Andoni Iraola believes Bournemouth are not feeling the effects of Antoine Semenyo's January exit after extending their unbeaten run in the Premier League to eight matches.

Iraola's comments came after his team drew 1-1 with Sunderland at Vitality Stadium on Saturday, with Evanilson's 63rd-minute equaliser cancelling out Eliezer Mayenda's opener.

Indeed, only Aston Villa (19) and Sunderland (16) have gained more points from losing positions than Bournemouth in the Premier League this season (15). 

The Cherries are also now unbeaten in their last eight top-flight games (W4 D4), and have only enjoyed a longer streak without defeat once previously in the competition (11 between November 2024 and January 2025).

The draw saw Bournemouth slip down to ninth in the table after Everton's win over Newcastle United later in the day, though they are still in the hunt for a place in Europe next season despite losing talisman Semenyo to Manchester City last month. 

Prior to his reported £64m switch to City, only Igor Thiago (17) and Erling Haaland (24) had registered more goal involvements than Semenyo (13, level with Bruno Fernandes), and Iraola credited his squad for the way they have dealt with his departure. 

"It's true, we are getting decent results. It's difficult to go eight games without a loss in the Premier League," Iraola told BBC Match of the Day.

"We are probably drawing too much. We have been drawing a lot in the Premier League. Some of them are very good draws, others not so good.

"Thirty-nine points, we lost today a chance to get those magical 40 points that everyone marks as the first thing. But we have to keep going. In three days we play Brentford."

Bournemouth were made to work for their point, though, having registered an expected goals (xG) total of 1.5 from their 21 shots to Sunderland's 1.42 from their eight attempts. 

Sunderland did, however, spurn some glorious chances when a goal up, most notably through Habib Diarra, who failed to finish when one-on-one with Djordje Petrovic. 

"I think probably a draw is not the result we wanted, but we've paid for our slow start. It's taken us a lot of minutes to switch on," Iraola added. 

"In the second half, we were much better and closer to winning the game. But we've paid for this slow start. We conceded the first goal, and after that it became difficult."

For Sunderland, meanwhile, they were able to stop the rot in the Premier League as they ended a run of three consecutive defeats with a valiant point away from home. 

However, the Black Cats have now failed to win on their travels in the top flight since a 2-1 win over Chelsea in October, which is a run of nine games without a victory.

It's their longest such run on the road in the same season in the Premier League since April 2010 (16), though Regis Le Bris was thrilled by the display from his injury-hit team.

"It's a tough place. They have a clear identity, they are intense and always on the front foot. It was really positive for us to challenge this position," Le Bris said. 

"After three defeats in a row, it's not a question of tactics or technique, it's mindset, to be honest. Today we showed it.

"We probably had the opportunity to win this game, especially at the beginning of the second half to make it 2-0. We didn't score, but it's a good point in the end.

"We had different options on the bench. We had a few injuries from Fulham as well, so it was important to make a few changes and the lads are still connected with the team.

"We are a small group, so they know with injuries and suspensions and so on something will come. When it comes, you have to get ready and that's what they did today."