Andoni Iraola does not believe Bournemouth are safe yet despite ending a seven-game winless Premier League run with a 2-0 victory over Burnley.
The Clarets and Sheffield United are cut adrift at the bottom and the Cherries are now sitting in 13th place, 11 points clear of Luton in 18th.
“I’m satisfied with the situation that we have a gap of 11 points, it’s very good, it’s important,” said the Bournemouth boss.
“But we still need more wins, we still need more points. I feel that Luton, they have very good spirit, they fight every game and they can make a good run.”
Burnley dominated possession and chances but the two moments of real quality came from Bournemouth, with Justin Kluivert opening the scoring in the 13th minute and Antoine Semenyo making sure of the win two minutes from time.
Iraola was left with mixed feelings, saying: “Obviously I’m happy because we needed this win. For sure we played worse than the last games we’ve played, but we’ll take the win.
“I was disappointed with the performance in the first half. We made adjustments and the second half was much better from our side.”
The negative was a hamstring injury suffered early in the first half by key defender Marcos Senesi.
“I think it’s a clear strain in the hamstring,” said Iraola. “I hope it’s not very big.
“It’s a very bad moment for us because we don’t have too many defenders right now. Also for him personally because he has been called again with Argentina. I know that is something important for him.”
Burnley have now gone 10 games without a victory, conceding a combined 10 goals without reply in their last three.
Manager Vincent Kompany felt the performance was a substantial improvement on last weekend’s 3-0 defeat by Crystal Palace, saying: “I did think we put in the energy that we needed.
“We created I think more shots and chances than in any of the games we’ve played in the Premier League so far this season. And even after conceding the goal, we carried on.
“But the frustration is something that has to substitute into the next game. What we can’t drop is the energy levels we had today.”
Kompany bemoaned the consistency of officiating after Josh Cullen had a second-half effort ruled out for a foul by Jacob Bruun Larsen.
“In the context of this game, you can allow or disallow this goal and have kind of a 50-50 divide,” he said.
“But, if you zoom out a little bit and put this goal against the goal we conceded against Luton, impeding a player while you’re not making contact with the ball, it’s exactly what happened in reverse.
“So in that moment you don’t give a foul and in this moment you do. That side of it is difficult to handle this season.”
Burnley have now lost 11 of their 14 league matches at Turf Moor this season and boos were audible at the final whistle.
“That’s after every defeat in every club,” said Kompany. “It’s football.
“But as long as they’re there from the start, which it was, and throughout the game they support you, that’s part of the things you have to be able to deal with and eventually it all comes back in a positive way.”
Fernandes relishing Portugal challenge with Man Utd 'not in a positive moment'
Bruno Fernandes believes Manchester United's recent woes have left them "not in a positive moment", but he is hoping to take centre-stage for Portugal in the Nations League.
Fernandes has gone 12 games without finding the back of the net for United, his longest goal drought since he arrived at Old Trafford back in January 2020.
The Red Devils have failed to win their last five games across all competitions, with their last outing ending in a goalless draw against Aston Villa before the international break.
Erik ten Hag's side have managed eight points from their opening seven Premier League games, their fewest at this stage of a league campaign since 1989-90 (seven).
They have also failed to score in each of their last three Premier League games, equalling their worst run without a goal in the competition under Ten Hag's stewardship.
Fernandes is now preparing for Portugal's Nations League clash with Poland on Saturday, with the midfielder hoping to continue the Selecao's perfect start in Group A1.
"I will talk about myself personally. It changes a lot because the space is different. This is not a positive moment at Manchester, we are not winning games," Fernandes said.
"The space for the national team is completely different. It's a space where, in the last few days, I have felt very comfortable.
"I have felt that I can enjoy my football, and I think that in all the games we play we are going to win, and we have all benefited from what we've come to do, and I'm in my country, I speak my language, I have better food. All of this is connected with psychology.
"But the important thing is to know how to differentiate the moments, the places, but above all to make sure that what has been negative, try to pass that on to the positive, regardless of the club or the national team.
"I try to give my best in all the games I play, regardless of the club or the national team I'm representing. My will and my effort will never change what I want to bring to the game."
Fernandes was part of the Portugal side that won the Nations League in 2019, playing 81 minutes in their 1-0 win over the Netherlands in the final.
Many of the players that started the final in Porto remain in the current squad, though head coach Roberto Martinez has shifted to a more youthful approach since.
While Portugal suffered a quarter-final exit to France at Euro 2024, Fernandes is confident the current crop of talent can replicate their Nations League success from five years ago.
"The first difference is that we haven't reached the final four yet. I think all the teams were strong, regardless of the names that came through here and whether they won or stopped winning. I think Portugal has always had a strong team," Fernandes said.
"If we look at the history of our country and football in our country, we had great names and players who always represented the team at the highest level and at the level that is required.
"There are times when you go further and others when you fall by the wayside, others when you win, as happened in 2016 and 2019.
"This team is hungry to repeat this achievement in 2019 because no Portuguese team enters any competition to not win.
"Everyone knows that our ambition is to always win and to win every game, so our ambition now is to win against Poland because we are a team that respects very much what we are going to find as opponents, because we know that our final objective will only come if we manage to win every game."
Honduras defeats French Guiana 3-2 in Nations League thriller
Honduras secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over French Guiana in a thrilling encounter at the Stade Municipal Dr. Edmard Lama in Remire-Montjoly, French Guiana, as they climbed to second place in Group B of the CONCACAF Nations League.
The match got off to a lively start with Honduras nearly taking an early lead in the 8th minute. Edwin Rodríguez found himself with a great chance inside the box, but his volley was met by an impressive save from French Guiana goalkeeper Donovan Leon. The hosts responded seven minutes later when Ansley Panelle unleashed a powerful long-range strike, but Honduras goalkeeper Edrick Menjivar was equal to the task, keeping the scoreline level.
As the first half wore on, Honduras began to impose themselves on the game. Their persistence paid off just before halftime when Anthony Lozano gave Los Catrachos the lead in the 45th+1 minute. Lozano calmly finished from the center of the box after a well-placed assist from Rigoberto Rivas, giving the visitors a crucial advantage heading into the break.
French Guiana, however, came out strong in the second half and found an equalizer in the 56th minute. Raphaël Galas latched onto a loose ball inside the box and fired home to restore parity for the home side, sending the local fans into a frenzy.
But Honduras was quick to respond, regaining the lead in the 67th minute through Deybi Flores, who rose high to head in a corner delivery, putting the visitors back in control. Just seven minutes later, they extended their lead when Jorge Benguché finished across goal after a perfect through ball from Jorge Álvarez, giving Honduras a comfortable 3-1 cushion.
Despite the deficit, French Guiana refused to give up. In stoppage time, Jules Haabo scored a late consolation goal in the 90th+4 minute, but it wasn't enough to prevent Honduras from claiming all three points with a 3-2 final scoreline.
The win propels Honduras into second place in Group B of the CONCACAF Nations League, as they continue their pursuit of qualification to the next stage.
Reggae Boyz battle to 2-0 victory over Nicaragua to maintain leadership of Group B
Jamaica defeated Nicaragua 2-nil at Estadio Nacional in Managua, Nicaragua.
The visitors took the lead in minute 32 through and own goal from Nicaragua’s Josué Quijano.
Juan Barrera came close to tying the match for Nicaragua in minute 27 with a potent left-footed shot from long distance, but his attempt was denied by Jamaica’s goalkeeper Andre Blake.
Jamaica extended its lead in the 69th minute through a finish from Romario Williams from close range following a corner kick.
In the 88th minute, two saves in quick succession from Blake prevented Nicaragua from equalizing. Blake subsequently closed out the match with six saves to secure a second clean sheet this Nations League campaign.
With the win, the Reggae Boyz maintain the lead in first place in Group B.
Group B will resume Monday, with Jamaica facing Honduras in a battle for the top spot. Trinidad and Tobago will host Cuba, while Nicaragua will receive French Guiana.
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