PREMIER LEAGUE
SUNDAY 9TH MARCH, 2025
(2PM)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2(0) BOURNEMOUTH 2(1)
Spurs scorers:-
Sarr, 67
Son (pen), 84
Bournemouth scorers:-
Tavernier, 42
Kluivert, 65
Attendance:- 61,178
Referee:- John Brooks
Assistants:- Eddie Smart, Nick Greenhalgh
Fourth official:- Simon Hooper
VAR:- Andy Madley
Assistant VAR:- Craig Taylor
Teams:-
Spurs (4-3-3):- 1. Vicario; 23. Pedro Porro (sub 13. Udogie, 87), 17. Romero (Capt.) (sub 37, Van de Ven, 46), 4. Danso, 24. Spence; 30. Bentancur (sub 10. Maddison, 61), 8. Bissouma (sub 15. Bergvall, 46), 29. Sarr; 22. Johnson (sub 7. Son, 46)
(Armband to Son)
Subs not used:- 31. Kinsky; 14. Gray; 11. Tel, 44. Scarlett
Booked:- Bentancur (foul on Kerkez), Bissouma (foul on Evanilson), Maddison (unsporting conduct after foul by Huijsen)
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1):- 13. Kepa; 4. Cook (Capt.), 23. Hill, 2. Huijsen, 3. Kerkez; 10. Christie (sub 8. Scott, 71), 12. Adams; 16. Tavernier (sub 7. Brooks, 81), 19. Kluivert, 24. Semenyo (sub 17. Sinisterra, 90); 9. Evanilson (sub 11. Outtara, 71)
Subs not used:- 40. Dennis; 20. Soler, 45. Akinmbomi; 43. Silcott-Duberry; 21. Jebbison
Booked:- Tavernier foul on Odobert), Semenyo (foul on Sarr), Huijsen (unsporting conduct after foul on Maddison)
Spurs are playing only for pride in the league.
Spurs v Bournemouth, 09.03.25
Whilst not yet mathematically assured of Premier League safety, the gap between Spurs and the bottom three is now surely an insurmountable 17 points with just 10 games remaining. Our opponents today are very much in the race for European places and deservedly so. They are ten points ahead of Spurs.
Spurs' season now hangs on Thursday night's game at home to AZ Alkmaar. Regarding the league, we are playing for pride only. Sadly, there was little of that on display in the first half with mistakes aplenty, not least the one after only twenty seconds by World Cup winner Cristian Romero, making his first start in three months, when he managed just 15 minutes on the field of play.
Bournemouth could have been out of sight in the first few minutes. We have Vicario to thank for a couple of fine saves. What we do not have to thank him for is being at the heart of Spurs' too-often pathetic play-out football. We are just not good at that. In the second half when Vicario kicked a ball long the South Stand gave a massive ironic cheer.
We did see a spirited second half effort and after falling two goals behind, Spurs managed a come-back and a point after a sensational (if fortunate) goal by Sarr and a cheeky penalty by Son.
Ange Postecoglou made 6 changes from Thursday night's side. Udogie, Bergvall, Maddison and Son started on the bench. Solanke also started today, despite what had looked a nasty injury in Alkmaar. I think it is fair to say 19-year-old Lucas Bergvall was rested. He replaced Bissouma at half-time and was surely our best player, with driving runs and plenty of good passes. We missed a playmaker in midfield in the first half.
We were switched round at kick-off and played towards the South Stand. That early Romero howler was a pass to Evanilson, whose shot was saved low to his left by Vicario. Bentancur was next to lose the ball, less dangerously in midfield.
Wilson Odobert was a threat down the left wing and Tavernier took an early booking for unfairly stopping the Spurs man in his tracks. Referee John Brooks was taking no nonsense.
Another Romero error gave Justin Kluivert a chance, but Vicario saved again. Kluivert later scored his eleventh away league goal and he's the first Bournemouth player to score reach double figures for away goals in a top-flight campaign.
Odobert won a corner on the left, taken by Pedro Porro and met by a Solanke header which was cleared off the line.
Mr Brooks had "words" with Djed Spence regarding an early challenge. Romero failed with a pass yet again after 12 minutes, passing into the middle where "The Cherries" seized possession. Spurs were too often bereft of ideas, invention, and movement off the ball. Pedro Porro did make a good advance and fed the ball to Johnson, but his cross was intercepted. A cross by Pedro Porro was met by Solanke's header, but that was an easy catch for Kepa. Odobert got to the bye-line on the left, but overhit his cross.
It came as no surprise when Bournemouth took the lead, and I confess to applauding their goal. Pedro Porro lost the ball in Bournemouth's half and Kerkez raced down his flank with the ball before delivering an excellent cross which beat Danso towards the back post. Marcus Tavernier met the cross and scored perfectly with low shot.
Bergvall and Son were half-time changes for Bissouma and Johnson. Odobert moved to the right. Son had an early chance but pondered a little and was closed down. Bournemouth countered and it looked like they had scored an excellent team goal, finished by Kluivert, but VAR adjudged that Semenyo had been offside near the half-way line when the ball was sent down the left. Phew!
Son had a better effort with a right-footed shot, which took a slight deflection, winning us a corner. The home crowd had booed the team off at half-time but was getting behind the team now!
Bentancur was hobbling after a touchline challenge and was replaced by Maddison. Micky van de Ven was roared on when he replaced Romero. Maddison forged an excellent chance for Sarr inside the area, but he managed to pull his shot wide, despite the goal beckoning.
Bournemouth made it 2-0 with 25 minutes remaining after Kluivert threaded aa pass in the middle for Evanilson to score.
Bergvall nearly responded immediately with an excellent right-footed shot from 28 yards. Kepa was beaten but the ball hit his right post low and rebounded to safety. Sarr's goal soon after came out of the blue. Sarr was outside the area to the right, and I suspect he intended a cross, but his well-hit effort was lifted over the keeper and hit the net in the far corner. Lucky or not, the goal was sensational and lifted the players and crowd.
However, we did see more action in our half and Vicario just managed to recover and clear a back-pass in front of his goal-line. Maddison lost possession in midfield allowing Tavernier to feed the ball to Kluivert. His shot from the right hit the bottom of the far post.
Van de Ven excited us when he raced out of defence, passing inside to Solanke, but Dominic failed against his former team-mates. Maddison fed Son who advanced into the box and was tripped by Kepa with the ball rolling well ahead of him, but not yet out of play. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and his decision was upheld by VAR. For a moment it looked as if Solanke wanted the ball, but Son took the kick, deceiving Kepa with a stuttering run before a cheeky soft finish after Kepa went the wrong way.
There was no addition to the score despite 6 minutes of added time. To be honest, the draw flattered Spurs, but we'll all take the point.
. Squad numbers,appearances,bookings & goalscorers
. Read the preview for this game.