Bournemouth Echo

Tavernier scored after 42 minutes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, giving the visitors the lead at half time.

While the Englishman finished well to volley home at the far post, it was Milos Kerkez’s assist that gained plenty of plaudits for the goal.

Cherries lose two goal lead to take point at Spurs

The left back intercepted a Pedro Porro pass deep in the Cherries half and surged into Spurs territory.

The Hungarian had plenty of time to get his head up and put in an inch-perfect cross for the arriving Tavernier at the far post, from midway inside the Spurs half.

Tavernier’s goal is up against goals from Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella, Arsenal’s Declan Rice, Brighton’s Pervis Estupinan, Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga, Man City’s Omar Marmoush, Ipswich’s Jens Cajuste and Man United's Bruno Fernandes for the month’s award.

To vote, visit the Premier League website.

The Cherries led 2-0 thanks to goals from Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson, before Pape Matar Sarr got one back for the hosts at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

With six minutes to play Spurs drew level thanks to a Son Heung-Min penalty, after Kepa rushed out to challenge the South Korean and brought him down.

But the Cherries had created a number of good chances that they failed to take, including in the opening five minutes, and they had a goal disallowed early on in the second half.

Cherries lose two goal lead to take point at Spurs

Iraola told the Daily Echo: “We are disappointed.

“I think before coming here, probably it’s not the worst result, a point here.

“Difficult opposition, difficult stadium to play. But considering how the game has gone, our performance, definitely the feeling of losing two points.”

The Basque boss felt his side had played really well, but the overwhelming feeling was that they should have capitalised more on that strong showing.

“I think without the ball, we've created a lot of situations, offensive situations, starting from very good presses, recovering the ball very high,” Iraola said.

“Even the first five minutes, I think we go two times against the keeper, we don't score.

“We should have capitalised more. Even in the second half, I think on the ball, attacking the spaces really well.

“The transitions, I think they were expected, transitions for both teams, but I think ours were more clear.

“But at the end it’s one point for each team and we have to look at ourselves and we need to be more efficient because big teams and teams that achieve big things, they find ways to win, even in the games that haven't played well.

“And in our case, I think it's been the opposite. We are playing very well. You see the performance Brighton away, today away.

“And you get one point from these two games.

“There is a part of, okay, they are smart, they are fortunate, they scored the first goal, a little bit with luck.

“But there is a part where you have to take the value from the things that you are doing well and today we couldn't.”

Iraola said they cannot use the youth of the team for that instinct to find ways to win, saying: “We are a young team, it's true, but if you want to achieve things, you cannot use the excuse of we are young so it's normal.

“No, no. We need to be to increase our demands. You have to be demanding with ourselves.

“After if we don't arrive, we don't arrive. But I think it's a shame because the players are doing so many things so well that really not to get the points that I think we deserve is a shame.”

Bournemouth led at the break after a high energy first half, Tavernier finishing after some Milos Kerkez brilliance on the left to pick the Englishman out after a fine run up from the back from the Hungarian.

Evanilson gave the Cherries a two-goal advantage with a brilliant finish, before Pape Matar Sarr got a goal back for the hosts, his cross/shot finding the net off the far post.

Son Heung-Min then drew Spurs level to seal a point for the hosts, after he was brought down in the box by Kepa, the Korean converting from the penalty spot with six minutes to play.

Andoni Iraola made two changes from his side which beat Wolves in the FA Cup last weekend, as Ryan Christie was passed fit to start and Justin Kluivert returned to the starting XI.

Meanwhile, Ange Postecoglou made six changes to his side which lost in the Europa League to AZ Alkmaar in midweek, including the return of former Cherry Dominic Solanke to the team.

It was a rapid start from the Cherries, going close to opening the scoring twice in the opening five minutes.

Inside the first minute, Evanilson cut out a Romero pass out from the back and had his shot one-on-one saved by Guglielmo Vicario.

Then, the Cherries press again caused problems for the hosts, Kluivert this time played in after the ball was won high up the pitch, Vicario again getting down to save.

Kepa saved from a drilled Pedro Porro cross and the Cherries immediately counterattacked, Kluivert brought down on the edge of the D, but Marcus Tavernier’s free kick struck the Spurs wall.

The game continued at a high pace but with fewer chances for the two sides, as Solanke had a flicked header easily caught by Kepa.

Milos Kerkez challenged Brennan Johnson brilliantly after he was played in behind, timing his tackle to perfection to put the ball behind for a corner.

And Kerkez was at his brilliant best to set up the Cherries opener three minutes from the interval.

The young Hungarian intercepted a Porro pass in the Bournemouth half and surged into Spurs territory, having time to get his head up and put in a pinpoint cross for Tavernier to slide in and finish at the back post.

Spurs made a bright start to the second period but the Cherries thought they had doubled their advantage on 52 minutes, a rapid counterattack finished off by Kluivert, but Antoine Semenyo was offside in the build-up.

Hill headed a Christie cross wide after a neat short corner, before Kerkez drew a good save out of Vicario with a powerful effort that was aimed at the top corner from a tight angle.

Evanilson doubled the Cherries lead after 65 minutes, played in behind beautifully by Kluivert and lifting a wonderful finish over the Spurs keeper.

The hosts got a goal back two minutes later, though, Pape Matar Sarr’s cross/shot going over the jumping Kepa before hitting the far post and going in.

Vicario had to slide in to clear the ball almost off his own line under pressure from Evanilson, before the Brazilian and Christie were replaced by Dango Ouattara and Alex Scott.

Kluivert struck the post after a quick counterattack saw the Cherries have a three-on-three, Tavernier playing in the Dutchman, his effort not falling to Ouattara after hitting the upright.

Dean Huijsen headed over the bar and then just wide from Cherries corners as the game entered the final 15 minutes.

Tavernier made way for David Brooks after 80 minutes, before Spurs drew themselves level from the penalty spot.

Son Heung-Min was played in on the Spurs left and Kepa rushed out, going to ground as the Korean went away from goal, referee John Brooks pointing to the spot and Son converting.

Luis Sinisterra replaced Semenyo as the game entered stoppage time, with neither team able to find a winner and the spoils were shared.

The Cherries now sit eighth in the Premier League on 44 points.

Spurs: 1, G. Vicario; 4, K. Danso; 23, P. Porro (D. Udogie 87’); 24, D. Spence; 17, C. Romero (c)(M. van de Ven 61’); 8, Y. Bissouma (booked, 45’)(L. Bergvall 46’); 29, P. Sarr; 30, R. Bentancur (booked, 30’)(J. Maddison 61’); 28, W. Odobert; 22, B. Johnson (Son Heung-Min 46’); 19, D. Solanke.

Cherries in the capital to face Spurs: Build up  Bournemouth Echo

Hall arrives on the south coast on dual registration from Tottenham Hotspur, and said she was thrilled to join the club.

The 18-year-old is set to wear the number nine shirt and could be in line for her debut at Maidenhead United this weekend.

The young forward joins the Cherries as they hope to extend their winning run in the league, having won nine out of nine games so far this term – while also aiming to add silverware in the National League Plate and the Hampshire Senior Cup.

Hall told afcb.co.uk: “The first day is always daunting stepping into a first training session but the squad were so welcoming.

“They are very passionate and it’s the best standard I have played. They have kind of taken me under their wing and I’m very pleased.

“I’m a very competitive person and I love to win. To be here, it has that passion. I can’t wait.

“When on the pitch I am very, very competitive. I can’t wait to show all the fans what I can do.”

Hall’s father went to university in Bournemouth and she said she has a good group of friends in the area, adding that she has previous memories of playing football in the town.

She said: “My family always used to come down whenever it was sunny, like everybody else in the UK we wanted to get to the beach!

“Whenever I came down here, we never used to bring a football, I always used to say ‘dad, can we buy a football at the shop?’ “We would put two cones out and it would always be me against my two brothers and I’d always lose. But each time I did play on the beach I’d get that little bit better because they’d be absolutely hammering me!

“My family are my top supporters. They never miss a game. I go to all my brothers’ games and they are with me through and through – always by my side when I need them.”

While Bournemouth were somewhat guilty of being wasteful of some good chances, an excellent defensive performance shut Spurs out.

Dean Huijsen was the star at both ends of the pitch, with the 19-year-old netting the game’s only goal and also producing some key interventions at the back.

Huijsen's header hands the Cherries all three points over Spurs

'Luckily we could finish the job': Iraola pleased Cherries took narrow win

Here’s how the Daily Echo rated the Bournemouth players in the win.

Kepa Arrizabalaga: 7

A good performance from the Spaniard. He looked comfortable in the Cherries net and controlled his box well, punching clear well from a couple of corners and making a couple of good saves.

Milos Kerkez: 7

Another good performance from the young Hungarian. A part of the Cherries back four that kept the Spurs attack quiet for 90 minutes, he was, as usual, a threat going forward too.

Illia Zabarnyi: 8

Zabarnyi and Dean Huijsen did brilliantly to keep what had been a free scoring Spurs very quiet at the Vitality. Former Cherry Dominic Solanke barely had a sniff all game, thanks to the work of the Ukrainian and young Spaniard.

Dean Huijsen: 9

I think Huijsen was everyone’s man of the match, and he’s mine too. A brilliantly taken goal from an excellent corner routine, and he made a few crucial interventions in defence – to shouts of ‘Deano’ from the Cherries faithful. A fantastic performance.

Adam Smith: 7

Smith kept Pape Matar Sarr very quiet while he was on the pitch, and then when Postecoglou threw Son Heung-Min on, he kept him quiet too. A very good performance.

Tyler Adams: 8

The American put in his best performance of the season so far and was brilliant in the centre of the park, breaking up play and disrupting the Spurs rhythm. He was also very good at releasing teammates onto the counterattack when he won duels in midfield. An assured performance from him in his second 90 minutes in a row.

Ryan Christie: 7

The Scot put in a solid performance in midfield and was good pulling the strings. He was one of the Cherries players who did miss a good chance, hitting the post in the second half, but a good performance in all.

Marcus Tavernier: 6

Tavernier’s best moment was his pin-point delivery for the Huijsen goal from a first half corner. He was useful defensively but, like his fellow forwards, was guilty of missing good chances to extend the Bournemouth lead.

Justin Kluivert: 6

As with Tavernier, Kluivert was wasteful going forward. One chance in particular, the Dutchman chose to shoot when Evanilson was free in the middle and would have had a tap in. He and the Cherries attack were fortunate the missed chances didn’t come back to bite them.

Antoine Semenyo: 6

A quiet game by Semenyo’s high standards. He had a couple of efforts on goal but didn’t have his usual impact on the game, his first since coming back from suspension.

Evanilson: 7

The striker had a good game and was excellent as usual pressing from the front. Linked up well with his fellow forwards, but, as mentioned, he and his teammates were fortunate they weren’t left to rue their missed opportunities.

Substitutes:

Lewis Cook: 6

David Brooks: 6

Enes Unal: 5

Philip Billing: 5

Bournemouth led after 17 minutes after the Spanish U21 international's header from a corner, the 19-year-old netting his first for the club.

The hosts had a number of opportunities to add to their lead in the second half as Spurs pushed for an equaliser, but they weren’t able to find it and the Cherries secured the points.

Andoni Iraola made two changes to his starting 11 that beat Wolves last weekend.

Huijsen and Antoine Semenyo came into the side, in place of Marcos Senesi and David Brooks, with the former dropping out of the squad through injury, while the latter dropped to the bench.

For Spurs, Ange Postecoglou named former Cherries striker Dominic Solanke in his starting side to face his old club for the first time since joining Spurs in the summer.

The visitors got the game underway, with defender Ben Davies booked in the early exchanges as the Cherries looked to break through Evanilson.

It was Spurs who had the first chance of the game, Dejan Kulusevski shooting straight at Kepa after good work by James Maddison in midfield.

Solanke shot over after eight minutes, before Evanilson had the Cherries first shot on target from very close range, Fraser Forster diverting behind.

And from the resulting corner, the hosts opened the scoring.

Huijsen peeled round to the back post and was unmarked to put a fantastic header past the Spurs keeper.

Yves Bissouma went into the book for a foul on Justin Kluivert, before Marcus Tavernier had the ball in the back of the Spurs net, but the flag was up for offside.

The Cherries went close to doubling their lead just before the break, as a Tavernier header from a Kerkez cross was well saved by Forster down to his left, as the Cherries headed into the interval with their one goal lead intact.

Bournemouth had the best early chance in the second period, Kluivert’s shot saved by Forster after a brilliant break by the Dutchman, after Kepa had done well to punch off the line from a Spurs corner moments before.

Spurs went close but a Kulusevski cross was just too high for the arriving Davies, before Son Heung-Min had the ball in the back of net in his first action since replacing Pape Matar Sarr, but he was offside.

Evanilson saw a shot saved by Forster, before Maddison curled an effort just past the post.

Iraola went to his bench, Dango Ouattara replacing Kluivert, before Kepa saved well from Pedro Porro’s first time volley after the keeper punched clear a corner.

Christie hit the post for the home side minutes later, after good link up play between he and Evanilson, the Scot’s effort just going wide off the woodwork.

The Brazilian had the ball in the back of the net with just under 20 minutes to play, but this too was offside.

Tavernier curled a shot wide after good work in the press from Evanilson, before Ouattara blasted wide after good work from Adams in midfield to win the ball back.

Lewis Cook replaced Christie, before Tavernier fired a good chance over the bar after Semenyo’s cut back as the game entered the final ten minutes.

Ouattara fired over a good Cherries chance, as Iraola made a triple change for the final five minutes, Enes Unal, Philip Billing and David Brooks replacing Evanilson, Tavernier and Semenyo.

Unal had a good chance shortly after but fired straight at Forster, before Ouattara again fired high and wide after a Cherries counterattack.

The Cherries held off Spurs in six added minutes as they took the points to move into the top ten of the Premier League and above their visitors.

AFC Bournemouth: 13, Kepa (booked, 62'); 3, M. Kerkez; 2, Dean Huijsen; 27, I. Zabarnyi; 15, A. Smith (c); 10, R. Christie (L. Cook 77'); 12, T. Adams (booked, 68'); 16, M. Tavernier (P. Billing 85'); 19, J. Kluivert (D. Ouattara 64'); 24, A. Semenyo (D. Brooks 85'); 9, Evanilson (E. Ünal 85').

Cherries lead Spurs after Huijsen header  Bournemouth Echo

A win for the Cherries will see them overtake Spurs in the Premier League, with the London side sitting in seventh holding 20 points.

The Cherries will be hoping to climb from 13th in the standings, where they currently hold 18 points.

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou said Bournemouth are ‘a tough challenge, not just of late but from last year’.

In his pre-match press conference, he said: “They came here and were really aggressive with their football.

“Especially at their place, they’ve beaten City and Arsenal at their place.”

The Cherries’ previous performances have seen them beat Arsenal 2-0 in October, and take three points off City with a 2-1 win back in November.

Elsewhere, Andoni Iraola’s side have missed out to Brentford and Brighton 3-2 and 2-1, before beating Wolves 4-2 on Saturday.

Postecoglou continued, saying: “They are one of those sides where they have a real consistency in performance and approach, so you know that you’re in for a battle.”

He went on to say: “I’m really looking forward to it.”

The pair most recently collided in December 2023, where Spurs won at home 3-1.

Since Postecoglou took over as head coach of Spurs in June 2023, Bournemouth have faced losses in both matches played against them.

The most recent clash in December, and previously a 2-0 loss at the Vitality in August 2023.

In terms of team news, Postecoglou faced questions on if Dominic Solanke could be a last minute decision to face his former club in Bournemouth.

Solanke missed Sunday’s clash between Spurs and Fulham due to illness, but Postecoglou mentioned the forward would be returning to training ahead of Thursday’s match.

He said: “He is still not 100 per cent but has definitely improved from the weekend. That’s it.”

Solanke left Bournemouth to join Spurs in August 2024, and since then has scored four goals in ten appearances for the London club.

Whilst playing for the Cherries, he made five appearances versus Spurs, scoring one goal against them.

Both sides have perhaps lacked some consistency this season, but both AFC Bournemouth and Spurs will hope to make the most of the congested festive period of fixtures.

Former Cherries striker Dominic Solanke faces a late assessment to see if he is fit to face his old club for the first time since joining Spurs in the summer.

The Daily Echo previews the game at the Vitality Stadium.

Team News

The Cherries will be boosted by the return of Antoine Semenyo from suspension, while Lewis Cook, who missed the weekend’s game with a small muscle discomfort, will be assessed on Thursday.

They are without long-term absentees Alex Scott, Julian Araujo and Luis Sinisterra.

For Spurs, former Cherries striker Dominic Solanke is set for a late assessment before a decision is made on if he will face his former club.

Ange Postecoglou said the Englishman was ‘not 100 per cent’ but would be training on Wednesday before the trip to the south coast.

Micky van de Ven, Richarlison, Wilson Odobert, Mikey Moore and Guglielmo Vicario all remain sidelined.

Head-to-Head

Bournemouth do not have a good historical record against their visitors on Thursday.

The two sides have met a total of 15 times across their history, with Spurs winning 10, Cherries three and drawing two.

In the last six games between the two sides, the Cherries have won one – a 3-2 victory away at Spurs in April 2023.

Besides a 0-0 draw at the Vitality Stadium in July 2020, Tottenham have won the other four meetings, including completing the league double last season.

The pair met in August 2023 at Dean Court, with Cherries falling to a 2-0 defeat, before they lost 3-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on New Year’s Eve.

In the home meeting, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski netted for Spurs in a comfortable victory for the visitors, as Iraola’s start to life as Cherries boss without a win continued.

But it was a different story headed into the game on the final day of 2023, as the Cherries came into the game off the back of four wins.

Spurs, though, produced a clinical display with goals from Pape Matar Sarr, Son Heung Min and Richarlison gave them the points, despite Alex Scott’s late consolation goal.

Last Time Out

The Cherries were victorious away at Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, returning to winning ways after defeats to Brentford and Brighton.

It was a historic day for Justin Kluivert and Evanilson, with the Dutchman becoming the first player to score a hattrick of penalties in the Premier League, after the Brazilian became the first to win three in a Premier League game.

Milos Kerkez added a wonderful goal for the Bournemouth second as the Cherries returned to the south coast with all three points.

Spurs, meanwhile, drew 1-1 with Fulham at the weekend, after Brennan Johnson’s opener was cancelled out by Tom Cairney, who was then sent off, but Spurs couldn’t make the most of the extra man.

This came after draws with Roma in the Europa League and a thumping 4-0 victory away at Manchester City.