Ange Postecoglou has been slammed by the national media following Tottenham Hotspur's 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth. The Cherries stormed past the Lilywhites at the Vitality Stadium on Thursday night, leapfrogging them in the Premier League table.
Despite previously downplaying the importance of set-pieces, Spurs – ironically – conceded from a corner. Dean Huijsen became Bournemouth’s youngest-ever scorer in the English top flight, leaping above his marker to head home past Fraser Forster.
Tottenham couldn't even salvage a point, dropping to 10th in the table – which didn't go down well with the travelling supporters. So, with that being said, football.london has looked at how the national media reacted to Tottenham's disappointing defeat on the south coast.
The Daily Mail
"The euphoria of Manchester City already seems like a long time ago for Ange Postecoglou," said Matt Barlow. "Twelve days since the four-goal romp at the home of the champions have brought him problems and setbacks at every turn like an advent calendar from hell.
"Injuries and illnesses have stacked against him and three fixtures in eight days have brought him no wins. Equalisers were conceded at home against Roma and Fulham and his depleted side did not deserve anything at Bournemouth, who climbed above them in the table."
The Sun
"Tottenham's set-piece pain might be easier to take were their North London arch-rivals not so bloody good at them," said Tom Barclay. "While Arsenal and their dead-ball expert Nicolas Jover cornered another opponent on Wednesday night, Spurs suffered more set-piece pain last night on the rainy South Coast.
"Dean Huijsen became Bournemouth’s youngest ever Premier League scorer as he rose highest to head home a first-half corner. It was actually only Spurs’ fourth goal shipped from a dead-ball delivery, excluding penalties, this term.
"But when you couple it with their woes from those particular situations last time - and how boss Ange Postecoglou seemed to dismiss their importance - along with Arsenal’s ridiculous success from them, it made for an exasperating evening for their fans."
The Telegraph
"It is never quite clear if Tottenham are the best bad team or the worst good one," said Thom Gibbs. "Not with results like Thursday’s 0-1 at Bournemouth coming so soon after their 4-0 at Manchester City. Their uncertain identity is compounded by a stadium which is the finest for football in this country but only ramps up the contradictions.
"Champions League regulars without a trophy since 2008, chronically inconsistent, capable of great heights but often with a hapless new low just around the corner. There is a word for all of this and unfortunately for Tottenham it is 'Spursy'."
The Guardian
"Bournemouth should have put the game beyond Spurs, with Tavernier and the substitute Dango Ouattara each squandering excellent opportunities by firing over," said PA Media for The Guardian. "The misses ensured plenty of tension during six minutes of injury time but mattered little in the end as Spurs could not muster a meaningful attempt to snatch a point."
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