ANGE POSTECOGLOU was right about one thing: We will miss him when he’s gone.
Neutral fans will, at least, with this the very latest in a madcap series of matches during his Spurs tenure, full of goals, incident and helter-skelter action.
GettyMarcus Tavernier fired in the opener for Bournemouth[/caption]
GettyEvanilson doubled the lead in the second half[/caption]
ReutersAnge Postecoglou was not happy with the performance for 70 minutes[/caption]
ReutersPape Matar Sarr scored for Tottenham[/caption]
RexHis cross found its way flying all the way in[/caption]
Marcus Tavernier puts the Cherries in front at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 🍒
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 9, 2025
What an assist this is from Milos Kerkez 😍🔥 pic.twitter.com/HqLpEztscb
A lovely finish from Evanilson to double Bournemouth's lead! 💫 pic.twitter.com/BN9D8uVGwL
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 9, 2025
Pape Sarr gets on the scoresheet and Spurs are back in the game! 👀 pic.twitter.com/8RXLMX1jJv
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 9, 2025
Heung-min Son equalises for Spurs from the spot! ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/HpvJ5aquiX
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 9, 2025
Tottenham supporters may be less enamoured by all the chaos, though.
And many had had just about enough of it when Bournemouth were looking on course to inflict what would have been a record eighth Prem home defeat of the season.
That was after clinical goals from Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson had them cruising at 2-0.
But then Pape Matar Sarr’s bizarre strike grabbed Postecoglou a lifeline.
Before Kepa Arrizabalaga helped revive them completely by needlessly taking out Son Heung-min in the box.
Son’s scuffed penalty – nothing seems to go smoothly for Postecoglou this season – grabbed an unlikely point.
Whether it provides any confidence for the team or for supporters going into Thursday’s Europa League last-16 second leg against AZ Alkmaar is another matter.
That match, after all, is the one that really matters to saving Spurs’ season – and possibly Postecoglou’s job – with the North Londoners’ 1-0 down from Thursday’s horrendous first leg.
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The Aussie had his big-hitters back here too with Cristian Romero and Dominic Solanke starting for the first time in months.
While Micky van de Ven came off the bench too after his own lengthy injury lay-off.
EPAKepa Arrizabalaga brought down Son Heung-Min in the box[/caption]
ReutersThe forward converted from the spot[/caption]
RexThe goal was enough to earn Spurs a point[/caption]
Yet Tottenham looked as shambolic as ever for most of the match.
And Cherries boss Andoni Iraola – likely a prime candidate to take over here if Postecoglou does not make it to next season – must be scratching his head over how his team did not win.
To say Romero looked rusty on his long-awaited return would be an understatement – he was all over the place.
The Argentine’s awful pass with 18 seconds on the clock went straight to Evanilson, who should have scored but was denied by Guglielmo Vicario’s excellent save.
More poor Romero distribution led to Yves Bissouma giving the ball away on the edge of his box three minutes later but once again Vicario came to the rescue to repel Justin Kluivert.
A few weeks ago, Spurs survived an early onslaught from Ipswich to win 4-1 at Portman Road.
That victory was their third league one in a row, earning Postecoglou a nomination for Premier League manager of the month for February, even if the performances had been unconvincing.
But Bournemouth are a far better team than Kieran McKenna’s Tractor Boys, so a similar turnaround was never on the cards.
Iraola’s side were not exactly hitting top gear – they themselves had lost their last two league games – but always carried a threat.
And when Pedro Porro’s misplaced pass went to Milos Kerkez just outside the Cherries box on 42 minutes, that threat turned to punishment for the hosts.
The Hungarian galloped the ball forward into space, driving midway into the Spurs’ half before sending a sumptuous, swerving cross towards the far post.
It flew over Kevin Danso’s head and there was Tavernier, who had ghosted past Djed Spence and clinically dispatched a half-volley this time too good for Vicario.
There has been a lot of transfer talk surrounding Kerkez who has been one of many success stories under Iraola.
Liverpool have been consistently mentioned as possible suitors as part of their succession planning for when Andy Robertson’s time comes to an end.
There was certainly a resemblance there to a peak Robertson in Kerkez’s assist here, from the long-busting stride into enemy territory to the sweet-as-a-nut delivery.
The goal rocked fragile Spurs and angered their frustrated supporters.
There were widespread boos as the half-time whistle goes, with patience fast running out after yet another dismal half.
Postecoglou clearly knew it had not been good enough because he made two subs at the break, hauling off Brennan Johnson and Bissouma with captain Son Heung-min and Lucas Bergvall introduced.
The game looked up for his side just seven minutes into the rebound when Justin Kluivert dispatched Evanilson’s cross to conclude a devastating counter-attack.
But mercifully for Postecoglou and his side, VAR spotted that Antoine Semenyo had been offside in the build-up.
The Aussie desperately needed a response and he almost got one straight away as Son’s deflected effort clipped a post.
Spurs called for yet more reinforcements on the hour as James Maddison came on – along with the returning Micky van de Ven.
The Dutchman had played just 45 minutes since that Chelsea game in December – the same one when Romero got injured – due to a hamstring problem.
He did come back for a half against Elfsborg on January 30 but it proved a false dawn.
So no wonder the Spurs physio spent a good minute or so massaging the Dutchman’s upper legs before he took to the field.
Van de Ven had only been on for a few minutes before Bournemouth doubled their lead.
That man Kerkez, who had just drawn a super stop from Vicario with a blast, gave it to Kluivert who fed Evanilson and the Brazilian produced a delightful dinked finish over Vicario.
That looked game, set and match, even when Bergvall crashed the woodwork soon after from 30 yards.
But then a Sarr’ wildly mishit cross somehow flew in off the post and the contest was back on.
Chaos reigned supreme as Vicario was almost charged down on his goal-line by Evanilson, before Kluivert struck a post after Maddison lost the ball.
Then just as Bournemouth looked like they were going to see it out, Kepa needlessly took Son out in the box, allowing the South Korean to convert a point-saving spot-kick.
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