/https://sportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net/uploads/2025/08/imago1065774751-1-1-68b30da640731915378173.jpg "Frank engine runs out of steam as Spurs deservedly beaten by - Sports Mole")
ââââââThomas Frank suffered his first Premier League defeat as Tottenham Hotspur head coach on Saturday as Bournemouth deservedly overcame the Lilywhites 1-0 in North London.
Prior to kickoff, Spurs paraded around their new £51.8m signing Xavi Simons on the pitch, but the mood among home fans was soon soured by an Evanilson opener inside the first five minutes.
In terms of a response from the Europa League winners, there was not one. Thomas Frank's out-of-sorts troops failed to muster a single shot in the first half - meanwhile, the Cherries had 10 - and the hosts were fortunate to only be 1-0 down when the half-time whistle blew.
The chances kept on coming thick and fast for Andoni Iraola's side - albeit without the second that their play deserved - and not until the 68th minute did Spurs have a shot on target; a Lucas Bergvall drive straight as Djordje Petrovic.
Late pressure from the hosts also amounted to nothing as Bournemouth made it back-to-back wins following their beating of Brentford last weekend, while Tottenham have missed the chance to temporarily rise to the top of the Premier League table.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
Where is Simons when you need him?
Up until now, Tottenham had coped magnificently in the absence of creative hubs James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, and the North London crowd finally had some off-field news to celebrate this week after the crushing Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze transfer snubs.
Frank's record against Bournemouth also spoke for itself - he had gone unbeaten in his previous six Premier League matches with the Cherries - but the Dane cut a frustrated figure today as his side were worryingly outfought, outwitted and outclassed.
It took over an hour for the Europa League winners to fire an attempt on target, whereas Iraola's side were peppering Guglielmo Vicario's goal with shot after shot, and the only complaint the visiting fans can have is that their side did not triumph by a bigger scoreline.
From the highs of beating Manchester City at the Etihad to the lows of being dominated on their own patch, Spurs are nothing if not consistently inconsistent, and the international break has ostensibly come at the perfect time for them.
TOTTENHAM VS. BOURNEMOUTH HIGHLIGHTS
And Tottenham's positive start counts for nought!
Bournemouth centre-back Marcos Senesi picks out Evanilson with a defence-splitting pass; the Brazilian did well to get back onside in the left-hand side of the penalty area.
Evanilson's first touch is a controlled one and he lets fly with a left-footed strike, which balloons off of Cristian Romero's thigh, loops over Vicario and flies into the far side of the net.
MAN OF THE MATCH - MARCOS SENESI
The scoreline could have been a lot more embarrassing for Tottenham had Vicario not repelled the Cherries time and time again, and the Italian was the only Spurs player to come out of the contest with any credit.
However, Bournemouth centre-back Senesi was critical to the Cherries' success at both ends of the field, providing a sumptuous pass for Evanilson to fire in while making X at the other end of the field.
TOTTENHAM VS. BOURNEMOUTH MATCH STATS
Possession: Tottenham 62%-38% Bournemouth
Shots: Tottenham 5-19 Bournemouth
Shots on target: Tottenham 1-6 Bournemouth
Corners: Tottenham 0-8 Bournemouth
Fouls: Tottenham 17-13 Bournemouth
BEST STATS
WHAT NEXT?
A London derby away to West Ham United awaits Spurs on September 13 following the international break, three days before they collide with Villarreal in their opening Champions League battle.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth have a South Coast clash to look forward to in exactly two weeks' time, as the Cherries travel to Bournemouth after the hiatus.
No Data Analysis info