Bournemouth

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Andoni Iraola's side have now scored the two fastest goals in the Premier League this season - Marcus Tavernier's fourth-minute effort against Wolves last weekend and Evanilson's winner at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Cherries' relentless high press, their hallmark under Iraola, caused Tottenham all sorts of problems in the early stages, making it impossible for Frank's team to play out from the back.

The visitors were just as impressive defensively, preventing Spurs from having a single attempt until nine minutes into the second half.

Bournemouth lost captain Adam Smith to injury in the first period, but other than that their only source of frustration was their failure to put the game to bed, despite carving out numerous chances to do so.

David Brooks' tremendous outside-of-the-boot cross appeared to have left Antoine Semenyo with a relatively simple finish on 11 minutes, but the Ghanaian's header went inches over the crossbar.

The Bournemouth onslaught continued early in the second half as Guglielmo Vicario saved brilliantly from Semenyo, before Brooks' close-range effort struck the woodwork - moments after the Spurs goalkeeper had saved at the feet of Evanilson.

Spurs only began to apply some semblance of pressure late on, but Bournemouth's new-look defence rarely looked like being breached.

Bournemouth lost a number of key first-team players over the summer, but Iraola's latest vintage looks capable of disrupting the established Premier League order this season.

Andoni Iraola spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Bournemouth's victory against Tottenham: "It was a very good win. We played very well and should have scored and finished the game in a better way. I am happy because I have seen a good performance.

"We missed big chances today. You want to score a second one and kill the game. We haven't done it, same as against Wolves. We had to defend well at the end.

On Adrien Truffert: "We believe a lot. He was playing against a player who is very good. I think he was exceptional. He was cramping at the end. He combined very well with Antoine on the left side."

Antoine Semenyo also spoke to Match of the Day after the win: "We had our chances. Overall, we played really well and made it uncomfortable for them. I was frustrated and it was playing on my mind a bit. I need to get myself in those positions to get more chances. I kept focus and got my head in the game.

He also spoke about Adrien Truffert: "We have a good understanding and been training since the start of pre-season. The boy can run!"

On new singings: "You can feel the improvements from them. We still have work to do but there will be time for everyone to develop.

"There will be some movement in the last days of the market but the club will deal with them and I am looking forward to building more collectiveness. I'm not sure how many because things change so often. I will not be totally in charge.

On Adam Smith's injury: "The worst news of the day - it is his hamstring. He will need some weeks of rest and recovery and the international break is a good moment for that."

Did you know?

Tottenham had just five shots against Bournemouth (one on target), the joint-fewest attempts and lowest expected goals against (0.17) the Cherries have ever faced in a Premier League away game.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Tottenham's performance

What did you make of Bournemouth's display?

Come back to this page on Sunday to find a selection of your replies

Thomas Frank keeps faith with the Tottenham side that started last weekend's eye-catching victory at Manchester City.

Destiny Udogie is back on the bench following a knee injury, but Dominic Solanke misses out altogether.

Tottenham XI: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence, Sarr, Joao Palhinha, Bentancur, Kudus, Richarlison, Johnson

Subs: Kinsky, Danso, Tel, Udogie, Gray, Bergvall, Solomon, Odobert, Davies

Andoni Iraola fields the same Bournemouth XI that started last weekend's Premier League victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Ben-Gannon Doak, Amine Adli, Eli Junior Kroupi, Ryan Christie and Justin Kluivert are all among the substitutes after starting Tuesday's Carabao Cup defeat at home to Brentford.

Bournemouth XI: Petrovic, Smith, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert, Adams, Brooks, Scott, Tavernier, Semenyo, Evanilson

Subs: Dennis, Christie, Gannon-Doak, Adli, Kluivert, Soler, Faivre, Kroupi, Hill

There are six games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Chelsea v Fulham (12:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Man Utd v Burnley

• Sunderland v Brentford

• Tottenham v Bournemouth - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Wolves v Everton

• Leeds v Newcastle (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

This'll be a great game. Bournemouth were excellent against Wolves last weekend and were unlucky to only win 1-0. They've always got an attacking threat and because of that, I always fancy them to score.

But then Thomas Frank's Tottenham have been so well balanced. They've been phenomenal so far.

As for Richarlison, I was told by statman Dave not to get him in my Fantasy Team. I didn't put him in and he's had an amazing start - two goals and one assist.

At home, I fancy Tottenham to nick it.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Tom White
BBC Sport journalist

Tottenham bid to continue their impressive start under Thomas Frank against a Bournemouth side who took four points off Spurs last season. BBC Sport examines some of the key themes before their meeting in north London.

Spurs' aim to continue 100% record

Tottenham will hope to continue their strong start to the new campaign at home to Bournemouth, aiming to win their opening three Premier League matches for a fourth time, having previously done so in 2008-09, 2018-19 and 2021-22.

Thomas Frank became just the third manager after Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte to beat a Pep Guardiola side in an away league game with two different clubs when Spurs won 2-0 at Manchester City last weekend.

The midfield trio of Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr and Joao Palhinha all impressed in Manchester, with the latter winning eight of his duels and Bentancur claiming back possession six times, both the joint highest in the match.

Importance of defensive duo

One thing Frank has had in his favour at the start of his Spurs tenure is the availability of first choice centre-back partners Cristian Romero and Micky Van de Ven, a luxury not always afforded to Ange Postecoglou last season.

Since the start of the 2023-24 campaign, Tottenham have a 51% league win record when both play, dropping to a measly 25% when one or the other is unavailable.

Bournemouth remain tough to beat

In Bournemouth, Spurs face a team they failed to beat home or away last season, losing 1-0 on the south coast in December before a 2-2 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in March.

The Cherries picked up their first win of the campaign at home to Wolves last weekend, winning 1-0 thanks to a goal from Marcus Tavernier.

Andoni Iraola's side appear to have picked up from where they left off last season in terms of high turnovers with 14 from their opening two games - the fourth most in the league.

Since Iraola's appointment ahead of the 2023-24 season, only Liverpool (134) have created more shots from high turnovers in the Premier League than the Cherries' 126.

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at Tottenham (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Lewis Cook and Enes Unal are still unavailable because of injury. Cook is continuing to recover from a medial collateral ligament injury and "could be back in training during the international break", whereas Unal will still be out "long term".

• Julian Araujo will not feature after picking up a red card against Brentford in the Carabao Cup second round.

• Justin Kluivert and Ryan Christie's return from injury has been a boost but they both "need more minutes". Kluivert is feeling "quite sharp and at a good level to help", but Christie "didn't have a pre-season so it is normal he isn't at his best".

• There will be more transfer activity before the window closes because "a lot of things always happen in the last two or three days". He confirmed the club are still "looking to sign a centre-back", especially after Chris Mepham's departure this week, and "there could be changes in other positions as well".

• He recognises that he won't have the "biggest squad" to work with this season, but "competition for minutes" within the squad will be "important".

• Iraola explained his philosophy on squad competition: "I want the players to feel like it's expensive to play and to get minutes as a substitute. If this happens, then it is good news. I want everyone to fight for their opportunities."

• The squad were "very happy" after their opening win over Wolves but "very sad" after their cup defeat by Brentford. However, "there isn't a lot of time to enjoy or suffer" and the aim will be to "put up a good game" against Tottenham.

• Bournemouth are expecting a "very physical, high rhythm and demanding" game against Thomas Frank's side, who have won their first two Premier League matches this season.

• Iraola added: "I'm not surprised they are doing so well. He has proven he is a very good manager and he has very good individual players in his team."

• When asked how his side will approach the game, he replied: "The opposite to Wolves. They will want to control and dictate the game. They haven't even conceded a goal yet, so we definitely aren't going to have 65% of the ball like we had the other day. We will have to take a completely different approach."

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live match commentary of Tottenham v Bournemouth at 15:00 on Saturday

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

England boss Thomas Tuchel has selected his 24-man squad for the September World Cup qualifiers.

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Dean Henderson

Defenders: Reece James, Marc Guehi, John Stones, Dan Burn, Ezri Konsa, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tino Livramento, Djed Spence

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Jordan Henderson, Adam Wharton, Morgan Rogers, Declan Rice

Forwards: Harry Kane, Eberechi Eze, Jarrod Bowen, Anthony Gordon, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, Ollie Watkins

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth have opened talks to sign full-back Alex Jimenez on a season-long loan deal from AC Milan.

The 20-year-old can also play in multiple positions as a wing-back or as a winger on either the left or right side. He is believed to be open to a move to the Vitality Stadium.

However, terms are yet to be fully agreed with Milan pushing for a permanent sale for up to £20m.

The Spain youth international is a product of Real Madrid's academy and has played 34 times for Milan.

The Cherries are also in the market to add a central defender, amid talks with Chelsea's Axel Disasi.

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Nizaar Kinsella
BBC football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth's Hamed Junior Traore has agreed to join Marseille on a loan with option to move permanently for €7.5m (£6.5m).

The option of the permanent move is practically mandatory or an 'obligation' as the triggers are likely to be hit - with one being Marseille need to avoid relegation.

Traore joined Bournemouth in January 2023 on loan from Italian side Sassuolo before a permanent deal worth about £20m was agreed that summer.

The 25-year-old has since had loan spells at Napoli and Auxerre and has made 14 appearances in all competitions for the Cherries, scoring once.

Bournemouth's 25-year-old Ivory Coast attacking midfielder Hamed Traore is set to join Marseille on loan, with an option to buy. (Footmercato - in French), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport senior journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The 'departure lounge' at Vitality Stadium has been a busy place this week, with striker Daniel Adu-Adjei joining Croatian side Rijeka and goalkeeper Alex Paulsen moving to Lechia Gdansk on loan.

But the biggest loss to supporters will be midfielder Philip Billing, who has returned to his native Denmark to join Midtjylland, having been something of a cult hero in his six years at Bournemouth.

Signed from Huddersfield by Eddie Howe in 2019, Billing was mainly deployed in a deep-lying midfield role alongside Jefferson Lerma, but suffered a second successive Premier League relegation that season.

However, his Cherries career turned for the better in 2021 when, in a tactical move from Jonathan Woodgate's short-lived spell in charge, Billing was pushed further forward, playing closer to striker Dominic Solanke.

And having rejected a move to Norwich that summer, Billing thrived in his new role and was a key player in the 2021-22 promotion team, contributing 10 goals and 10 assists in the Championship.

Back in the top flight, he was Bournemouth's top scorer in 2022-23, ahead of even Solanke. Memorable strikes included the long-distance rocket at Nottingham Forest to spark an astonishing comeback win, netting nine seconds after kick-off at Arsenal (still the Premier League's second-fastest goal ever), and grabbing the only goal as Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool were beaten at Vitality Stadium.

No less important the following season was Billing's 40-yard lob over Burnley keeper James Trafford to give Andoni Iraola his first league win as boss, although a towering header in the 3-0 demolition of Manchester United at Old Trafford proved to be his final goal in Bournemouth colours.

By then, with Justin Kluivert excelling in the number 10 role in Iraola's 4-2-3-1 system, Billing found himself largely as an option off the bench, and while it was no surprise he was allowed to leave on loan in January 2025, his destination – Napoli – raised eyebrows.

Although finding himself a regular substitute in Naples, Billing did net a crucial late equaliser against title rivals Inter Milan, thus ending the season with the unique record as the only Bournemouth player with a Serie A winner's medal in his locker.

The man the fans knew as "Phil Bill" will leave with their best wishes, after a Bournemouth career possibly defined by two crucial 'assists', showing how he will be remembered, not only as a footballer, but as a human being.

The first came on a tense night against Forest in 2022. Billing was about to take a free-kick on the edge of the box, when his peripheral vision spotted Kieffer Moore lurking wide of the defensive wall.

Billing deserved an Oscar nomination for how his body language convinced Forest he was going to shoot for goal - "skullduggery, hoodwinkery", as BBC Radio Solent commentator Kris Temple put it - instead steering the ball to the unmarked Moore to score the goal which guaranteed promotion back to the Premier League.

The second came against Luton in December 2023, when Hatters captain Tom Lockyer collapsed on the pitch after suffering a cardiac arrest, and Billing was first on the scene to offer Lockyer assistance while frantically signalling to the referee to stop the game and call the medics on. Luton later thanked Billing and the Cherries medical staff in an official statement.

Image source, Getty Images

Professional Footballers Association's chief executive Maheta Molango says consequences for racist abuse in football stadiums must "go beyond" the protocols in place to deal with such incidents.

The opening game of the Premier League season between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield was stopped for several minutes after Antoine Semenyo reported being racial abused by a supporter.

The man accused was arrested on suspicion of racial abuse and has since been handed a stadium ban. However, Molango believes criminal prosecution must follow for offenders.

"We are tired of talking about it but unfortunately racism is a societal issue and football – at times – is a reflection of society and we still live in a society where these things happen," he told BBC senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel.

"What is important is that people understand this is a criminal offence not because we just go to a stadium that it becomes something 'you can just do'.

"Its important measures are taken. Not from just a football perspective but a criminal perspective so people know where the line is - we need to be strong about that.

"There are protocols in place, we are glad to see that the player knew what to do in that situation and actioned them (the protocols).

"We need to go beyond that. We need to make sure whoever is participating in those kinds of acts face real consequences and those are criminal consequences."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views after Tuesday's EFL Cup second-round tie between Bournemouth and Brentford.

Here are some of your comments:

Bournemouth fans

Peter: A poor performance for a team which has set high standards. Very disjointed and unable to unlock a solid defence. Time is needed to bed in new signings and those players recovering from injury.

Chris: Shocking by Bournemouth - the worst I've seen them play since we got relegated from the Premier League last time. Frustrating as we should be pushing for a League Cup run.

Paul: As a Cherries fan, I'm dismayed by the extent of players sold this summer. It's really going to be a long, hard season and our Premier League status might be at risk.

Brentford fans

Nick: Good, strong defensive display and ruthless on the counter-attack. Excellent away performance.

Jon: That's two results in a row that have rather flattered the Bees. I'm still concerned that over the full season their luck will even out and it could be a nail-biting end to avoid relegation. But if we do, then it's still an incredible achievement!

David: The boys played a very well-structured game. The formation was a master class from Andrews. The substitutes en masse gave fresh energy too. Brentford are certainly on the road to being back to their best.

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford are a "frustrating" side to play against but Bournemouth's Carabao Cup defeat is down to their own "struggle" to break teams down, says midfielder Alex Scott.

The Cherries suffered an early exit from the competition on Tuesday night at the hands of the west London side, despite having the lion's share of possession and shots at goal.

"They are a frustrating team to play against. A lot of wasting time. They got the goal and almost sat in quite a lot," Scott told BBC Radio Solent.

"Going down, taking free-kicks, taking 45 seconds to a minute every throw-in and then only five minuets gets added on seems crazy to me. But, we have to deal with that.

"They are a tough side. They beat us fair and square on the day. We didn't create enough chances and that is probably the main thing. We probably struggle quite a bit when a team is sat in and not trying to play out as such. When teams try and play we can jump all over it.

"It's disappointing [going out early]. Us players and manager want to go far in all the cup competitions because it is a chance to get silverware. It was a chance for us to win a trophy, which is now gone.

"It's also a chance for new signings and those who don't play as much to get cup games and get minutes in our legs, so it is disapppointing for everyone."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, speaking to BBC Radio Solent after his side lost 2-0 at home to Brentford in the Carabao Cup:

"I changed the team too much. There are a lot of players who still have to grow and improve, get more ready for the level we demand from them.

"It's difficult because you want to give minutes to players but we have to continue competing. We have to do it like this, there is no other way. We are past pre-season so every trial has consequences. Today we did not collectively play well.

"I hate it when you are out of a competition and don't have the chance to progress and give more minutes to other players.

"We haven't been at the level required by the competition. If you want to go far in this competition you have to give a lot, and we haven't been ourselves.

"We came in off two very good games but today has been a step backwards. We changed a lot of the team, and when it doesn't work I am the first one to blame."

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Bournemouth's performance

What did you make of Brentford's display?

Bournemouth make eight changes from their 1-0 win over Wolves on Saturday as Justin Kluiver makes his first start of the season.

Bournemouth XI: Petrovic, Araujo, Diakite, Hill, Soler, Scott, Christie, Gannon-Doak, Kluivert, Adli, and Kroupi

Subs: Adams, Brooks, Dennis, Semenyo, Senesi, Smith, Tavernier, Truffert, Evanilson

Meanwhile, Keith Andrews has also made a whole host of changes after they picked up their first win of the season against Aston Villa over the weekend.

Brentford XI: Valdimarsson, van den Berg, Pinnock, Ajer, Henry, Onyeka, Jensen, Hickey, Milambo, F. Carvalho, Schade

Subs: Kelleher, Thiago, Yarmolyuk, Ouattara, Collins, Lewis-Potter, Damsgaard, Peart-Harris, Kayode.

There are five games involving Premier League sides in the Carabao Cup second round on Tuesday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Wolves v West Ham (19:30)

• Burnley v Derby County

• Sunderland v Huddersfield Town

• Bournemouth v Brentford - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3

• Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United (20:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 19:45 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Tom Jordan
Fan contributor

Find more from Tom Jordan at Back of the Net, external