It is a sight Tottenham hope will become commonplace this season, James Maddison mimicking stepping up to the oche after finding the net. Maddison capped a wonderful team move to open the scoring here, headed towards the nearest corner flag and then exhibited his go-to celebration for the first time in the pristine all-white Spurs strip.
Son Heung-min and Pape Matar Sarr joined him for another impromptu performance, straight down the lens of the pitchside TV camera.
A dartboard is usually part of Maddison’s luggage on away trips and his scruffy first-half finish was the catalyst for Spurs’ first win on the road in this new era under Ange Postecoglou. Dejan Kulusevski made sure of the points with a deft second-half finish.
Victory also allows Postecoglou to at least consider enjoying his 58th birthday on Sunday, in between preparing for Tuesday’s Carabao Cup trip to Fulham. “We always put birthday celebrations on hold depending on my result, so I’m sure my wife is now scrambling to arrange something,” the Tottenham manager said, raising a smile.
Maddison trained on Friday for the first time since leaving Tottenham’s victory over Manchester United last Saturday on crutches owing to an ankle complaint yet he was anything but suppressed here. His influence waned a little in the second half as Bournemouth pushed for an equaliser but his quick feet and thinking helped Spurs win the midfield battle.
Maddison thrives when the protagonist or, indeed, the pantomime villain. In the first half he pointed to the scoreboard as a home supporter gave him some grief. “It’s all a bit of theatre,” Postecoglou said.
If Maddison was influential, so, too, were Yves Bissouma and Sarr, both of whom were involved in the slick passage of play that led to Spurs seizing the lead on 17 minutes. Bissouma dialled up the intensity and burst inside before locating Sarr, who spied Maddison on the move. It was a sumptuous pass and Maddison promptly stroked the ball past Neto in the Bournemouth goal with the slightest touch off his right boot. Postecoglou raised both arms in celebration.
On this evidence Maddison is a £40m bargain, even if that tag made Postecoglou wince a little. “There wasn’t anyone happier than me when we got him,” he said. “I would not say ‘surprised’ but I am overjoyed at the footballer I’ve got. He works hard, he wins the ball back for us, it’s not like he’s out there and just comes to life when we’ve got the ball.
“There’s more to come. Once he gets more understanding with his teammates, particularly the forward players, he’s going to keep improving. I’m delighted we’ve got him.”
Spurs should have extended their lead in the first half, long before Kulusevski doubled their advantage in the second. Richarlison dropped a header wide from a corner and had a shot blocked by Joe Rothwell after a rapid counterattack. Destiny Udogie was given the freedom of Bournemouth and after reaching the byline, played a give-and-go with Son. Ivan Perisic, who replaced Sarr, released Udogie and he pinged the ball across goal, where Kulusevski was quickest to nip in front of Lloyd Kelly and flick the ball into the far corner. Every outfield Spurs player joined the huddle of celebrations. Postecoglou was unmoved.
It was a timely intervention from Kulusevski given the visitors had begun to cede control. Postecoglou replaced Richarlison with Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, among a number of first-team players for sale.
Richarlison had another frustrating time leading the line, typified by a few seconds early in the second half. The Brazilian ended up on his backside after inadvertently standing on the ball attempting to latch on to an infield Pedro Porro pass and instantly earned a booking for petulantly tripping Ryan Christie in a bid to vent his anger.
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Christie forced Guglielmo Vicario into a save from outside the box in the first half and Antoine Semenyo hit a stanchion with a first-time shot approaching the hour but Tottenham were never truly rattled. The substitute Jaidon Anthony’s daisy-cutter from distance spoke to the hosts’ lack of threat.
This was, however, another promising outing for Postecoglou and this new-look Spurs. “We’ve got our Tottenham back,” cheered the away support as the final whistle loomed.
