PREMIER LEAGUE
WEDNESDAY 7TH JANUARY, 2026
(7.30 PM)
BOURNEMOUTH 3(2) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2(1)

Bournemouth scorers:-
Evanilson, 22
Kroupi, 36
Semenyo, 90+5

Spurs scorer(s):-
Tel, 5
Palhinha, 78

Attendance:- 11,212

Referee:- Darren England
Assistants:- Scott Ledger, Akil Howson
Fourth official:- Farai Hallam
VAR:- Jarred Gillett
Assistant VAR:- Simon Bennett

Teams:-
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1):- 1. Petrovic; 20. Jimenez (sub 21. Adli, 87), 23. Hill, 5. Senesi, 3. Truffert; 8. Scott, 4. Cook (Capt.); 16. Tavernier (sub 18. Diakite, 87), 22. Kroupi (sub 7. Brooks, 64), 24. Semenyo (sub 44. Milosavljevic, 100); 9. Evanilson (sub 26. Unal, 64)

Subs not used:- 17. Forster; 6. Soler, 15. Smith; 50. Ress-Dottin

Booked:- Semenyo (foul on Tel), Cook (foul on Spence), Jimenez (foul on Tel)

Spurs (4-2-3-1):- 1. Vicario; 23. Pedro Porro, 17. Romero (Capt.), 37. Van de Ven, 24. Spence; 6. Palhinha, 30. Bentancur (sub 14. Gray, 86); 15. Bergvall (sub 28. Odobert, 57), 7. Xavi, 11. Tel; 39. Kolo Muani (sub 9. Richarlison, 67)

Subs not used:- 31. Kinsky; 3. Dragusin, 4. Danso, 33. Davies; 44. Scarlett, 68. Williams-Barnett

Booked:- Pedro Porro (foul on Evanilson), Kolo Muani (foul on Senesi), Van de Ven (Dissent)

Semenyo gets his fairy-tale ending. The Spurs nightmare continues

Thanks to Cassim Patel for this picture.

On his 26th birthday and at the very end of his last game for Bournemouth, who else but Antoine Semenyo gave his club the gift of a first win after a run of eleven games without success. Semenyo is due to have a medical today (Thursday) and his move to Manchester City is expected to be finalised, as they take advantage of a £65 million release clause which expires in two days.

As for Spurs, another nightmare season continues. Bournemouth's form going into the game was worse than ours, but of course "Doctor Tottenham" came to the south coast to tend to "The Cherries" wounds and gave them the gift of a first double over Spurs after 18 Premier League meetings.

Spurs were mourning before the game after the news had been announced late in the afternoon of the passing of the great Martin Chivers at the age of 80. Martin had been at the club on Sunday as usual in his role of matchday host and ambassador, so his passing comes as a great shock to all. Spurs Odyssey tributes, including one by Norman Giller, can be read elsewhere. The players wore black armbands, and no doubt full tribute will be paid on Saturday before our FA Cup game against Aston Villa.

Non-partisans will have found this a thoroughly entertaining game. Spurs opened the scoring, before falling behind in the first half. In the second half, the visitors had the better of the game and scored a sensational equaliser, before the gift of Semenyo's 95th minute winner. He did his own lap of honour to bid farewell to the home fans at the end of the game.

Once again there were disturbing scenes in the Spurs section after the final whistle. Micky van de Ven was the first player to approach a pocket of fans who very clearly expressed their disapproval. Thomas Frank was booed as he approached the Spurs section. Pedro Porro also got into an argument and finally Joao Palhinha seemed to be acting as peacemaker.

These are very difficult times for the club and its fans. We've slipped another place down the table to 14th, although Bournemouth are still behind us. In my opinion, wins at home to West Ham and away to Burnley in our next two league games are vital to our Premier League status, because we are a team who can lose to anybody.

I am not sure our problems are all down to coaching either. For years, under different coaches, this team has resorted to facing and playing backwards, retreating deeper in their own half, attracting challenges and problems. There is not enough movement off the ball. Too many passes go astray. Too many attempted artistic flicks do not pay off. The team is just not good enough.

Frank made five changes. One was enforced, due to the injury of Mohammed Kudus. Xavi returned and played in the number 10 role. Spence returned for Davies. Palhinha, Bergvall and Muani were chosen in favour of Gray, Odobert and Richarlison. Those three all got off the bench in the second half.

Spurs kicked off and started brightly. Bergvall tried a right-footed shot from 20 yards which was held by Petrovic at the second attempt. Mathys Tel, playing on the left, cut inside after being sent away by Xavi, before hitting a low right-footed shot across the goalkeeper and inside his left post. It was not the most powerful of shots, but clearly well-placed.

Evanilson was a threat as Bournemouth sought to respond. Firstly, after a cross from the left which went over Romero, the Brazilian striker hit a reactive shot over the target. Tavernier hit a left-footed shot from 22 yards which passed wide of Vicario's left post. Another Evanilson effort was wide, but there had been an offside on that occasion.

A Pedro Porro shot was deflected for a corner after approach play by Spence and Muani. After some nice midfield passing a Bergvall effort won another corner. In the main, Tel was taking these kicks. Romero headed over the bar from this corner kick.

An Evanilson shot from a sharp angle led to a corner from the right. He scored with a sharp header following the corner and a cross by Tavernier. Vicario was well beaten.

Another Spurs corner came to nought, and another Pedro Porro shot was way over the target. Spence passed inside to Bergvall, whose shot landed on top of the net.

Semenyo had been having a quiet game, but after getting the better of Pedro Porro, he caused a problem with a cross that passed through the Spurs area. Semenyo was in thee middle when Tavernier sent over another cross and seemingly did not touch the ball, otherwise Senesi would have been offside. He turned the ball back to the middle where the unmarked Kroupi scored. Seasoned international defenders failed again for Spurs.

In added time a Bergvall cross/shot was patted away by Petrovic. The frustrated away support chanted "Sideways and backwards, everywhere we go, everywhere we go."

The second half started quietly. Bergvall suffered an injury and clutched his left thigh and had to be replaced by Odobert. He and Xavi made progress, but that attack fizzled out.

Pedro Porro (needlessly it turns out because the player was offside) was booked for tripping Evanilson. Muani was soon booked after fouling Senesi. Odobert brought us danger when fouling Scott just outside our area, but the free kick (taken by substitute Unal) was blocked. Richarlison came on for Muani, who had been largely ineffective.

Odobert fed a ball to Palhinha, whose shot was deflected for a corner. This was hit deep and headed back into the middle by Romero. Richarlison rose and headed down but hit the foot of the post.

Bournemouth countered and not for the last time, Spurs were short of men at the back. Spence gifted a ball to Unal, but he spurned the chance, firing wide.

Micky van de Ven took matters into his own hands and raced forward, reaching the penalty area before taking a tumble. Referee Darren England pointed to the spot, but VAR called him to the monitor and the decision was reversed. Van de Ven overdid his protest and was booked.

Spurs won a corner after Tel crossed from the left. Tel again hit the corner deep. Romero again headed the ball back into the danger zone, where, after a bounce, Palhinha sensationally scored with an overhead kick inside the keeper's right post.

Spurs had their tails up and won another corner. Romero was again the supplier before Van de Ven headed goalward, but Petrovic made a very good save to claw the ball away.

Nine minutes of added time were indicated. Brooks was off target after Romero had blocked a Semenyo shot. Then Djed Spence (who was one of our chief driving forces for much of the game) misplaced a pass around halfway which left us short again at the back as Bournemouth countered. Brooks touched the ball to Semenyo who was towards the left of the box before he unleashed an unstoppable shot that hit the net to the left of Vicario. It was game, set and match to Bournemouth.

For the second time in a month Spurs have not only lost to a team below them in the league but conceded three goals on each occasion. Bournemouth are probably in a false position, but are Spurs? I don't think so.

Spurs captain Cristian Romero has since made an Instagram post in which he stated:-

"At times like this, it should be other people coming out to speak...but they don't- as has been happening for several years... as they only show up when things are going well. (Remaining words edited)"

"We'll stay here, working, sticking together, giving our best to turn things around. Especially at times like this, keeping quiet, working harder, and moving forward all together, is part of football. Together, it will be easier."

"Apologies to all fans of you who follow us everywhere, who are always there and will continue to be. We are responsible, there's no doubt about that. But we will keep facing up to it and trying to turn the situation around, for ourselves and for the club."

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