Five things we learned as Tottenham lose 3-2 to Bournemouth in the Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur’s woes continue in the Premier League as Thomas Frank’s side remain winless in 2026 following their 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth.
Let’s take a look at the five things we learned from the game:
Tottenham cannot sustain a performance over 90 minutes
Today’s defeat was not the worst of the season, as Spurs actually showed some fight in this league fixture against Bournemouth.
The Cherries were far from the dominant side in this encounter, with momentum swinging between the two teams, which could be viewed as a slight positive. However, the problem was the failure to sustain those moments across the full ninety minutes.
As has already been the case this campaign, it is absolutely vital to make those spells count, as late goals are coming far too frequently, and that ultimately cost Spurs at least a point.
Tottenham did manage a better xG than the Cherries, had more possession, took more shots and created more big chances, putting in one of their best attacking displays in recent weeks.
Tottenham hand Bournemouth their first win in 12 games
While the performance, on one hand, offered some encouragement, this was still a poor result for Spurs, who should have been securing a win against a struggling Bournemouth side.
The Cherries have been leaking goals for most of the season, and it came as no surprise that Tottenham managed to score against them.
However, they have also struggled to secure victories and, in typical Tottenham fashion, Andoni Iraola’s side picked up their first win in 12 games against Frank’s men.
It may not even come as a surprise to many Spurs fans, as earlier in the season, Wolves, who were being beaten by most sides, managed to take a result against Tottenham.
Thomas Frank sparks backlash after Arsenal cup incident
There are already question marks surrounding the Tottenham boss, whose style of play appears to go against much of what Spurs stand for.
His pragmatic approach has seen fans boo during and after games, with many believing the Dane is far from the right fit for the club.
Before kick-off, Thomas Frank further raised eyebrows after being spotted drinking out of an Arsenal cup, Tottenham’s biggest rivals, which will do little to ease tensions.
Why would the Dane even think to do that? It was beyond silly.
Injury problems worsen for Spurs as Lucas Bergvall and Rodrigo Bentancur go off
If Spurs fans thought things could not get any worse this season, it certainly did on the injury front, with Lucas Bergvall and Rodrigo Bentancur both picking up problems during the game.
They add to an already lengthy list of absentees, with Mohammed Kudus, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke, Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr all unavailable.
With two potential new injuries that could leave eight senior players sidelined, further underlining the need for activity during the transfer window.
Mathys Tel leads the left-wing race
There remains a clear vacancy on the left flank, something Frank has referenced on several occasions, with Mathys Tel often tipped to make that spot his.
Since Heung-min Son’s departure, no player has truly made that position their own, but Tel made a strong case here today.
The Frenchman impressed against the Cherries and capped his display with a goal after cutting inside and curling a low effort into the bottom corner.
His delivery from corners was also encouraging, with Spurs creating some of their better attacking moments from set pieces.
The 20-year-old must now build on tonight’s performance as he could force his way into the starting XI with some consistent top displays, at least until a new signing comes through the door, if there will be any.
The post Five things we learned as Tottenham lose 3-2 to Bournemouth in the Premier League appeared first on Spurs Web.