PARTY POOPER

Iraola plays down any hopes of Cherries emulating the title heroics of Leicester

- BY NEIL McLEMAN

ANDONI IRAOLA has followed the Claudio Ranieri script by insisting his second-placed Bournemouth are not title contenders this season.

And the Basque coach, who takes an eight-match unbeaten run to Manchester City tomorrow, (sun) said: “Let's talk about goals when March/ April arrives’.

Along with the struggles of champions Liverpool, the rise of the South Coast club is the story of the Premier League season so far.

But while the champions lavished over £400million in the transfer market, the Cherries sold four of their back five - Kepa Arrizabalaga, Dean Huijsen, Illia Zabarnyi and Milos Kerkez - for £145m. And got better.

Only Erling Haaland (11) has scored more Premier League goals than the six of Antoine Semenyo (right) this season.

And Bournemouth, who finished ninth last season, are playing with the breathtaking verve and style of title contenders.