Loss of 'key cog' Zabarnyi will force Iraola to juggle again

BBC News

25-02-2025

Bournemouth's defeat by Wolves on Saturday was their first against a side outside the top four since November when, ironically, the opponents were Brighton, a team who they face next in Premier League.The Cherries' life was made all the more difficult when Illia Zabarnyi was sent off in the first half, a dismissal that seemed to help the away side's gameplan. With James Hill having to drop into centre-back and Lewis Cook retreating in a right-back role, it felt like a familiar tale of adapting from a side that allowed us to play our A game.Despite the rejigging, with Matheus Cunha notching for Vitor Pereira's men five minutes later, there was always the feeling that it would be an uphill struggle for Andoni Iraola's side, not least because of Wolves' canny way of breaking up play and stopping teams from playing the football they want to.It feels quite a significant moment in the season to lose such a key cog in Bournemouth's defence. Assuming it is not overturned on appeal, there will be some juggling to do once more.The good news is that Andoni has a habit of forging out results when least expected, and while Brighton are going to be a significant test, fans are expecting a reaction after a sub-par performance against Wolves.With Evanilson being a surprise inclusion on the bench at the weekend, the hope is that his return can spark the potency up top that was missing, and then maybe we can give Brighton as much concern as they will inevitably give us.Find more from Sam Davis at Back of the Net, external