Pochettino ‘concerned’ as Spurs drop points again
A second successive hard-fought goalless draw away from home in a week left Tottenham Hotspur with their unbeaten Premier League record intact but the impression that their squad is not quite strong enough to mount a serious challenge in both the Premier League and the Champions League. Not until Harry Kane returns to the team, at any rate.
Spurs were more impressive at The Vitality Stadium yesterday than they were away to Bayer Leverkusen in midweek, when they were indebted to goalkeeper Hugo Lloris for their point. Here Lloris made one
early save but was more or less a spectator afterwards, with Bournemouth, 6-1 winners at home to Hull City a week ago, unable to muster another effort on target.
But at the other end the north London side also struggled to force Artur Boruc into action very often, and manager Mauricio Pochettino admitted that they had started poorly because they had not been 'fresh' only four days after their trip to Germany. And throughout the game they lacked the sharpness to create and convert chances.
“The game was very competitive and very tough,” Pochettino said. “Bournemouth pushed us a lot but we were not fresh from the beginning. Our start was very sloppy but after 15 minutes we started to manage the game. But you must score to win the game. I'm very pleased after we played in the Champions League and before that in West Bromwich, two tough games, because the players made a very big effort. But we missed the freshness to be sharp in the last third. Second half we dominated but it was more difficult to create chances to score. A lot of positive things but we missed the chance to be top of the table.”
Two points against two of the Premier League's also-rans, Pochettino admitted, was not title-winning form. “Yes, we are concerned. If we want to be a real contender, it's true, after two away games against West Bromwich and Bournemouth, you have to win at least one. But when you analyse the whole situation, and we have some injuries, I am happy.”
Tottenham were initially out-Spurred by a Bournemouth team who played their own high-pressing game against them, and who could have been ahead after only six minutes. Spurs failed to deal with Jack Wilshere's short corner on the right, allowing Dan Gosling to cross low. Charlie Daniels met the ball four yards out but his shot hit Lloris's knee and reared up onto the crossbar and away.
Tottenham settled eventually, and Erik Lamela – lucky to escape a second booking in the first half for a foul on Dan Gosling – clipped the angle of post and crossbar from 25 yards after 17 minutes. Ten minutes later Christian Eriksen's shot flicked off Harry Arter and Boruc had to dive to his left to touch the ball round the post. And Danny Rose should have done better than shoot sideways when set up by Son Heungmin. But Spurs were having to foul the home players after turnovers, earning four bookings before halftime. “Maybe we were a little bit late because we were not fresh and made some bad tackles and deserved the yellow cards,” Pochettino said. “But it wasn't bad intentions, we were a bit tired.”
The second half began with Spurs in charge. Delle Alli's early shot, saved by Boruc, their best effort. But they could have been a man down if referee Craig Pawson had had a clearer view of contact between Moussa Sissoko's elbow and Bournemouth's Harry Arter, an incident which, in fairness to the referee, neither manager seemed to see either.
And as Tottenham tired, Bournemouth rallied. The home crowd shouted for a penalty when Victor Wanyama challenged Wilshere, Max Gradel ran out of steam and space after a break on the left, and Benik Afobe headed high after Simon Francis turned cleverly on the right and picked him out with a near-post cross.
“I was really proud of the players today, probably more proud than I was this time last week, partly because of the quality of the opposition we were playing against,” Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe said. “Our gameplan was to disrupt their rhythm, their normal way of playing. They’re supremely talented players and we felt our best option was to try stop the ball getting into the final third with our workrate and
intensity. That’s easier said than done, but the players delivered an incredible physical performance, full of endeavour and desire.” Bournemouth: Boruc, Francis, Cook, Smith, Daniels, Arter, Gosling, Wilshere, Ibe (Gradel 60), King (Fraser 88), Wilson (Afobe 82).
Subs not used: Federici, Ake, Mings, Mousset.
Tottenham: Lloris, Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose, Wanyama, Dembele, Lamela, Eriksen, Alli (Sissoko 72), Son (Janssen 62).
Subs not used: Vorm, Trippier, Wimmer, Winks, Davies. Referee: C Pawson (South Yorkshire) Attendance: 11,201