Cook and Bournemouth aiming to respond following back-to-back defeats

Lewis Cook revealed that the hard yards have been put in over the international break as Bournemouth look to hit back from their 4-0 thrashing by Aston Villa against West Ham.

After a strong start to their Premier League campaign, Bournemouth have lost back-to-back top-flight fixtures, results that have seen them drop to ninth in the table. 

But their league position can be seen as a positive, with just a point separating the Cherries from the top four, with a favourable tie against West Ham this Saturday. 

However, the wounds still remain from their Villa Park humbling, with Andoni Iraola's team made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal, with their day summed up when top scorer Antoine Semenyo missed a 67th-minute penalty. 

Despite that setback, Cook is eyeing a response on home soil.

"It was a really difficult one to take. We came wanting to show a reaction and compete, but Villa punished us when they got their chances. They're a strong side, and we know we weren't at our best," Cook said.

"We've had setbacks before and always responded. This group sticks together – we'll review it, work hard in training this week, and make sure we come back stronger.

"We know what we're capable of when we're at our best. It's about refocusing, learning, and putting things right against West Ham."

But Bournemouth come up against a West Ham side revived under Nuno Espirito Santo, who has found his feet at London Stadium after a difficult start to his Hammers tenure.

West Ham put together back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since February ahead of the international break with triumphs over Newcastle United and Burnley. 

That has moved them up to 10 points from their first 11 games so far this season, and while still in the bottom three, they are in the relegation zone on goal difference. 

And Alphonse Areola believes the team are heading in the right direction under Nuno, but insisted that the hard work must continue if they are to maintain their momentum. 

"He was a goalkeeper as a player, and it's good to have him here," Areola said. 

"He's giving his ideas to the players, and he wants the players to perform well and to give everything on the pitch.

"He wants us to be proud of ourselves, to be proud of the team we have and to fight for everything, to compete for the team and get results.

"He's not been here for a long time, but I think it's good that he has that experience, so he understands more what we have to do and can tell us what he wants us to do."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Bournemouth – Antoine Semenyo

Should Bournemouth get themselves back to winning ways, they will need talisman Semenyo to get himself back amongst the goals at Vitality Stadium.

Up until the October international break, only Erling Haaland (10) had been directly involved in more Premier League goals this season than Semenyo (nine – six goals, three assists).

However, since then, Semenyo has gone four league games without a goal or assist. He was averaging 2.4 shots and 1.4 chances created per game in the competition prior to the October break, but that has fallen to 1.5 shots and 0.3 chances created per game since.

West Ham – Jarrod Bowen

West Ham captain Bowen has been one of the standout performers for his team this season, netting three goals and providing one assist in the Premier League so far.

Indeed, only Bruno Fernandes (34.2%) and Haaland (32.9%) have been directly involved in a higher proportion of their side’s shots in the Premier League in 2025-26 than Bowen (32.2%), who has had a hand in 37 of West Ham’s 115 efforts (26 shots, 11 chances created).

MATCH PREDICTION: BOURNEMOUTH WIN

Despite being favoured by the pre-match simulations, Bournemouth are winless in their last eight Premier League games against West Ham (D5 L3), with each of the last four ending level.

The Cherries have, however, won four of their five Premier League home games this season (D1), as many as their final 12 at the Vitality in 2024-25 (W4 D3 L5). Indeed, only Manchester City (15) have more points at home in the Premier League this campaign than Bournemouth (13).

But Iraola's men have lost both of their last two Premier League games, after only losing one of their first nine of the season beforehand (W5 D3). The Cherries last lost three league games on the bounce in May 2024.

West Ham, meanwhile, are looking to win three Premier League matches in a row for the first time since December 2023, but history does not favour them.

That is because they have lost their first Premier League game directly following all three international breaks in 2025 so far – the only ever-present side to do so this calendar year.

In addition, Nuno has never beaten Iraola in four attempts in the Premier League (D2 L2). Only against Jurgen Klopp has he managed more games in the competition without ever winning (seven), while Iraola has only faced Eddie Howe (five) more times without ever losing.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Bournemouth – 59.3%

Draw – 21.3%

West Ham – 19.4%