Tottenham slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, leaving Ange Postecoglou’s side winless in three games and the head coach under a degree of pressure ahead of Sunday’s visit of Chelsea.
Dean Huijsen headed the Cherries in front after 17 minutes, the centre-half meeting Marcus Tavernier’s corner unmarked at the back post.
Tavernier, Evanilson and Spurs substitute Heung-min Son all had goals ruled out for offside but the Cherries looked far the likely to add to the scoreline, with the hosts missing a string of chances in the second half.
Here are three Spurs talking points from the game….
Sloppy goal kills Spurs
Bournemouth’s goal was particularly frustrating for Spurs because it was so soft, and came after a bright start from the visitors.
Spurs had already twice got behind Bournemouth’s back four when Radu Dragusin was pickpocketed in the six-yard box by Evanilson, forcing Fraser Forster into a point-blank save from the Brazilian’s shot.
From the resulting corner, Huijsen ghosted in at the back post completely unmarked to head home, with Destiny Udogie appearing to misjudge the flight of the ball.
Postecoglou will not want to hear it but the goal was another example of Spurs’ occasional frailty at set-pieces, which has been less of an issue this season but not gone away entirely.
Huijsen’s header was the second Spurs have conceded from a dead-ball in a week after Roma’s Evan Ndicka equalised from a free-kick in the Europa League seven days ago, and the fourth they have shipped from set-pieces this season.
The goal changed the game entirely, shaking Spurs off their rhythm and playing into the hands of a Cherries side who were set up to counter-attack.
Postecoglou’s side could not recover from the setback and their performance for the remaining 75 minutes plus was as abject as anything they have produced this season. Forster kept it at 1-0 with a series of fine saves.
Bournemouth are a formidable opponent, particularly at home, but it felt like Spurs were the makers of their own downfall on the south coast by conceding a decisive goal that could easily have been avoided.
Mood glum ahead of Chelsea visit
The magnificent 4-0 away win at Manchester City was less than a fortnight ago but already seems like a distant memory for Spurs following the frustrating draws with Roma and Fulham, and this rough evening on the south coast.
As Postecoglou has pointed out, there is a danger in lurching between joy and despair week-to-week but the reality is that the mood will be very glum indeed if Spurs cannot change their fortunes against bitter rivals Chelsea on Sunday.
There are mitigating factors to their slump, with Postecoglou again without seven players due to injury, illness or suspension against the Cherries, leaving his starters looking shattered and his bench inexperienced.
Ben Davies was forced off with what looked like a hamstring injury on the hour, increasing Spurs’ defensive concerns, and Postecoglou will desperately hope Cristian Romero is fit to return against the Blues.
Absentees are only part of the story, however, and Spurs were incredibly poor for most of this match, relying on Forster and some wasteful Bournemouth finishing for staying in the game so long.
They are still a flawed side, susceptible to conceding when playing well, incapable of playing Postecoglou’s football when certain players are missing, and psychologically fragile.
Postecoglou has said they are still making progress, although weeks like this one are putting the head coach’s belief to the test.
Now the manager will be hoping his side’s inconsistent form continues and they bounce back with a win against Chelsea.
Spurs need January reinforcements
It is a little harsh to blame Postecoglou’s high-intensity approach for Spurs' dire selection problems.
Cristian Romero and Guglielmo Vicario are sidelined with contact injuries, Mikey Moore is ill and Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended.
That leaves Micky van de Ven, Wilson Odobert and Richarlison with hamstring injuries but the latter is increasingly susceptible to muscle problems, which, at this point, appear unrelated to his work-load in training.
Regardless, it is increasingly obvious that Tottenham’s squad as it is cannot cope with the intensity of the schedule and struggle to play Postecoglou’s football when certain players are missing or his starters are fatigued.
Postecoglou said on Wednesday that the club’s January plans will depend on the state of his squad going into the window but if Spurs want to remain competitive on multiple fronts this season, they need additions – ideally experienced and technically-sound players who can hit the ground running and ease the burden on the current squad.
