Six factors clear with seven to play and Gary O’Neil was ready to confess he would have fun with a cup of tea and may contemplate watching the highlights of Bournemouth’s first-ever win at Tottenham on Match of the Day.
There may be nonetheless arduous work forward and O’Neil was not about to ask his gamers to place their toes up however it’s value pausing to applaud the job accomplished to this point by the top coach since he took management on the finish of August.
By means of reminder, Bournemouth had misplaced three Premier League video games in a row, leaking 16 targets and scoring none in opposition to Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool. Nobody gave them a cat in hell’s probability of survival, together with it appeared, Scott Parker, who was sacked for saying they had been in hassle in the event that they didn’t strengthen.
Virtually eight months on and they’re wanting good to keep away from the drop. They did strengthen with a late scramble in the summertime market and a bit of bounce beneath O’Neil purchased them time till a takeover in December and a spending spree in January.
On Saturday, two targets got here from new recruits. Matias Vina, a Uruguayan left again on mortgage from Roma, scored 38 minutes into his first begin for the membership to wipe out Son Heung-min’s opener. And Dango Ouattara, a Burkina Faso worldwide ahead signed for £20million from Lorient, who got here off the bench and scored the Ninety fifth-minute winner to spark scenes of untamed celebration amongst Bournemouth ranks.
Bournemouth look more likely to keep away from relegation following their dramatic victory over Tottenham
Gary O’Neil has labored wonders at Bournemouth as they appear to remain within the high flight
Simply seven minutes earlier, they thought two factors had been misplaced when former Cherries winger Arnaut Danjuma scored his first Premier League purpose for Tottenham. O’Neil needed it dominated out as a result of Harry Kane was offside and within the sightlines of goalkeeper Neto. ‘It’s blatantly offside,’ he mentioned. ‘Neto has to lean to see round Harry Kane. I’m amazed and actually disenchanted with the officers once more.’
So feelings had been working excessive when Ouattara struck on the break to clinch a fourth win in six video games. ‘A giant purpose,’ mentioned O’Neil, who has seen his workforce lose video games in stoppage time this season, together with the house fixture in opposition to Spurs.
‘Possibly the purpose appears greater in direction of the tip of the season. We strive to not get too carried away. We get pleasure from this one after which put it within the reminiscence banks for the followers. There’s an enormous week arising.’
Dominic Solanke was excellent in opposition to Tottenham and used his energy to good impact
Bournemouth’s gamers will return to coaching on Tuesday to organize for Sunday’s very important match at residence in opposition to West Ham, which is adopted by video games in opposition to Southampton and Leeds earlier than the tip of the month.
It’s a essential sequence and but they may strategy it with quiet confidence. They’re in good kind, enhanced by the brand new signings. Marcus Tavernier excelled with wing-back shifts on both flank and, after two prolific years within the Championship, Dominic Solanke is wanting just like the centre ahead he all the time promised to be.
Solanke was excellent in opposition to Tottenham — robust, keen and cellular, dragging defenders misplaced and with a medical edge. These qualities prompted Liverpool to lure him from Chelsea as a young person. Now, at 25, he’s studying to make use of them to affect video games within the Premier League.
He helped create Bournemouth’s first with fast toes, an intricate alternate and a perfectly-timed cross to Vida, and the third by outmuscling Pedro Porro to create a counter-attack and discovering Ouattara in house.
Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez endured a troublesome time as his facet had been overwhelmed
Tottenham had been wasteful up entrance and Richarlison missed an excellent alternative to attain
In between, he scored his sixth of the season. Pouncing as Davinson Sanchez bought a toe to the ball to dispossess Tavernier, Solanke’s sensible end gave Bournemouth a 2-1 lead and sparked hoots of derision from the house crowd.
Sanchez had not performed properly throughout his temporary look, on as a first-half sub for Clement Lenglet and off earlier than the hour as performing boss Cristian Stellini switched to a again 4, however he was not alone as Tottenham produced additional proof to counsel Antonio Conte might need been proper all alongside.
Once more, they had been fragile on the again, the place Porro’s defensive frailties had been uncovered and Cristian Romero conceded an opportunity to Jaidon Anthony whereas making an attempt to roll the ball beneath his boot and flick his means out of a good spot within the nook.
Once more, Spurs had been wasteful up entrance, the place Richarlison missed the goal with a free header on the again submit, seconds earlier than Ouattara’s winner.
Once more, as within the late collapse and 3-3 draw at Southampton throughout Conte’s final stand, they had been overwhelmed within the closing levels by the determined combat of opponents with their Premier League standing in danger.
