Bournemouth's uptick in form has hit the buffers of late as they came into this game winless in their last three. Only Wolves have scored in as few Premier League games as the Cherries have this season, and no side has failed to score in more games at home so far. They needed to improve upfront if they wanted to stay out of the relegation zone.
Bournemouth boss Gary O'Neil made three changes to his team from their 2-0 defeat away to West Ham. Travers replaced the injured Neto in goal. Zemura and Moore also came in.
BOURNEMOUTH XI (4-2-3-1): Mark Travers; Jordan Zemura, Chris Mepham, Marcos Senesi, Adam Smith (c); Lewis Cook, Jefferson Lerma; Kieffer Moore, Philip Billing, Marcus Tavernier; Dominic Solanke.
SUBS: Jaidon Anthony, Ryan Fredericks, Ben Pearson, Cameron Plain, Jack Stephens, Jamal Lowe, Joe Rothwell, Junior Stanislas, Ryan Christie.
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β AFC Bournemouth π (
πΊ Solanke starts
πΊ Moore and Zemura also in
πΊ Plain comes onto the bench
We're all set for #BOUTOT π₯π₯ pic.twitter.com/s5XKdG6A5y) October 29, 2022
Tottenham were also in patchy form, having lost three of their last five Premier League games, as many as in their previous 23 combined. After losing to Manchester United and Newcastle United, they could lose three on the bounce for the second time under Antonio Conte. The Londoners wanted to get back to winning ways against promoted opposition.
To do so there were two changes to Spurs from their last Premier League outing. Hojbjerg started ahead of Bentancur, as did Davies for Dier.
TOTTENHAM XI (3-5-2): Hugo Lloris (c); Davinson Sanchez, Clement Lenglet, Ben Davies; Emerson, Oliver Skipp, Yves Bissouma, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Ryan Sessegnon; Harry Kane, Son Heung-min.
SUBS: Eric Dier, Lucas Moura, Japhet Tanganga, Rodrigo Bentancur, Djed Spence, Fraser Forster, Ivan Perisic, Bryan Gil, Matt Doherty.
Your starting XI for this afternoon's clash against @afcbournemouth! π pic.twitter.com/KHNsFeDk3i
β Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 29, 2022
Bournemouth start brightly but were finding it hard to get into Spurs' half. They're not under too much pressure yet though.
HIGHLIGHTS
Bournemouth lost seven of their 10 Premier League meetings against Tottenham. Their one victory came in May 2019 against a Spurs side that had two players sent off. They wanted their second and they hit first, within the first quarter of the game. GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 1-0 TOTTENHAM! The Cherries stroke on the counter-attack! Solanke flicked the ball into the path of Tavernier. He perfectly squared it for Moore, and the Welshman calmly slotted it past Lloris! Tottenham were positionally on top but found themselves behind!
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The Cherries have defended well while Tottenham had lots of the ball but hadnβt been too creative with it. More to come!
Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last 42 Premier League matches when leading at half-time, dating back to January 2016. And to put the cherry on the cake the stunned Spurs early in the second half. GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 2-0 TOTTENHAM! Moore grabbed his second goal of the game! Solanke got into space down the right and passed back to Smith, who curled in right-footed first time. Moore got between Sanchez and Emerson to power a header in off the bar!
HE'S DONE IT AGAIN π₯ pic.twitter.com/ee43amlweu
β AFC Bournemouth π (
Tottenham wanted to make amends straight away, they didnβt waste much time answering back. GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 2-1 TOTTENHAM! Spurs were back in it! Sessegnon raced onto Hojbjerg's slide-rule pass to beat the offside trap and fired in off the foot of the right post. Game on! That's his second Premier League goal of the season. He's making that left-wing-back position his own for Spurs.
An audacious assist and a brilliant finish π
β Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 29, 2022
The moment Sess put us back in the game πͺ pic.twitter.com/te0xYWAXrY
Time was against Conteβs men. Tottenham were still hogging the ball. They had almost two-thirds of the possession in this game. They had largely been blunt though. Sessegnon switched to right wing-back since Perisic came on. It's their 11th corner of the game. Perisic floated it towards the middle where Davies was in place to head it home! GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 2-2 TOTTENHAM! Spurs came from two goals down to equalize!
Ben 'The Salmon' Davies, just doing what he does π€© pic.twitter.com/RRExyNJ195
β Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 29, 2022
It looked like Conte's men could win this after all. They were knocking on the door! Bournemouth could barely escape their third, given the relentless pressure Spurs were putting them under. Conte's men were forcing corner after corner but nothing was fruitful.
Bournemouth had no choice but to defend for their lives. They didnβt attempt a shot since Moore's second goal. It's yet another Tottenham corner in the dying moment. Itβs now or never. GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 2-3 TOTTENHAM! Madness! Absolute Madness! Spurs have turned this game around! Son took their latest corner from the left. Bournemouth blocked Bentancur's first shot, but the ball popped up for the Uruguayan to rifle into the net at the second attempt!
Late, late drama β±
β Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 29, 2022
Comeback, complete β pic.twitter.com/x0Tey1hj0q
When we think itβs done yet football comes at us and drives us crazy. The whole stadium was sad but the happiness and the success of Conte's men were louder. All the hard work paid off. They did it. Never say never, ever again!
The three points keep Tottenham third in the Premier League behind Manchester City and Arsenal. Conte's men have won 10 points from losing positions already this season. They're made of stern stuff. Bournemouth stays 14th. They'll be disappointed not to have hung on for a draw here, but they put up a good fight.
Tottenham have ended their mini-rut to bolster their place in the top four for now. It's timely, as they host Liverpool next after an important trip to Marseille.
