FA Premier League

TOTTENHAM  HOTSPUR 0
BOURNEMOUTH 1 (Evanilson 5)

THE Thomas Frank era came back to earth with a bump as Tottenham succumbed to an early winning goal from visitors Bournemouth in the Premier League this afternoon (Saturday).

Evanilson’s fifth-minute finish was enough to separate the sides – but in truth, Spurs were far below the levels enjoyed in Frank’s first two games in the dugout; and the Cherries had ample clear opportunities to give themselves a cushion.

Spurs huffed and puffed for an equaliser which, until a late push, never looked likely to happen.

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Cherries striker Evanilson celebrates what turned out to be the only goal of the game

The club unveiled new signing Xavi Simons, and oh how they looked like they could do with his creativity on Saturday. Starting with the same XI which bossed Manchester City last week, Tottenham today looked bereft of flair when going forward, and Bournemouth were worthy winners.

Speaking after the game, a disappointed Frank admitted: “Bournemouth played to their strengths and we didn’t handle it well enough.

“We clearly didn’t perform today. We knew exactly what they came with and we trained for it. We just didn’t handle it well enough in terms of the balls in behind, the second balls, duels in the middle of the park. That’s the defensive side, and on the offensive side we struggled to find good enough solutions to get through and put a bit of pressure on them.

“We only did that in the last 15 minutes, where we could have equalised. I think over the game it was fair that Bournemouth won.”

With the pre-match Simons parade arriving fresh off the back of two solid wins, there was a boisterousness about the place before kick-off.

Spurs went close in the opening minute when Pape Matar Sarr was played in by Mohammed Kudus. His low cross-shot had to be parried by Dorde Petrovic in the Cherries’ goal.

It would be the first and last time in the first half that the home side managed to cut Bournemouth up. Despite Tottenham’s early eagerness, it was the visitors who opened the scoring.

Bournemouth strung together a decent attack, moving the ball with pace from back to front and right to left. Evanilson got on the end of a clever, reverse through ball from Alex Scott – Djed Spence was out of sync with his fellow defenders and played the forward onside, allowing Evanilson to nail his first time effort past Guglielmo Vicario.

On 10 minutes, it should have been two. A great ball in by the outside of David Brooks’ boot saw Antoine Semenyo head over when well-placed. Semenyo – linked with Spurs over the summer – was a constant nuisance all day.
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Xavi Simons is introduced to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Spurs could not get a toehold and all the bright stuff was coming from Andoni Iraola’s charges. On 24, when there was a break in play, the concerned Frank pulled his team over for a regroup and gee up. It made no difference – nor did a half-time team talk. Bournemouth, across the pitch, seemed to have every Spurs player’s number.

Bournemouth had forced Vicario into three good saves in the second period without feeling threatened themselves, and on 65 minutes they should have finished the game when Marcus Tavernier hit the side netting with the goal gaping.

As Tottenham tried to find some kind of answer and salvage a point: Wilson Odobert – replacing the invisible Brennan Johnson – smashed a shot over, Lucas Bergvall drove straight at Petrović and Kudus almost found Richarlison lurking.

But it would have been harsh on Bournemouth if Spurs had snuck a point. Iraola out-thought his opposite number and his players out-fought those lined up against them: a below par Spurs performance saw the Cherries come out on top.

Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario, Porro (Udogie, 70), Romero, Van de Ven, Spence, Palhinha (Bergvall, 54), Bentancur, Sarr (Tel, 76), Kudus, Johnson (Odobert, 54), Richarlison
Substitutes not used: Kinsky, Danso, Gray, Solomon, Davies

Bournemouth: Petrović, Smith (Hill, 26), Diakite, Senesi, Truffert, Adams, Scott (Christie, 62), Brooks (Adli, 63), Tavernier (Kluivert, 81), Semenyo, Evanilson (Kroupi, 81)
Substitutes not used: Dennis, Gannon-Doak, Faivre, Soler