Tottenham Hotspurs top 4 ambition now hangs in the balance after a back-to-back premier league defeat with just 1 match remaining for the season. Mauricio Pochettino's lads lost to a late goal at the Vitality Stadium in a game that saw Spurs played almost the entirety of the 2nd half with 9 men, having seen Heung-Min Son(43 mins) and Juan Foyth(48 mins) received straight red cards.
Spurs sit 3rd on the EPL log table with 70 points, 4 points more than 5th place London rivals, Arsenal(66 pts), a win over Bournemouth would have given Spurs 73 points, which would have rubber stamped their top 4 status even if the Gunners win their 2 remaining matches, they would only amass 72 points. However, the twist and turn nature of the EPL meant, it will now go down to the wire before the remaining 2 clubs that will join Manchester City and Liverpool in the top 4 be decided.
Both teams were struggling for form, Spurs are coming from a poor run of 2 straight home losses, having lost to West Ham 0-1 at White Hart Lane and then, lose again to Ajax Amsterdam 0-1 in 1 of mid week's UCL matches. Bournemouth, on the other hand, had only recorded a single win in her last 5 premier league matches, lost 3 and drew 1.
Pochettino finally has one of his key player available having missed him in the midweek due to injury, Heung-Min Son was in the starting eleven at the Vitality Stadium, but the Belgian defender, Jan Vertonghen is still missing due to head injury, other Spurs absentees include Harry Kane, Erik Lamela, Harry Winks and Serge Aurier. Bournemouth Manager, Eddie Howe made a surprise inclusion in his starting eleven, 19-year-old goalkeeper, Mark Travers was picked in goal ahead of both Asmir Begovic and Artur Boric, and he, Travers justified the fate entrusted in him with a man-of-the-match performance.
As expected, Spurs took the early ascendancies, with Lucas Moura and Dele Alli giving Bournemouth's defence a torrid time, but they stood their ground, thanks to world-class saves from Travers, the young Irish goalkeeper made fingertip saves to deny both Moura and Alli, he was then faced with a one-on-one situation against Moura where he came out top, denying Moura with his leg. The home side felt undone by the referee though, 2 penalty shouts were waved away by the centre referee, first, Spurs goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris bumped into Josh King in the box, then, Eric Dier was also let off the hook after he fouled Callum Wilson in the box. Bournemouth soon got their justice just a couple of minutes to half time, Heung-Min Son reacted angrily out of frustration to shove Jefferson Lerma who theatrically fell to the turf, giving the referee no option than to show a straight red card to the South Korean.
The 2nd half had barely started before another red card incidence, just 3 minutes into the restart, substitute, Juan Foyth was shown his marching order too for a reckless lunge on Bournemouth's Jack Simpson. It was all Bournemouth from there on as 9 men Spurs failed to register a single effort on goal in the 2nd half. Bournemouth laid siege to Spurs goal and it was only a matter of time before they got their goal, very late into stoppage time though. Just as it seemed Spurs was going to weather the storm and escape with a point, Nathan Ake broke their heart. Ake connected with a Ryan Fraser inswinger to head home the 90+1 min winner.
Bournemouth now finally win at home at the 6th time of asking, and their 1st win over Spurs after 8 attempts, having lost 6 and drew 1. Spurs have now gone 6 consecutive away league matches without a point, and also on a 3-match losing streak in all competition. A win for Chelsea in her matchday 37 will upstage Spurs to 4th place, and even more worrying for Spurs and her fans are fact that a win for Arsenal too will put the Gunners within 1 point of Spurs going into the last game of the season where Spurs host Everton and the Gunners travel to Burnley. It is a make or breaks match for Spurs at the White Hart Lane.
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