Gary O’Neil is making a strong case to be given the Bournemouth job

Had the Premier League season started on 30 August, when Gary O’Neil was appointed Bournemouth boss on a caretaker basis following Scott Parker’s dismissal, the club would be fifth in the table, just five points behind Arsenal. Bournemouth have picked up 10 points from six games under O’Neil. They have drawn four of those games but, since he took over, they are the only unbeaten team in the Premier League.

For a side that had been expected to drop straight back into the Championship, which they may well have done had Parker remained at the helm, O’Neil deserves a lot of praise. After their 9-0 defeat to Liverpool, Parker said he “felt sorry for the players and felt sorry for the fans” as the team was “under-equipped at this level”.

Parker had expressed doubts about his squad before the season started and the club did not appreciate his criticism of what he perceived to be a lack of transfers. “I have been clear how this season could look for us and I stick by that,” said the manager after the Liverpool game. “We need to make a decision and try to help this young group who at times are struggling for air.” Rather than investing on the final day of the transfer window, the club made the decision to sack Parker.

They are now 10th in the Premier League table – level on points with the Liverpool team that beat them 9-0 – having gone unbeaten in six games. Next up is the “El Clasicoast” derby against Southampton on Wednesday night and, for O’Neil and Bournemouth, the only way appears to be up – or at least not down.

O’Neil has set the team up differently than his predecessor. Parker favoured a three-man backline, perhaps as a form of damage limitation – as they faced Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool in the first month of