Bournemouth 1-0 Tottenham: Dean Huijsen becomes Cherries' youngest Premier League goalscorer as Spurs slump to defeat
Bournemouth moved ahead of a struggling Tottenham in the Premier League following Dean Huijsen's header that earned them a well-deserved 1-0 win at the Vitality Stadium.
Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou faced upset fans after the match concluded. He later mentioned that he got "very straightforward criticism" after experiencing his team's seventh defeat in 11 away matches in the Premier League.
At just 19 years and 235 days old, Huijsen set a record as the youngest player to score a Premier League goal for the Cherries, connecting with a corner from Marcus Tavernier just 17 minutes into the match.
Ryan Christie hit the post, while Evanilson had his goal disallowed for offside after a VAR review. This match could have easily ended in a bigger loss for Spurs, who now drop to 10th place in the table after suffering their sixth defeat of the season.
The outcome indicates that Postecoglou has achieved only one win in six matches, just under two weeks after he saw his team secure a 4-0 triumph against the reigning champions, Manchester City.
The Spurs have fallen short in nine of their last 13 away matches in the Premier League. However, this lack of consistency isn't something that Bournemouth's manager, Andoni Iraola, needs to worry about right now, as his team has climbed to ninth place with 21 points.
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Bournemouth: Arrizabalaga (6), Smith (6), Zabarnyi (6), Huijsen (8), Kerkez (7), Adams (6), Christie (6), Semenyo (7), Kluivert (6), Tavernier (8), Evanilson (7). In Bournemouth's lineup, Arrizabalaga, Smith, Zabarnyi, Adams, Christie, and Kluivert each received a rating of 6. Huijsen stood out with a score of 8, while Kerkez and Semenyo earned ratings of 7. Tavernier also impressed with an 8, and Evanilson followed closely with a 7.
Substitutes: Ouattara (5), Unal (not available), Billing (not available), Cook (6).
Tottenham: Forster (8), Gray (6), Dragusin (5), Davies (5), Udogie (6), Sarr (6), Bissouma (6), Maddison (6), Johnson (6), Solanke (5), Kulusevski (6).
Substitutes: Son (6), Bergvall (n/a), Werner (6), Porro (7).
Player of the Game: Marcus Tavernier.
Bournemouth Claims Another Home Victory
Iraola shared with Amazon Prime, "We didn’t take advantage of our opportunities in the second half when we had clear chances to score. Fortunately, we managed to secure the win, but there was a point in the match where I thought that if we didn’t capitalize on our chances, they could come back to hurt us."
"I’m not really convinced by the ideas of momentum or confidence. The league is really competitive, and the difference between winning and losing often comes down to tiny details. We need to start fresh. We have a challenging match against Ipswich away, and with only two days to recover, we shouldn't focus on the league table or the points. Our priority should be to compete fiercely in every game."
"It's still too early in the season to be aiming for a specific points goal."
Iraola's team has achieved surprising victories against title contenders Arsenal and Manchester City in two of their last three home games. Spain U21 player Huijsen added to their success as Tottenham faced yet another disappointment in a season that has been inconsistent thus far.
This victory was well-earned and could have been easier. Christie hit the post, and the strong home team missed several opportunities to score. Meanwhile, a lackluster Tottenham side struggled to generate any real threats in attack.
In their last away match, Spurs delivered a stunning 4-0 victory against the reigning champions, Manchester City. However, that win was their sole triumph in five matches across all competitions as they prepared for their journey to Dorset.
The north London team began with a strong start, but after Dejan Kulusevski, who had been brought back into the lineup, took a shot that went directly at Cherries goalie Kepa Arrizabalaga, Dominic Solanke wasted a good opportunity by shooting over the bar. He had been set up by the temporary captain, James Maddison.
Ange: I Received Honest Feedback
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Although Tottenham maintained control of the ball, the Cherries posed a bigger danger after taking the lead.
Tavernier managed to score 14 minutes after the first goal, but it was evident that he was offside. He later had a powerful header from a cross by Milos Kerkez, but Fraser Forster made an impressive save to keep it out.
Even with Tottenham's struggles, Postecoglou decided not to make any substitutions at halftime. However, aside from a goal from Heung-Min Son that was ruled out for offside, Spurs delivered an even more lackluster performance in the second half.
"We didn't perform well," Postecoglou stated. "We gave away an easy goal, and that threw us off course, letting Bournemouth take control of the match. While we had some opportunities in the second half, we just couldn't find the back of the net."
"We tend to undermine ourselves, especially when we should be taking charge of the situation."
Ex-Spurs forward Les Ferdinand featured on Amazon Prime.
"I have my doubts about managers heading onto the field. Celebrating with fans after a win is wonderful, and I understand the desire to connect with supporters. However, losing can make things challenging, and you often face backlash like what Ange experienced. There are times when, especially after a disappointing result, it's better for the manager to go directly down the tunnel."
"We understand that they’re tough to compete against in this environment, so it’s crucial not to let them score. A goal could provide them with the boost they need."
As he approached the fans after the match ended, Postecoglou remarked, "I didn’t have much to say... they’re understandably upset, and I certainly received some straightforward feedback about our performance."
"I don't have a problem with how fans reacted. I didn't appreciate the comments made, since I'm just a human being, but you have to accept it."
"Having been in this situation for quite a while, I recognize that when things don't turn out as expected, it's natural to feel frustrated and let down. The team is feeling that disappointment tonight because we've lost yet another football match that we could have won. That's understandable, and I completely accept those feelings."
Huijsen: My First Goal Gave Me Chills
Bournemouth's defender Dean Huijsen shared his thoughts with Amazon Prime:
"We understand that we create challenges for teams that visit us."
"It's an incredibly thrilling victory. Every young boy dreams of playing in the Premier League. I’m absolutely overjoyed to have scored my first goal. It’s definitely a moment I’ll cherish. The credit for the goal goes to our coach. We managed to score several goals from set-pieces thanks to his guidance."
"How do you express that in English? Ah, I get it—goosebumps. It was certainly a moment that gave me goosebumps."
"We put in a lot of effort to earn this victory. We understand that Tottenham plays a tough and physical style of football. It was an exciting match-up that fans at home and in the stadium surely enjoyed. Our primary focus right now is to steer clear of relegation."
"I believe we still have more to give. So, who knows, we might be able to secure a spot in the Conference League if we keep up this momentum."
