal giving Gary O’Neil’s Wanderers the momentum to turn the game around.

Asked if he feared a repeat at Molineux, Iraola replied: “I think that was more difficult because it was all the second half to play.

“In that moment, I think when the red card happened we didn't have so much time left.

“But it's true there was 10 more minutes in added time.

“So it has been quite a lot. But I'm really happy because the performance has been really, really good and I think we should have won the game even before (the red card).”