Tottenham finished 2023 on a high with victory over an energetic Bournemouth in the Premier League at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Pape Sarr found the net after Rodrigo Bentancur capitalized on Neto’s casual pass, leading to Sarr’s precise finish into the far corner.
Despite a recent setback against Brighton, a Tottenham side grappling with injuries observed Bournemouth create numerous opportunities, appearing poised to equalize.
However, Bournemouth’s lack of clinical finishing proved costly as Son Heung-min extended Spurs’ lead with a remarkable left-footed strike that found the net off a post. Richarlison sealed the victory for Ange Postecoglou’s team, adding to Bournemouth’s woes.
Although Alex Scott managed to score a consolation goal, Bournemouth will undoubtedly reflect on missed opportunities as they departed London without points.
This defeat marked the first in eight games for Andoni Iraola’s squad, concluding Dominic Solanke’s three-match scoring streak.
Despite the victory, Spurs maintain their fifth position in the table, trailing the top spot by three points and sitting one point behind fourth-placed Arsenal.
Injury-hit Spurs find way to win
Despite an impressive beginning to the season under Postecoglou, Tottenham faced a challenging period, losing five of their last nine games and grappling with ongoing injury concerns.
The unexpected inclusion of Bentancur in the starting XI provided a pleasant surprise for Spurs fans, as he returned ahead of schedule from an ankle injury.
While the home team enjoyed an ideal start with Sarr’s well-placed finish, they had to endure sustained pressure from Bournemouth for significant stretches of the match.
Although Spurs generated few opportunities in the second half, Son’s goal proved pivotal, deflating the visitors’ momentum, and Richarlison sealed the victory for the home side.
“Every week is a battle and we had to battle today,” said Postecoglou. “We’ve not been able to rotate but we’re still putting in performances and effort like we are today.
“We had to show a bit of everything – resilience, character and discipline.
“We’re three points off the top, so if that is the difference between having a great season and where we are I’ll take it.”
But there was more injury misery for Postecoglou as Sarr went down in the first half and left the field visibly upset before Alejo Veliz hobbled off in tears late on, forcing Spurs to see out the final few minutes with 10 men, having made all their substitutions.
While they showed quality to withstand Bournemouth’s pressure, Spurs’ injury situation is a concern, but Postecoglou stood by his previous statement that fans should not expect “magic” in the January transfer window.
“Each window gives an opportunity to strengthen and grow. It’s nothing to do with the injury situation; it’s to do with building the side,” he said.
At halftime, Tottenham honored goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who recently departed for Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC on a free transfer. Lloris had dedicated 11 years to Tottenham, amassing 447 appearances during his tenure.
Bournemouth rue missed chances
Arriving at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on a seven-match unbeaten streak, with six wins among them, Bournemouth, who had initially secured only three points from their first nine league games this season, maintained a persistent threat.
Despite conceding an early goal, the Cherries consistently pressed forward and may reflect on missed opportunities in a game where they struggled to secure a positive result.
Richarlison played a pivotal role in denying Marcus Tavernier’s free-kick, redirecting it just wide, while Solanke’s close attempt was thwarted by Ben Davies, hitting the top of the crossbar.
Solanke, with nine chances, experienced his highest shot count in any top-flight match this season, testing Guglielmo Vicario with a header and coming close from Tavernier’s low cross.
Although the final scoreline may appear generous to Spurs, Bournemouth, despite their determined efforts, found it challenging to convert their chances on target, leaving them disappointed at letting the match slip away.
“We had a lot of opportunities and we’ve won games playing worse than today, but they were better, especially finishing,” said Iraola.
It has, however, been a stellar run for Iraola’s side and they will enter 2024 confident of their Premier League status.
“We started the season bad but have been in a very good run,” said Iraola. “We have 25 points – a good amount, but we still need more. We have to keep improving and the performance today was really good.”