BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SUNDAY 25TH OCTOBER, 2015
(2.05PM)
AFC BOURNEMOUTH 1 (1) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 5 (3)

Bournemouth scorer:-
Ritchie, 1

Spurs scorers:-
Kane (pen), 9, 56, 63
Dembele, 17
Lamela, 29

Attendance:- 11,332

Referee:- Roger East
Assistants:- D. Cann & M. Scholes
Fourth official:- J Moss

Teams:-
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1):- Boruc; Francis (Capt.), Cook, Distin, Daniels; Gosling, Surman; Ritchie, King (sub O’Kane, 61), Pugh (sub Smith, 75); Murray (sub Kermogant, 68)

Subs not used:- Federici; Bennett; Stanislas; Rantie

No bookings

Spurs (4-2-3-1):- Lloris (Capt.), Walker (sub Trippier, 82), Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Alli; Lamela, Dembele (sub Mason, 68), Eriksen; Kane (sub N’Jie, 85)

Subs not used:- Vorm; Wimmer; Townsend, Onomah

Booked:- Rose (foul on Ritchie)

Spurs pick off “Cherries”

After suffering the shock of the quickest goal scored so far in this season’s Premier League, Spurs bounced back to secure their biggest away league win since beating Hull City in August 2009 by the same score. They were assisted by a Harry Kane hat-trick, some dodgy goalkeeping by Artur Boruc, returning from injury, and plenty of good attacking football in what was an open game. Bournemouth are a team which seeks to attack, and to play fast snappy football. They got a dream start, but by the end of the game, it looked as if they may be in for a long and hard season, with only Aston Villa, Newcastle and Sunderland below them in the league table.

The Vitality Stadium at Dean Court was hosting Spurs in a competitive game for the first time since February 1957, when “The Cherries”, then a Third Division side, beat a Spurs team featuring five future Double winners 3-1 in an FA Cup fifth round tie. Today’s match programme included a replica edition of the programme for the historic cup win, which remains a legendary achievement in these parts.

Former Spurs junior Charlie Daniels provided the cross from the left which Matt Ritchie gleefully fired home with Lloris well beaten. Not that the home fans needed inspiring, because they were in good spirits anyway. Spurs bounced back in the ninth minute after Harry Kane had been brought down by Boruc. Kane had received a ball from the left from Eriksen. There was no card for Boruc, who was well beaten by Kane’s penalty, fired left of the keeper. That was only Kane’s second league goal of the season, and the first in a month.

Three minutes later, Kane got the better of Steve Cook on the left-hand side, passing inside for Lamela to chase. Boruc was first to the ball. Spurs went ahead in the 17th minute after a free kick, taken on the left by Eriksen. The ball reached Danny Rose, whose shot was blocked, and fell to Mousa Dembele, who hit a left footed shot into the centre of the box. That was Dembele’s first goal since Spurs lost 3-2 at Liverpool in February. Dembele was given the central attacking midfield berth today, with Eriksen playing from the left. However, as is the known style of head coach Mauricio Pochettino, it was the Spurs full backs who were required to provide the real width in attack. Both Walker and Rose did so with gusto, but it was Kyle Walker who had the higher success rate today.

Spurs fans were already feeling cocky, and started singing “You’re going down with the Chelsea”.

Harry Kane had a powerful header saved by Boruc after another Eriksen corner, before Spurs took a 3-1 lead. Dele Alli had been featuring prominently in the middle, full of confidence, and creative skills. He started the move which led to a Spurs attack down the left side, and a cross/shot by Kane which was spilled by Boruc to the feet of the grateful Lamela, who scored his second league goal of the season, and his fourth in all.

Danny Rose got the one yellow card of the day for a foul on Ritchie, but nothing came of the free kick for Bournemouth. Lloris did have a scary moment after 38 minutes, demonstrating some fancy footwork to prevent King from nicking the ball off his feet after a back pass to the keeper. In added time Alderweireld uncharacteristically missed a cross, Ritchie fired wide; King hit the foot of a post after another Daniels cross from the left, and Pugh had a shot blocked after a Ritchie cross from the right-hand side.

Spurs made a steady start to the second half, and Bournemouth made little headway. Dembele charged down Boruc, when he tried to clear and the ball bounced off the Spurs player back into the keeper’s arms. Spurs made it 4-1 and Harry Kane got his second goal, after latching onto Eriksen’s ball from the left of the area. Harry fired home with his right foot. Dele Alli had a decent shot blocked to win a corner. A long ball by Jan Vertonghen was chased hard by Kyle Walker, who won the chase, crossing for Kane whose shot was saved this time.

Kane secured his hat-trick and made it 5-1 after Eriksen’s corner and a header by Alderweireld, which Boruc saved but again spilled, allowing Kane to follow-up and score from close range. Ritchie tried to get a goal back with a long range shot which Lloris had to push over his bar for a corner. Dele Alli carried the ball deep down the left flank, and passed inside to Eriksen, whose shot rebounded off the keeper’s left post.

Dembele was replaced by Ryan Mason, making his first appearance since scoring Spurs’ winner at Sunderland on September 13th. Lamela made good ground down the right side before passing inside to Eric Dier, whose shot was not held. With Kane and Lamela swooping for the kill, Boruc this time did come off the better, to hold the ball. Harry Kane hit the post with a shot after 74 minutes, but he was offside when Dier passed forward. Kane was replaced late in the game by N’Jie, who n early scored with his first touch. Alli fed him the ball and Clinton hit a powerful drive which Boruc saved well.

Having gone one down so early in the game, it wasn’t long before the team and their fans could relax and enjoy their day in the sun. The win takes us up to sixth place, six points, 9 places, and 12 goals better off than Chelsea, languishing in 15th place. Now we have an 8 day break before our next game against Aston Villa. Tim Sherwood was sacked today, and we await the name of the next “new manager” to visit White Hart Lane. See you there!

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