TOTTENHAM warmed up for one of the biggest games in their history by having a meltdown in Bournemouth which leaves their top four hopes in doubt. Heung-min Son and Juan Foyth were both sent off while Eric Dier was subbed to prevent him from joining them in the dressing room. And they paid a heavy […]
TOTTENHAM warmed up for one of the biggest games in their history by having a meltdown in Bournemouth which leaves their top four hopes in doubt.
Heung-min Son and Juan Foyth were both sent off while Eric Dier was subbed to prevent him from joining them in the dressing room.
And they paid a heavy price for their poor discipline when Nathan Ake headed home a stoppage time corner to snatch the win and leave Spurs travelling home empty-handed.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino will be left scratching his head after his side completely lost their composure ahead of their Champions League semi-final second-leg clash with Ajax on Wednesday.
They were completely bossing this game until the double red cards either side of half-time and the defeat means they face a tricky clash with in-form Everton on the final day as they look to book Champions League football next season.
Despite the Ajax return-leg looming, Poch picked a strong line up to face the Cherries.
There was a recall for Son after he was suspended for their game with the Dutch giants.
However, Jan Vertonghen was ruled out as a precaution following his sickening clash of heads in the first leg earlier in the week.
While Spurs still have the biggest game of their season still to play, there was a distinct feeling that the Cherries are already on the beach for their holidays.
Boss Eddie Howe gave a debut to 19-year-old keeper Mark Travers and he nearly got caught out in the eighth minute with a long-range effort from Lucas Moura.
The Spurs forward tried his luck from half-way line with a speculative effort that just sailed wide of Travers’ post.
Moura was then off target as he headed over from Trippier’s cross while Dele Alli then saw his effort saved by the Cherries rookie.
Spurs continued to press for an opener and Travers pulled off another excellent save to deny Moura again after Jack Simpson was caught out by Moussa Sissoko’s pass.
Travers was called into action in the 24th minute when he again denied Moura, this time from close range with his feet.
It was all one-way traffic, as Son raced through the Bournemouth defence only to flash his shot over the bar.
Alli was then denied for a second time by Travers, who pulled off a spectacular save.
Dier, already booked for scything down Ryan Fraser, was lucky not to pick up a second yellow for fouling Joshua King but ref Craig Pawson waved play on.
The official had a busy final 10 minutes to the first half. First he turned down appeal for Bournemouth when Hugo Lloris brought down King.
Then he denied Bournemouth a stone-wall penalty when Dier carelessly clattered into Callum Wilson.
And then on 44 minutes Pawson dismissed Son after he took a swipe at Jefferson Lerma after he felt he was fouled, earning him a red card.
Dier and Toby Alderweireld, who were both booked, were subbed at half-time to save them from suffering the same fate.
Ironically, it was one of their replacements, Foyth, who did.
The defender picking up a straight red card for a horror tackle on Simpson. He’d been on the pitch for just 135 seconds.
To their credit, nine-an Spurs continued to find the opening goal as Moura, looked to make up for his earlier misses and was their most attacking threat.
But Bournemouth started to make their numerical advantage count as Wilson came close on two occasions before Jordon Ibe’s effort from the edge of the box was palmed away by Lloris.
The Spurs keeper was then again in the right place 10 minutes from full-time as substitute Lys Mousset headed straight at him.
