Tottenham need to get back to winning ways when they face Bournemouth in the Premier League on Wednesday.
Tottenham dropped two more points at home last weekend as they were held by Sunderland at N17 in a challenging encounter. The Black Cats arrived full of confidence after securing a positive result against Manchester City the previous week, posing a stern test for the Lilywhites. Home supporters were braced for another difficult afternoon, given the North Londoners’ poor Premier League form on home soil this season.
However, Spurs started brightly and took the game to Sunderland, pressing high and forcing the newly promoted side into mistakes. They were rewarded with a deserved first-half lead when Ben Davies tapped in from close range after Micky van de Ven’s effort. It appeared the players were determined to put an end to their disappointing run at home and secure a much-needed victory.
The second half, though, painted a very different picture for the hosts. Sunderland pushed Spurs onto the back foot and eventually found an equaliser through Brian Brobbey in the closing stages of the contest. The draw meant the North Londoners began the new year in familiar fashion, failing once again to break into the top half of the Premier League table.
Tottenham now face a tricky test against Bournemouth
The upcoming trip to Bournemouth does not make for encouraging reading either. For Thomas Frank and his players, travelling away from home may even come as a blessing in disguise, given their struggles in front of their own fans. Spurs head to the Vitality Stadium eager to maintain their positive away form and heap further pressure on Andoni Iraola’s side.
Chris Sutton, however, feels that the Cherries will not be overawed by the Lilywhites and will rise to the occasion. Having gone mostly for Tottenham draws in his recent predictions, writing for the BBC, Sutton went for an even grimmer prediction this time around for Spurs:
“Bournemouth have gone 11 league games without a win but they have been unfortunate not to get over the line in a couple of those matches. Whether Semenyo plays or not, it is hard to back Tottenham at the moment. It is also difficult to make a case that Spurs have really improved under Thomas Frank this season.”
The pundit added,
“They are 13th at the moment and, when they were struggling under Ange Postecoglou this time last year, they were a place better off after 20 games and he was getting panned. For whatever reason, it has just not clicked for them in the final third under Frank and I don’t see that changing here. Bournemouth won this fixture 1-0 last season, and also won 1-0 at Spurs in August. One goal should be enough for them this time, too. 1-0 to Bournemouth.”
Sutton believes Bournemouth have been unfortunate in recent matches, failing to secure positive results despite delivering strong performances against tough opposition. He also feels that Antoine Semenyo’s potential involvement against Spurs would not change the outcome, with the Cherries still expected to pose a serious threat to the Lilywhites. The pundit has backed Iraola’s side to claim a narrow 1-0 victory and take all three points at the Vitality Stadium.
The responsibility now lies with the Spurs players to step up and deliver when it matters most on the road. Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last three meetings with the Lilywhites, winning two and drawing one. As a result, Thomas Frank will need his side to turn the tide and produce a strong performance if they are to close the gap on their rivals in the coming months. With Iraola’s men winless in 11 matches, it is vital for the North Londoners to seize the opportunity and build on their momentum in away fixtures.