On the finish of January, Bournemouth have been blazing a path via the stratosphere, seemingly on an unstoppable, rocket-propelled journey to dreamland – an unfathomable place within the Champions League.
By the tip of February, the Cherries have woken up with a jolt, with their extra pessimistic followers questioning in the event that they have been solely ever crawling alongside in the direction of mid-table on a rail substitute bus service.
As ever, the reality almost certainly lies someplace between these two viewpoints.
Having sailed via January with 4 wins and a draw, amassing the Premier League’s supervisor, participant and aim of the month awards on the way in which, February has been crueller.
Apart from making FA Cup progress towards , and slaying an already-doomed , defeats by , and have dropped the Cherries from fifth to seventh, with the prospect of shedding additional floor on the highest 5 on Wednesday.
Of extra instant concern is that regardless of having welcomed some gamers again from damage, Andoni Iraola’s facet at the moment are stretched in a few positions, with Illia Zabarnyi sitting out two extra video games via suspension and Ryan Christie – himself nonetheless one warning away from a two-match ban – limping off at Brighton on Tuesday with a groin downside.
So, Saturday’s return go to by Wolves within the FA Cup is a chance for Iraola to make some adjustments. The identical goes for the guests, whose priorities absolutely lie with growing the hole between themselves and the underside three.
However make no mistake, Bournemouth are nonetheless ready for which most followers would have bitten off their very own fingers, not to mention anybody else’s, to be in after 27 league video games.
Justin Kluivert, in netting one other contender for his private aim of the season competitors on Tuesday, additionally broke new floor in changing into the primary Cherries participant to attain 10 away targets in a Premier League season.
He informed BBC Radio Solent that Bournemouth “performed a superb sport, particularly within the second half the place we created a whole lot of probabilities, however we have got to be extra harmful in these areas”.
One other view was given by former and midfielder Andy Reid on BBC Radio 5 Stay.
“That is just a bit blip for Bournemouth,” the ex-Republic of Eire worldwide stated.
“They’re a superb facet and can bounce again. They went on an unbelievable run earlier than these current video games, [so] have been sure to hit a bump.”
Will Reid be proved proper – can Iraola’s males reset their upward course? It must be an fascinating watch, both method.