Premier League

Spurs 3 - 0 AFC Bournemouth

FT
 
Premier League
White Hart Lane

Spurs3

Home team scorers
Harry Kane 1
Harry Kane 16
Christian Eriksen 52

AFC Bournemouth0

Away team scorers

Tottenham 3-0 Bournemouth: Premier League – as it happened

Tottenham kept up the pressure on Leicester with a win against in-form Bournemouth
Updated 
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Harry Kane celebrates scoring the first goal for Spurs.
 Harry Kane celebrates scoring the first goal for Spurs. Photograph: Darren Staples/Reuters

Full time: Tottenham 3-0 Bournemouth

Spurs looked like champions today: Kane and Alli in particular were outstanding and Bournemouth were barely allowed a chance. Whether they will become champions is another question as Leicester continue to edge game after game. Anyway, for now Spurs are within five points of the top with seven games to go.
Kane, star of the atch with his two goals.
 Kane, star of the atch with his two goals. Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images
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90 min+2: One last dash for Spurs. It comes from Eriksen, who is set up by Chadli’s sort ball on the edge of the area. The shot, well, it’s got power but little else. 
90 min: There will be three minutes of added time. 
89 min: Kane wants that hat-trick. He gallops into space around 25 yards out and smashes the ball low to Boruc’s right. It flies wide though. Dier is replaced by Chadli. 
86 min: I thought Kane may could have been taken off by now. The game is safe and he’s expended ridiculous amounts of energy. I guess he’s after his hat-trick though - and he nearly gets it from close range but Boruc saves. 
Kane’s after his hat-trick.
 Kane’s after his hat-trick. Photograph: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images
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83 min: Kane has set up A LOT of chances today. This time he releases Mason, whose angled shot is blocked at the near post by Boruc. 
80 min: Nearly a brilliant goal. Walker and Carroll combine on the edge of the area before Eriksen’s beautiful turn finds him space. He squares the ball to Alli, who fluffs his shot. That’s his last action of the game and he’s replaced by Mason. Apart from the last ‘shot’ Alli had an excellent game though. 
Alli rues his missed chance.
 Alli rues his missed chance. Photograph: John Walton/PA
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76 min: Should the lead hold – and it really should – Spurs will be within five points of Leciester at the end of this game. They’ll also have a far superior goal difference to their title rivals. Spurs will be on +32, Leicester on +23 and Arsenal on +18. 
73 min: Caroll dinks the ball into Eriksen’s feet on the edge of the area. But multiple mediocre stepovers later the ball trickles away from his feet and out for a goal kick. 
70 min: That stuff about Gradel being threatening? He was clearly more of a stealth threat. He’s been taken off for Pugh. 
69 min: Gradel has presented the most pressing threat to Tottenham today - and it hasn’t exactly been a terrifying one. Lloris watches a Cherries header drop side of goal. 
66 min: Tottenham look content to conserve their energy for the weeks ahead. Bournemouth look happy not to concede any more goals. And Lamela trots off for Carroll.
63 min: It looks like Carroll is coming on for Lamela.
60 min: Kane is nearly played in but a Bournemouth heel intercepts just in time. He then gets to the other end and intercepts a Bournemouth ball. This really is an extraordinary all-round performance from Kane.
Kane stays ahead ofFrancis.
 Kane stays ahead ofFrancis. Photograph: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images
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57 min: “Good to see Gareth Beale [46 min] keeps an interest in his old mates. Can you ask him what Ronaldo’s really like?” Yep, he says he’s good at football but a little self-absorbed. 
54 min: Harry Kane has been Spurs’ best attacker AND defender today. He’s been pathetic in goal though. This time he slides in with a brilliantly timed tackle to stop King in the Spurs area. 

GOAL! Tottenham 3-0 Bournemouth (Eriksen 51)

That should do it. Kane is at the centre of things as usual. He snaps a low, hard shot from the edge of the area. Boruc parries it into the path of Eriksen who only has to not fall over to make it 3-0.
Eriksen scores the third for Spurs.
 Eriksen scores the third for Spurs. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Reuters
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51 min: Bournemouth have started the second-half brightly and only a Kyle Walker cross-shot has relieved the pressure for Spurs.
48 min: I forgot to mention Bournemouthmade two changes. O’Kane and Grabban are on for Arter and Afobe.
46 min: And we’re back. “Does the high energy performance of this Spurs team vindicate Pochettino fielding a weakened team in the Europa League?” says Gareth Beale. “If they can play like this for the rest of the season surely so.”

Half-time: Tottenham 2-0 Bournemouth

And that’s the first half done. Spurs – Kane and Alli in particular - had an excellent 45 minutes, easily their best period of play in recent times after a few sluggish performances. If they play half as well as that in the second half the gap with Leicester will have narrowed to five points.
45 min: And Eriksen nearly scores. Kane continues his all-round excellent play today with a low ball across the six-yard area that Boruc or the defence can’t deal with. Eriksen is a foot or so away from tapping it home. 
43 min: Alli tests Boruc with a low shot from 25 yards out but the keeper sprawls to his right and collects the ball cleanly. 
41 min: “It’s very odd as a Spurs fan to feel disappointed that we’re only second in the PL,” sighs Giles Brooke. And when they’re playing this well too. Having said that Cook nearly gets one back for the Cherries. 
39 min: Kane turns provider this time, sliding the ball through to an onside Alli, who smashes his shot past Boruc. Kane was offside though and Bournemouth are still in the game. Just about.
Alli scores but the goal is disallowed.
 Alli scores but the goal is disallowed. Photograph: Darren Staples/Reuters
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36 min: Eriksen has a free-kick on the edge of the area - he whips the ball into the box with some terrifying inswing but Bournemouth’s unlikely saviour is Dier, whose header turns into a clearance. 
33 min: Rose is free and clear on the left of the area. He lazily takes a swing at the ball - he has plenty of time - and his shot flies into the side netting. This is not a bad Bournemouth team - they’ve won three in a row - but Spurs are making them look pedestrian.
31 min: Some head tennis in the Bournemouth area that ends in an industrial hack up the pitch. “Harsh on the Spurs official tweet, I thought,” says Alec McAuley. “I liked the diagram’s purity of line, and the touching ‘COYS’ - a sign of genuine commitment. Incidentally, do Peterborough United fans sign off with COYPU? If not, why not?”
28 min: Lloris attempts a very suspect pass in his own area that Bournemouth nearly pounce on. But such is Spurs’ control today that no one looks remotely worried and Tottenham fly forwards.
26 min: Bournemouth win some respite with a throw in. It’s been that kind of game for them. 
23 min: Sorry, Roy Hodgson wants us to stop hyping Harry Kane. His long-range shooting has been non-existent today and has failed miserably to come up with any theories on dark matter.
20 min: Two chances for Harry Kane today and two goals. He has been brilliant the last few league games for Spurs and a big reason why they’re still competing for the title. And he’s been Spurs best defender today too. 

GOAL! Tottenham 2-0 Bournemouth (Kane 16)

Another great finish from Kane. Alli’s quick ball catches Bournemouth on the back foot. Kane collects the ball on the edge of the area and slides it past Boruc. Simple and elegant.
Kane beats Cook as he scores his second.
 Kane beats Cook as he scores his second. Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty Images
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15 min: Who needs TV when you have live drawings (and substandard live text commentary) to bring Kane’s opener to life?
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial)March 20, 2016
Easy as 1, 2, 3. A closer look at @HKane's opener after just 44 seconds! #COYSpic.twitter.com/JSzG2b8GDn
13 min: Bournemouth get into the Sunday afternoon vibe and dawdle horribly at the back. Alli steals the ball but is tackled before he can produce anything of danger. 
11 min: King’s clever flick sets up Ritchie for a cross across the face of goal but Kane is back to clear. It’s safe to say he’s having a decent afternoon so far.
9 min: Alderweireld attempts a raking ball out to the left to catch Rose steaming down the left but the emphasis is on “attempts” this time and it’s gloriously overhit. Rose then wins a corner shortly afterwards. Lamela takes but it’s headed clear. 
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6 min: Eddie Howe is looking ... concerned. Why worry Eddie? The worse has already happened. Bournemouth wander towards the Spurs area but are caught offside.
3 min: That goal came after 43 seconds. Lloris deserves some credit for spotting Walker free on the right at the start of the attack. If there were nerves about staying the pace with Leicester they’ve been settled a little now. 

GOAL! Spurs 1-0 Bournemouth (Kane 1)

And we’re off. And Spurs have scored! Walker strides down the right and plays a diagonal ball into Kane, who nips in front of his marker and dabs the ball past Boruc.
Kane beats Francis to score.
 Kane beats Francis to score. Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images
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The teams are out on the pitch. This is the first time they’ve met at White Hart Lane in the league. They have played in the FA Cup here however. As you’re no doubt aware that was in 1957 and Bournemouth were the winners.
“May I suggest a new story idea,” asks Paul Bradley. Sure, Paul, means I don’t have to. “How about Who is Better This Week: Spurs or The [San Antonio] Spurs?” I like it, it’s got legs. I could see this one running for two or three weeks at least. At the moment, I’d say it’s the Spurs. Tim Duncan could be useful on corners too. 
Could this be the game that decides the Premier League title? Well, yes, with eight games to go ANY game can decide the title from now on - but lose this and Spurs will have eight points to make up on Leicester in seven games. And this game is no gimme. If the season had started in December, Bournemouth would be third in the table behind ... Spurs and Leicester. Added to that, haven’t been great recently. We can ignore the two defeats to Dortmund as they rested players but in the league they have lost to West Ham and drawn with a 10 man Arsenal. Even their victories against Villa and Swansea were far from comfortable (the Swans in particular pushed them hard).

Team news

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose, Dembele, Dier, Lamela, Eriksen, Alli, Kane. Subs: Son, Mason, Vorm, Trippier, Chadli, Carroll, Walker-Peters. 
Bournemouth: Boruc, Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie,
Surman, Arter, Gradel, King, Afobe. Subs:Gosling, Elphick,
Pugh, Federici, Distin, Grabban, O’Kane. 
Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire) 
So, Eric Dier passes a late fitness start while Kane, Dembele, Eriksen and Walker all return after the Fifth XI’s defeat to Dortmund in the week. For the Cherries, Arter starts despite concerns over an achilles problem.
Tom will be along shortly. In the meantime why not have a read of the latest news from the Spurs camp:
Mauricio Pochettino has conceded that Tottenham’s elimination from the Europa League could work to their advantage as they attempt to win a first championship since 1961.
A comprehensive 5-1 aggregate defeat against Borussia Dortmund means that Spurs have just eight Premier Leaguematches remaining this season, in which they will attempt to overhaul Leicester and bring home a first title since Bill Nicholson’s Double-winning side 55 years ago. Bournemouth are the visitors to White Hart Lane but Pochettino knows his side can’t afford any slip-ups with so little of the campaign remaining and Leicester eight points ahead at kick-off on Sunday after Saturday’s 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace.
You can read the full story here.
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Possession

4060
BOU40TOT60%

Goal attempts

Tottenham Hotspur Off target
10
AFC Bournemouth Off target
2
Tottenham Hotspur On target
7
AFC Bournemouth On target
0
Corners
4
5
Fouls
11
6
Offsides
3
5