ANDONI Iraola is expecting a difficult game at Goodison Park despite Everton’s poor start to the season.

Previewing the game on Merseyside, the Cherries boss said Everton were good in their opening defeat to Brighton, despite the 3-0 scoreline, and pointed to last season’s 3-0 defeat to the Toffees.

“For me, it's a very difficult game to go to and to play,” Iraola said. “They push you a lot there.

“We have the experience from past season, I don't know if it was the worst, probably one of the worst games we played for sure.

“They were better than us, and they deserved to beat us. I hope we also can learn from that experience.

“I think we are a more solid team now, but even doing good things is not enough to get a result there.”

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On Sean Dyche’s side’s defeat to Brighton, the Basque boss said: “I think even the game against Brighton that, at the end, they lose 3-0.

“You see the first 50, 60 minutes of that game and they were putting a lot of pressure against Brighton and probably they deserved other things in that game.

“And I know that the game is going to be difficult. I know it.

“We have to be ready to defend very well, to not concede anything because they have good threats.”

Iraola said Everton had good chances against Brighton but didn’t convert, something his side has also been guilty of this term so far.

“It happened for us, especially against West Ham,” he said. “You have very good moments during the games, you recover very good balls, you have your chances.

“If you don't take your chances, you are facing always very good opposition and they will punish you.

“I think they were very good for some moments for a long period against Brighton.

“Probably the game against Spurs was different. I think Tottenham away is a very difficult game, but I think they are a good team.

“They know very well how to play.

“They showed during long spells, past season that they push you a lot, they press you, they kept you next to your goal.”

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On the challenge at Goodison Park, Iraola said his side must be good at reacting to second balls and defending crosses in the tight spaces at the ground, for what will be its final season.

“We have a very, very quick turnaround and for sure it's going to be, everything quite rushed coming from another away game and now,” he said.

“But I hope we are ready for the game because it's going to be challenging.”

The Cherries boss said he is happy with the way his side have started this season, despite being yet to get a win on the board.

“I finished very happy this week, the game against Newcastle,” Iraola said.

“I finished very happy the game against West Ham, not happy because actually you want to win the games and go to the next round, but very pleased with the performance of the team.

“I really liked the two games we played. It's true that the reward has been very little for me, considering the performances.

“But especially at the beginning of the season, I want to see my team playing well and doing good things on the pitch. And I see players in a good moment.

“For sure we need to improve because at the end the games are decided in the boxes and we have to take our chances and we have to take benefit from the moments that we are being better than the opposition.

“But I like the way the team is playing until today.”