Opposition briefing: Everything you need to know about Bournemouth

Match previews

18 Feb 2025

Crystal Palace are back in action over the Easter weekend when hosting AFC Bournemouth on Saturday (15:00 BST) at Selhurst Park - check out all you need to know about the Cherries below!

Factfile

Manager: Andoni Iraola
Position: 8th
Nickname: The Cherries
Ground: Vitality Stadium
Founded: 1899 (126 years ago)

What’s the story?

Bournemouth’s upwardly mobile progress has continued in 2024/25, with the Cherries firmly in the mix for the European places as the season reaches the final stretch.

For the first time in club history, fans can genuinely dream of a first ever continental adventure. The Cherries are in the pack of teams who could still potentially pinch an eighth, or even seventh, place finish – both are likely to carry continental qualification.

Since ending Manchester City’s 32-game league unbeaten run in November, Bournemouth have looked dangerous opposition for anyone. Back-to-back victories over Champions League chasing Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest, scoring nine goals in the process, shows just how good a team they are.

Manager Andoni Iraola has done a superb job at the Vitality Stadium, particularly considering he came into a difficult environment.

Gary O’Neil’s surprise departure as head coach in June 2023 had caused tension amongst the fanbase, after the former midfielder had led them to survival in their first season back in the Premier League.

But Iraola’s appointment has proved a masterstroke, leading the Cherries to a 12th-place finish with 48 points last term, before taking the team onto new heights this season.

After Monday’s 1-0 win over Fulham ensured they have matched the 48 gathered last term – meaning just one point from their final six games will be enough to set a new club-record Premier League points total.

The boss

The first English job for Andoni Iraola came calling in 2023 when Bournemouth appointed the Catalan on an initial two-year contract.

Iraola had previously taken Rayo Vallecano from the second tier to La Liga through the play-offs, before then leading them to the last four of the Copa Del Ray in 2021/22.

His 16-year playing career was mainly spent with Athletic Bilbao, where he came through the youth system, but Iraola also spent a season with New York City FC.

His 16-year playing career was mainly spent with Athletic Bilbao, where he came through the youth system, but Iraola also spent a season with New York City FC.

Boot in both camps

Palace’s current No. 8 Jefferson Lerma spent five years on the south coast before joining the Eagles in 2023.

Long-serving defender Joel Ward is also a Bournemouth alumnus, having spent a season on loan there, which saw the Cherries start on -17 points in League Two, yet still survive relegation.

Current full-back Nathaniel Clyne, former defender Gary Cahill and promotion hero Glenn Murray are also amongst the group of players to have represented both clubs.

Record against Palace

Since our first Premier League meeting in December 2015 the record between the two sides has remained fairly even.

The Cherries did come out on top in our two meetings last season. However, in eight games between August 2016 and June 2020, Palace only lost to Bournemouth once, recording four victories.

The last of these was our first game in project restart as football returned in the first UK Covid-19 lockdown – coincidentally it also became the first top-flight fixture to be broadcast live on the BBC since 1988. The Eagles took the three points that day, goals from Luka Milivojevic and Jordan Ayew securing the win.

Back in December, on Boxing Day, Palace travelled to the Vitality Stadium and returned with a point, following a 0-0 stalemate on the south coast.

Did you know?

The Bournemouth strip has not always been cherry red. The club did wear cherry red shirts and black shorts until 1936, but then switched to red shirts and white shorts with plain ‘BFC’ across the shirt.

The famous red and black were re-introduced in the 1970s and have remained ever since. But then this also only when the club adopted their current name.

Prior to the 1971/72 season, they were known as Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Football Club and had been since 1923. Originally they were formed simply as ‘Boscombe,’ playing in the Bournemouth and District Junior League in 1899/00.

They've come a long way since to reach the top flight!

Match details

Saturday, 19th April
15:00 BST
Selhurst Park
Live audio commentary on Palace TV+

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