PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 30th AUGUST, 2025
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0(0) BOURNEMOUTH 1(1)
Bournemouth scorer:-
Evanilson, 5
Attendance:- 61.250
Referee:- Simon Hooper
Assistants:- Adrian Holmes, Simon Long
Fourth official:- Tom Bramall
VAR:- John Brooks Assistant VAR:- Richard West
Teams:-
Spurs (4-3-3):- 1. Vicario; 23. Pedro Porro (sub 13. Udogie, 71), 17. Romero (Capt.), 37. Van de Ven, 24. Spence; 30. Bentancur, 6. Palhinha (sub 15. Bergvall, 54), 29. Sarr (sub 11. Tel, 76); 20. Kudus, 9. Richarlison, 22. Johnson (sub 28. Odobert, 54)
Subs not used:- 31. Kinsky; 4. Danso, 33. Davies; 14. Gray; 27. Solomon
Booked:- Van de Ven (foul on Brooks), Spence (foul on Adli)
Bournemouth (4-4-2):- 1. Petrovic; 15. Smith (Capt.) (sub 23. Hill, 25), 18. Diakite, 5. Senesi, 3. Truffert; 7. Brooks (sub 17. Adli, 64), 12. Adams, 8. Scott (sub 10. Christie, 64), 24. Semenyo; 9. Evanilson (sub 22. Kroupi, 81), 16. Tavernier (sub 19. Kluivert, 81)
(Armband to Brooks then Tavernier)
Subs not used:- 40. Dennis; 20. Soler; 21. Faivre; 111. Gannon-Doak
Booked:- Semenyo (delaying free kick), Petrovic (time), Adams (time), Hill (foul on Udogie)
This was "Spursy" Mr. Frank
The wave of optimism that preceded this game in which we sought a third consecutive win was soon dissipated when Evanilson scored in the fifth minute. Latest signing Xavi Simons was presented before the game and will have realised that his services will be very much required.
Spurs had an opening within half a minute of Bournemouth kicking off, when Kudus fed the ball to Johnson, Sarr overlapped, but his low cross was parried, and the ball was cleared. Thereafter Spurs failed to muster even a shot on target until second half substitute Lucas Bergvall forced Petrovic into a save. That shot was greeted by ironic cheers from the home crowd.
Bournemouth have an exciting and capable coach in Andoni Iraola, and his game plan of pressing Spurs kept us on the back foot for too long. They have athleticism, speed, and plenty of skill, and despite their loss of key defenders in the transfer window, nobody can afford to underestimate them.
Semenyo gave Pedro Porro a torrid time. Pedro even produced a couple of foul throws, which to my mind is a disgrace for a professional footballer. Kudus was well policed by new left back Truffert, usually backed up by one other, sometimes Semenyo. Richarlison too was neutralised and rarely managed to develop any long balls sent his way. Johnson either overhit or under hit his passes and just wasn't producing the goods.
The drop in standard after our last three games was distressing to see, and our quality was as dire as the worse football we saw last season. Thomas Frank has had an early introduction to our old friend "Spursy" and will have much to think about over the international break.
Evanilson's goal followed a cross by Senise. The Brazilian struck a powerful left-footed shot which took a deflection but hit the net to the left of Vicario. He had several other chances to score too, thankfully spurned. His next effort came from 20 yards out but passed wide.
Richarlison did manage to hold up a ball after 8 minutes, feeding it to Sarr, who played an attacking midfield role. Sarr passed to Johnson, who then hit the intended pass for Spence too hard. Brooks hit an audacious cross with the outside of his foot, but Semenyo headed over.
For all their skill, and quite frankly domination, Bournemouth did their best to take time out of the game whenever possible. Some injuries were not as serious as that which necessitated former Spur Adam Smith to be substituted midway through the first half.
Referee Simon Hooper drew the ire of the home crowd with inconsistent decision making. Van de Ven was surely shown a card too early. Similar challenges by the visitors were not punished in the same way.
Evanilson headed over a Semenyo cross. Brooks took a quick free kick, parried by Vicario. The same player headed onto the net from the corner. Bournemouth often had six or seven men in our half. We made passing difficult, and often slow, with not enough running off the ball. Van de Ven made a precious block of a Tavernier shot.
Spence crossed after a Johnson pass. Diakite blocked and Johnson failed with his attempt to follow up on the move. Evanilson was off target with another header after another Semenyo cross. More defending was needed after more Bournemouth pressure.
Spurs kicked off the second half, at the start of which, perhaps surprisingly, there were no changes by our coach. In no time, Semenyo pounced on a flick by Evanilson and hit a powerful deflected shot, well saved by our goalkeeper. More pressure followed when I thought an obvious offside should have been given. Vicario saved from Evanilson, then got a touch to Brooks' rising shot which hit the top of the bar. We were being outplayed and overrun.
It was time for change and Odobert replaced Johnson while Bergvall took on the attacking midfield role, with Sarr dropping back. After a poor clearance by Vicario, Evanilson just missed Christie's cross, and Tavernier hit the side netting. Tavernier hit another shot over from distance.
That shot by Bergvall followed a successful Porro cross, controlled by Richarlison. Bergvall was the one player who looked like making something happen today.
Pedro Porro was replaced by Udogie, but Spence switched to right back. Vicario was needed to parry a shot by Tyler Adams, following a corner.
Udogie and Odobert mustered a decent move down the left, but Odobert's shot was over the target. Spurs did now manage to put the Bournemouth defence under a little pressure including a move when Bergvall and Kudus combined down the right channel. Tel (who had replaced Sarr) hit a good half-volleyed shot just wide of the far post after Spence crossed.
There were seven minutes of added time, but I suspect Spurs wouldn't have scored if allowed twice that time. More skill by Bergvall led to Kudus hitting a cross, but Petrovic held the ball.
Let there be no doubt that Bournemouth deserved this win. Our next game is away to struggling West Ham before we host Villarreal in our first Champions League game. We need to play far better than seen today.
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