Bournemouth clinch Europa League qualification after draw at Nottingham Forest

Less likely to overcome a six-goal swing over Liverpool than benefit from Aston Villa finishing fifth – therefore making sixth a UCL qualification spot – the visitors set out to at least fulfil their side of the bargain.

And they looked good value to continue their streak of going unbeaten in all eight historical Premier League matches against Forest as Alex Toth and Tyler Adams both struck just off target in the opening stages.

But some luck for Forest on the counter soon changed the momentum of play, and the best chances all went the hosts’ way in the lead up to the opener.

Igor Jesus failed to beat Dorde Petrovic at his near post and Chris Wood thumped a header against the upright, but it was their top scorer and talisman who eventually drew first blood.

Omari Hutchinson laid off a free-kick for Morgan Gibbs-White, who powered under what was left of the Bournemouth wall and found the bottom corner.

Bournemouth had been very quiet since that early promising spell, but still drew things level shortly after half-time. 

Adrien Truffert cut in from the left byline and played it back to the arriving Marcus Tavernier, who cleverly lifted his finish into the near top corner.

Iraola’s side kept the pressure on, with the dangerous Eli Junior Kroupi calling Matz Sels into a fine save, while an intervention from Adam Smith prevented Gibbs-White from putting Forest back in the lead.

With other results not going the way of the visitors, both sides settled down and played out a relatively pedestrian final 10 minutes.

Though Bournemouth stayed sixth in the standings as a result, Villa did not drop to fifth, meaning that the Cherries will take their place in the UEFA Europa League next campaign.

Forest once again fail to beat Bournemouth – the side they have met the most times in the Premier League without winning – but their top-flight spot is secure and they will look to build under Vitor Pereira after the summer.