Iraola keeps focus on European qualification after win over Fulham

  /  autty

Andoni Iraola quashed any speculation linked to his next employment, after Bournemouth maintained their push for a European qualifying spot with a 1-0 win over Fulham.

The Cherries tightened their grip on sixth place with two games remaining, after Rayan's deflected strike early in the second half sealed all three points at Craven Cottage.

That could be enough to secure qualification for next season's Champions League, providing fifth-place Aston Villa win their Europa League final against Freiburg later this month.

Finishing on a high is the top priority for Iraola, whose future is uncertain with the Spaniard set to depart the Vitality Stadium at the end of the season.

"I have no rush to make decisions. I'm so focused on these last two games," he said. "It's massive for me personally to finish these beautiful three years in a lovely way. Then we'll have time.

Rayan's winner was the 17th goal Bournemouth have scored this season via teenagers. Only Liverpool in 1994-95 (23), 1997-98 (18) and 1998-99 (18) have netted more during a Premier League campaign.

"The new players have adapted quickly," Iraola added. "The ones with us three seasons, they know what we need from every game.

"We know each other. This core group of 10 or 12 players who have been here three seasons have helped us massively - and the new players also."

Both sides finished the game with 10 men following first-half red cards. Ryan Christie was dismissed for a rash challenge from behind on Timothy Castagne, while Joachim Andersen followed after a reckless lunge on Adrien Truffert.

However, Fulham boss Marco Silva disagreed with the decision to send off Andersen during a game that all but saw the Cottagers' own European ambitions end.

"Completely undeserved, is the first thing I want to say," he said. "Eleven against eleven, we were clearly the best team on the pitch. I didn't see any images that showed me it was a red card.

"The red card [Andersen’s] completely changed the dynamic of the game.

"[European qualification is] probably going to be out of our control. We have to focus on the table and look at our next two games."

Related: Fulham Andersen
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