Tottenham Hotspur made it back-to-back wins in the Premier League courtesy of a two-goal success over Bournemouth in Saturday’s clash at the Vitality Stadium.
Spurs entered the clash off the back of a 2-0 victory over Manchester United and managed to move onto seven points in the table with a strong performance against Andoni Iraola’s side.
James Maddison made the breakthrough in the 17th minute before Dejan Kulusevski came up with the away side’s second in the 63rd minute during a strong performance in the early kickoff.
Neto made a huge mistake in the 14th minute, with the Bournemouth goalkeeper playing it straight to Maddison, but the 34-year-old managed to block the initial shot before gathering a header from Richarlison.
Tottenham were not to be denied, though, with the visitors making the breakthrough three minute later through Maddison, who steered the ball into the bottom corner after an excellent pass from Pape Sarr.
Sarr had a chance of his own in the 23rd minute following smart work from Son Heung-min, but the midfielder scuffed his effort into the grateful arms of Neto.
Son then looped one wide of the post, but Bournemouth came back into the match in the latter stages of the first period, with Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario keeping out a header from Philip Billing.
Richarlison had another excellent opportunity in the 37th minute, but the Brazilian failed to trouble Neto inside the box; the visitors wanted a penalty for a challenge that came in on the forward from Lloyd Kelly, but the referee was not interested and VAR ultimately agreed.
Richarlison then nodded a Maddison cross the wrong side of the post, before Vicario made a smart save down the other end to keep out a strike from Ryan Christie.
Billing had Bournemouth’s best chance of the half just before the whistle, but he sent his effort from inside the Spurs box narrowly wide of the post.
The Cherries had another big opportunity early in the second period when Dominic Solanke found space inside the Spurs box before delivering an excellent low cross, but there were no takers at the far post
Antoine Semenyo then sent a rasping effort just wide in the 57th minute, with Bournemouth forcing the issue in the early stages of the second period.
Tottenham managed to double their advantage in the 63rd minute, though, with Kulusevski turning a cross from Destiny Udogie into the back of the net from close range.
Maddison sent one just wide of the Bournemouth goal in the 69th minute, before Ben Davies struck over late on, but the visitors declared at three on a successful afternoon for the North London club, who have moved to the top of the division for the moment.
Tottenham will now switch their attention to the EFL Cup, facing a trip to Fulham on Tuesday, while Bournemouth will take on Swansea City in the same competition on the same night.
