AFC Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur Premier League Match Review

Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs continue a stellar start to the season with a comfortable win against the Cherries.

Tottenham travelled to the South Coast to face Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, with Ange Postecoglou’s side looking to continue their stellar unbeaten start to the 2023/24 Premier League season. THFC had the opportunity to move into the top four should they get the win and results go their way.

The Lilywhites came into this game off the back of a 2-2 draw away from home against Brentford on the opening day before beating Erik Ten Hag’s Manchester United 2 – 0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Pape Matar Sarr opened the scoring early on in the second half (49’) before an own goal from Red Devils central defender Lisandro Martinez sealed all three points for Tottenham in the match’s dying embers (83’).

This was their most recent Premier League fixture before facing Andoni Iraola’s Cherries on Saturday.

As for Bournemouth, they began the season with a creditable 1 – 1 home draw against David Moyes’ West Ham United before losing 3 – 1 against Liverpool at Anfield in their most recent match before facing Postecoglou’s side.

Before the game, Spurs sat in 6th place with 4 points, whereas the Cherries were heading into this match, occupying 14th place with just a single point to their name.

Onto the match itself now, and Spurs were presented with the first significant opportunity to open the scoring when summer signing James Maddison had an effort that looked destined for the net blocked well by the home defence (10’).

The former Leicester City midfielder tested Bournemouth again a few moments later when Cherries ‘keeper Neto saved his close-range effort very well following a Son Heung-Min through ball. Richarlison then tested the goalkeeper, but his header was also saved (15’).

Neither Maddison or Richarlison had to reflect on their missed chances to give their side the lead, with the former scoring the opening goal of the game just a couple of moments later. Some great play from the visitors led to a fantastic through ball from Pape Matar Sarr, finding Maddison, who confidently placed a low shot into the bottom left corner of the net (17’).

Tottenham were playing great football and looked the more likely to score the next goal and essentially confirm the continuation of their unbeaten start to the 2023/24 Premier League season.

Sarr, who had got the assist for the first goal, came close to scoring himself, but a great save from the Cherries’ Goalkeeper denied the Mali international from doubling his team’s advantage with almost half an hour having elapsed (22’). Dejan Kulusevski then had a shot blocked just moments later (23’).

Near the end of the first half, the Lilywhites did have to show some defensive resilience. Firstly, Antoine Semenyo had an effort well blocked (29’) before Danish midfielder Philip Billing had a head saved well by Spurs Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario with just ten minutes of the half remaining (35’).

Yves Bissouma had THFC’s final effort of the first half in stoppage time when he forced a save from close range (45+2’). Justin Kluivert and Philip Billing both then had efforts blocked and fly wide, respectively (45+5’).

The home side was presented with the first opportunity to score in the second half through Semenyo, but the ex-Bristol City forward was close to scoring, but he could not find the target (57’).

The Cherries were swiftly punished for their missed chances when Spurs’ Swedish forward Dejan Kulusevski doubled the advantage for the North London club with less than half an hour of the match remaining when his powerful and unstoppable effort found the bottom right corner of Neto’s net (63’).

Players from both sides had chances to score in the remainder of the second half, but the likes of Jaidon Anthony, Ivan Perisic and Ben Davies could not find the back of the net. It ended in a comfortable win for the Lilywhites, and it saw them rise into 3rd place with 7 points after three matches.

Spurs dominated possession with 56.9% of the ball compared to the Cherries’ 43.1%. Ange Postecoglou’s side had the most shots on target, with six, compared to the three that Andoni Iraola’s side had.

Following the match, THFC Boss Ange Postecoglou said (via Tottenham Hotspur’s Official Website): “I thought the first half was excellent. We knew, particularly here, that Bournemouth would be really aggressive with their press, and I really liked the way we handled that. We stayed clear headed, brave when we needed to be and that helped us take control of the game, we scored a great goal and probably could have had one or two more.

“Breaking the press was the only way we’d be able to get through that, we could go long but by playing through the press it meant once we got through, there was plenty of space for us to go and attack. I really liked how we looked in those moments. There are still areas to improve, but I really liked the way the boys handled it.

“In the second half we didn’t start as well, got a little hurried in our decision making, gave the ball away a little too much, but even then, I thought we defended really well and I thought once the subs came on, we gained control of the game once again and handled it really well.”

After facing London rivals Fulham and Burnley away from home in the Carabao Cup and Premier League respectively, Tottenham Hotspur’s next home game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be on 16^th September against newly promoted Sheffield United.

This match is set to be enthralling, and there is no better way to enjoy all of the action than with an Eventmasters VIP Spurs Hospitality Package to enjoy the action at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in style.

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