Andoni Iraola says Cherries season is 'alive' after Fulham win

The boss was very pleased with his side’s performance as they produced a stubborn defensive showing to hold the Cottagers off after Antonie Semenyo gave them the lead in the very first minute of the game.

And that moved them to eighth in the Premier League, which may be good enough to secure qualification to the Europa Conference League, come the end of the season.

Iraola has been careful to not look too far to the future this season in what has been a strong season.

• Match report: First-minute Semenyo strike sees Cherries beat Fulham to return to winning ways

Asked if the result against Fulham kept the season alive, Iraola said: “No, definitely it's alive. Definitely it's alive.

“We have six games to play and if the season finishes today, I think we go to Europe.

“We have one problem that we still have six games to play! We would love to finish today and we would already have [Europe].

(Image: Richard Crease) “No but it’s true that it’s still very difficult because we have not an easy schedule. So every point that we want to get is going to be expensive.

“But I think even with the run, the other day I finished happy with the game against West Ham, today I finished happy, we are now in a place to compete.”

On the game itself, Iraola said: “I'm very happy.

“I think we needed this win, but especially how the game has gone, the way we've defended, winning with the clean sheet against a team that offensively is very good.

“I think it's a key game for us. We needed to win this one because otherwise Fulham, if they beats you, basically it goes six points and it's very difficult.”

Reflecting on the team’s start, with Semenyo scoring after 53 seconds, Iraola said he couldn’t have asked for a better opening to the game.

“I think it was also a very good goal,” he said.

(Image: Richard Crease) “Starting with Alex [Scott], Antoine, going against two defenders, finishing, also a great finish.

“He was involved the other day in first goal from Eva [Evanilson]. He's now contributing again in the last third, good finishes and I'm very happy for him.”

But after the flying start, the Cherries were under pressure for large parts of the second half and defended resolutely.

Reflecting on his team’s defensive showing, Iraola said: “I think it has been a game where I think 55, 60 minutes, we've defended quite aggressive and quite well and we haven't given a lot of territory.

“But it's true that last 30 minutes, obviously they were risking more. Sometimes you have to protect yourself more.

“And we were defending lower, probably not clear chances. But they have corners, they have crosses, they have shots from the edge. And we did the basics very well.”