PREMIER LEAGUE
THURSDAY 5TH DECEMBER, 2024
(8.15PM)
BOURNEMOUTH 1(1) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0(0)

Bournemouth scorer:-
Huijsen, 17

Attendance:- 11,234

Referee:- Simon Hooper
Assistants:- Adrian Holmes, Simon Long
Fourth official:- Tim Robinson
VAR:- John Brooks
Assistant VAR:- Dan Robathan

Teams:-
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1):- 13. Kepa; 15. Smith (Capt.), 27. Zabarnyi, 2. Huijsen, 3. Kerkez; 10. Christie (sub 4. L. Cook, 77) 12. Adams; 24. Semenyo (sub 7. Brooks, 85), 19. Kluivert (sub 11. Outtara, 64), 16. Tavernier (sub 29. Billing, 85); 9. Evanilson (sub 26. Unal, 85)

Subs not used:- 42. Travers (GK); 23. Hill, 37. Aarons, 48. Kinsey-Wellings.

Booked:- Kepa (time), Adams (delaying restart)

Spurs (4-3-3):- 20. Forster; 14. Gray, 6. Dragusin, 33. Davies (sub 23. Pedro Porro, 62), 13. Udogie; 29. Sarr (sub 7. Son, 57), 8. Bissouma (sub 15. Bergvall, 80), 10. Maddison (Capt.) (sub 16. Werner, 80); 22. Johnson, 19. Solanke, 21. Kulusevski
(Son took the armband)

Subs not used:- 40. Austin; 24. Spence, 3. Reguilon; 64. Olusesi; 42. Lankshear

Booked:- Davies (foul on Evanilson), Bissouma (foul on Kluivert)

Spurs under-achieving yet again

Thanks to Eugene Gasper for this picture.

Remember those halcyon days of "I'm loving Big Ange instead?" Yeah, me too - just about. Spurs under-achieved yet again and fell to their sixth defeat and tenth place in an admittedly tight Premier League table. Bournemouth thoroughly deserved their third Premier League win over a Spurs side that seems incapable of playing "Ange-ball" to the requirements of their leader.

The home side scored from a set piece which was so poorly defended and should have had a hatful of goals. They had one disallowed, and fortunately put most of their attempts off target. Fraser Forster came to our rescue with two or three decent saves, but he was as guilty as anybody with poor play-out passing.

Ange-ball requires quick-fire short passing from the back and seems to demand that individuals choose the most difficult option, often anticipated by a sharp opponent, or just failing to find their intended target. Too often, we over-commit before getting caught out by a fit opponent who has pace, space, and accurate penetrative passing.

To be honest, I'm getting tired of watching Spurs, and I am not looking forward to the visit of Chelsea on Sunday. Yes, we are hampered by injuries and tired legs, but I don't see a "second season trophy" for Big Ange. He needs to get his head up when speaking and get his players heads up on the pitch.

Postecoglou made three changes with Solanke returning to face his old team, Archie Gray replacing Pedro Porro (much-missed), and Kulusevski starting. Son was held on the bench. Brennan Johnson started on the left where Spurs chose to make their opening attacks after kicking off, playing away from the away fans.

Once again, we suffered an early booking with Ben Davies hampering Evanilson as he sought to break forward. Bissouma was booked midway through the half, but referee Simon Hooper then kept his cards in his pocket until the second half, despite a nasty back of the leg tackle by Christie on Maddison.

Bournemouth were captained by right-back Adam Smith, now 33, and once of Spurs.

Spurs had a good chance after 5 minutes when Maddison's pass put Kulusevski clear, but the shot was straight at keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (on loan from Chelsea). Solanke was next to have a shot, again receiving from Maddison. It looked as if he had the better of 19-year-old Dean Huijsen (bought from Juventus in the summer), but Dominic scooped his shot over the target. Solanke stole the ball off the other centre-back Zabarnyi and advanced winning a corner on the left.

Bournemouth broke out but Gray stopped triple penalty man Justin Kluivert with a good tackle. Johnson made ground down the left wing, but his final ball was not good enough.

Spurs had their good start, but after the ball ping-ponged in and around the box, Forster saved well at close range from Evanilson. Tavernier hit a deep corner and Huijsen was not tracked as he cleanly headed the ball back across Forster into the net. Huijsen became Bournemouth's youngest ever scorer of a Premier League goal.

Solanke headed wide from a Maddison corner and Kulusevski hit a left-footed shot just outside the post after approach play by Gray and Bissouma.

Ben Davies blocked a shot by Semenyo after 28 minutes. Tavernier hit the net after a pass by Evanilson, but there had been an offside offence. Forster made a great save from Tavernier after Kerkez's cross. Bournemouth were in the ascendancy and were definitely more incisive.

There no changes at half-time. Spurs had faded and I felt they needed an immediate boost. Bissouma took a pass from Johnsson, but his shot was blocked. Spurs won a corner on the left following an Udogie cross and Kepa flapped Maddison's in-swinging corner away. Again, the home side broke effectively and Kluivert got away from Udogie, bringing a strong save from Forster.

Ben Davies just failed to reach a long cross to the back post by Kulusevski after a Spurs corner on the right.

Ange's first substitution was to bring Son on for Sarr. Johnson was now playing on the right with Son to the left of Solanke. Son soon also had the ball in the net, but he had been offside following a Kulusevski-Solanke combination.

Forster held a shot by Evanilson, and Spurs had another chance after Son's short pass to Maddison who shot just wide of the post on the turn.

Been Davies needed treatment and was replaced by Pedro Porro, with Gray taking up the centre-back role. Pedro Porro soon had a shot saved after Kepa punched clear a Maddison corner. Christie hit the outside of Forster's right post after Evanilson's pass.

Semenyo hit a shot wide and now Spurs had some shaky play at the back. Forster's ball to Kulusevski was won by Adams. Forster saved his shot and Evanilson hit home the rebound but had been offside when the original attempt had been made. VAR saved us there. Spurs were now struggling to even get out of their half and Bournemouth kept coming back at us. Tavernier hit another shot wide. Substitute Ouattara, who had scored Bournemouth's last winning goal against Spurs in April 2023, got the better of Dragusin but thankfully also fired wide.

Bissouma had shot go over the target after a Maddison free kick was blocked. That was Maddison's last piece of action as he was replaced by Werner. Tavernier and Outtara missed chances before Werner failed for Spurs.

Spurs were desperately seeking an equaliser but lacked composure. They were guilty of more poor play-out football and Bournemouth looked the more likely team to score in the six added minutes.

Ange Postecoglou did face the travelling support at the end of the game and some angry words were directed at him. He seemed to be indicating "It's on me", which it is. Won 6, drawn 2 and lost 6 is not good enough Ange. I suspect that record will be worse after Chelsea's visit on Sunday.

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