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Jose Mourinho left in another rage by Spurs' latest VAR controversy

Harry Kane leaves the field after Spurs' goalless draw with Bournemouth - AP
Harry Kane leaves the field after Spurs' goalless draw with Bournemouth - AP

The best indication of Jose Mourinho’s view of this latest stodgy, drab and unimaginative Tottenham Hotspur performance came at half-time, when Tanguy Ndombele trotted down the tunnel in his full kit. Truly, things must have been bad if Tottenham’s record signing was getting a game.

Before this, Ndombele had played just 19 minutes since lockdown. It was therefore little surprise that he looked no better than the rest of them in Tottenham blue, with Mourinho’s side once again lacking any fluency or invention in attack.

It was a familiar sense of frustration for Tottenham and a familiar anger for Mourinho, who once again felt his team had been wronged by Var. Harry Kane was denied what appeared to be the clearest of penalties in the first half, when he was pushed in the back by Joshua King. The man behind the screens in Stockley Park was Michael Oliver, the same video assistant referee who had controversially denied Tottenham a penalty against Sheffield United last week.

“The same referee that was the Var against Sheffield United,” said Mourinho. “In the world everybody knows that is a penalty. And when I say everybody, I mean everybody.”

Mourinho even referred to Oliver as “you know who”, as if he was a Harry Potter villain, adding that it was the most significant action of the match. “The game had the most important moment,” Mourinho said. “You know when, you know who and I don’t want to say anything more in relation to that because everybody knows. I don’t need to say much more.”

Tottenham were limp in attack against Bournemouth - Eddie Keogh
Tottenham were limp in attack against Bournemouth - Eddie Keogh

Mourinho could not expand further in the usual post-match press conference. Instead he stormed out after a technical glitch prevented it from starting as planned.

Tottenham’s performances have so far been worse than results since football’s suspension, yet this was neither a good showing nor a good outcome. They could not even muster a single shot on target. Ahead of Sunday’s north London derby they sit ninth in the table, a long way from where they ought to be.

Some credit must go to Bournemouth for preventing Tottenham from showing any hint of their class. Eddie Howe’s side rediscovered their verve here, after such a dreadful few weeks, and while they were not hugely dangerous in attack, they were organised and difficult to play against. This might not be enough to keep them up but, at least, it is a step in the right direction.

“It is a point gained,” said Howe. “Our players gave everything. We have fought. It was a real hard shift for everybody. That is the kind of thing we are going to need.”

Bournemouth even thought they had won it in the final minute of normal time, when Callum Wilson acrobatically turned the ball into the net. A slight handball from Joshua King saw it cancelled out via Var, though, and Harry Wilson then missed the chance of the match in stoppage time, denied by Hugo Lloris with no one else to beat.

Howe’s side were on their toes from the off, closing down the Tottenham players and looking to play forward. The biggest cheers of the first half came for Adam Smith and Dan Gosling, who received huge praise from the home bench after crunching into challenges near the touchline. It has not been the case in recent games but here, at least, Bournemouth looked like a group of players who were willing to swing a few punches.

If only the same could be said for Tottenham, who were comparatively meek throughout. There is no creativity or momentum to their game at the moment, with Kane horribly isolated in attack. They had every right to feel aggrieved with the decision not to award Kane a penalty, but it was no excuse for the lack of quality. Their flat showing in a grim first half prompted Mourinho to order both Ndombele and Son Heung-min into a half-time warm-up.

The players soon needed to limber up again, thanks to a significant stoppage in play that followed a horrible collision between Smith and Ben Davies. The ball hung in the air and Smith’s eyes were locked upon it as Davies came charging through. The impact was sickening, with Smith leaving the field on a stretcher and in a neck brace, although he was conscious and talking after a few minutes. “Don’t worry Smithy,” Kane told the former Tottenham player. “You’re still ugly.”

Nothing was quite as ugly as Tottenham’s performance, though. They appear short of inspiration and confidence, with Bournemouth looking the more likely winners at the end. If Wilson had beaten Lloris in stoppage time, it would not have been undeserved for Howe’s team. For Tottenham, Arsenal will provide more formidable opposition than this at the weekend. Mourinho will know better than anyone that an urgent improvement is required.

 


07:01 PM

FT: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

A spirited performance from Bournemouth, some of their players are absolutely shattered, and they certainly came closest to winning the game. Spurs stay below Arsenal going into Sunday's north London derby. 


07:00 PM

112 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

12 minutes of stoppage time have now been played. Spurs are in possession but are running out of time, and do not look particularly threatening. 


06:58 PM

100 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Ramsdale needed treatment, but the goalkeeper is now back up. Good defending again by Rico under pressure from Lucas Moura. The Bournemouth left-back has had a sound game. Ramsdale punts another ball forward and this time it doesn't stick. Spurs pour forward, and Kane gets to the bar-line down the right....tried to pull it back but Bournemouth had numbers around Moura.


06:55 PM

98 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Tottenham on the attack, but Ndombele was trying to buy a foul against Wilson and the referee was unmoved. 

Loopy cross from Davies finds Spurs sub Gedson Fernandes, and a Winks pass deflects behind for a corner. Ramsdale came and missed eveything, but the ball wouldn't drop for Lucas Moura. 

King leads the Bournemouth break and wins a foul. 


06:53 PM

The disallowed goal


06:53 PM

96 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Yellow card for Harry Wilson after he drags Son down. Spurs do not make much of it, Lamela loses the ball on the edge of the Bournemouth box. 

What a chance for Bournemouth! The perfectly executed move as they find Wilson in acres of space on the right and shift the ball to him. Only had Lloris to beat, but the goalkeeper came out sharply and smothered at the winger's feet. Spurs survive. 


06:51 PM

94 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Tottenham defend that set-piece well, but it has been while since they produced an attack of substance. Bournemouth enjoying a bit of a second wind. 


06:49 PM

92 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

There are 12 minutes of stoppage time to play, and Bournemouth have a corner. Could be a frantic finale. 


06:48 PM

VAR CHECK: NO GOAL

The ball was bouncing around in the box, Wilson hooked the ball towards goal but it flicked of King's hand. Nothing he could do about it. 


06:47 PM

GOOOOOOAAAAALLLL! Huge goal for Bournemouth

They were threatening from set-pieces in the first half, and now Wilson has turned the ball in with an overhead kick. But will it stand? It may have flicked King's arm. 


06:46 PM

89 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Aurier fails to latch on to a ball over the top, the pass was always too straight. A better few minutes from Bournemouth, and they have a free kick about 35 or 40 yards from the Tottenham goal. Will they put it in the mixer? 


06:44 PM

87 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Bournemouth have the ball in the net but the flag was up for offside, and in any case play is coming back for a foul due to a late sliding tackle from Ndombele. Bournemouth thought they should have had the advantage, but it was offside so they should be happy with the free-kick. 

It comes to nothing, and then Gosling is carded for a cynical foul on Lamela to stop him breaking. 


06:41 PM

84 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Bournemouth really starting to creak now, another Spurs corner on the way. Lucas Moura tries to swivel and shoot but the ball deflects behind for another corner. Son whips it in but Ake heads away. Spurs keep them penned in though and pump the ball back into the box. This time Ramsdale comes and punches clear for another corner. Bournemouth are suffocating, but they stand firm at the corner again. 

The pressure is relieved when Alderweireld plays a pass to nobody. Bournemouth need a few set-pieces further up the pitch,. 


06:38 PM

82 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Excellent tackle from Rico when Lucas Moura looked like skipping all the way through. Spurs have a corner and are starting to turn the screw. Son whips a ball to the back post, and this time Stacey gets up well to head behind when Vertonghen was about to meet it. 


06:36 PM

80 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Spurs look like they might be coming on strong here. Bournemouth looking leggy  and have just one substitution window left up their sleeve. Another Aurier cross lacks direction though, and Bournemouth can get some oxygen in their lungs. 


06:35 PM

77 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

They might still go on to win this game, but you sense Spurs have a big decision to make with Mourinho once this season ends. 

Promising play from Spurs here. First Kane gets his first touches inside Bournemouth's box and almost picks out Davies with a cut-back, then Lamela glances a header wide. 


06:32 PM

A delayed drinks break

There will be eight minutes plus of added time, so the break has been pushed forwards five minutes. Lucas Moura replaces Sissoko as Tottenham make their third change. 


06:31 PM

74 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Harry Wilson replaced Brooks, who limped off with another injury. So unfortunate for a player who was one of the brightest British talents in the league last year. 

Bournemouth are regaining some of their poise from the first half....but a poor pass from Kelly gifts the ball to Son, but the defender atoned for his error by intercepting a through ball in Kane's direction. 


06:28 PM

72 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Bournemouth's best moment of the half. King skips past Aurier down the left and very nearly picked out Harry Wilson in the six-yard box. Tottenham scramble behind, and from the resulting corner King cannot get enough on his header. 


06:26 PM

70 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Tottenham pressure Kelly into a wild hack out of play for a throw in. There has been more urgency about their performance, but that injury to Smith has disrupted the rhythm of this half. Ramsdale does well to come off his line and collect and ball over the top. 

Aurier then charges down the right and whips a good low cross, but Ake got across the near post to clear behind for a corner. 


06:24 PM

67 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Kelly launches another Bournemouth long throw into the box but Sissoko heads clear, then Aurier is fouled and the visitors can move up the pitch. 


06:22 PM

65 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Ndombele had given Spurs a bit more impetus before Smith's horrible injury stopped play. Spurs work the ball forward quickly and accurately to Lamela, but another Aurier cross fails to pick out a light blue shirt. No doubt Tottenham have improved. David Brooks is now down, holding his left calf. 


06:20 PM

62 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Stacey is now on and play resumes after an eight-minute stoppage. 


06:18 PM

60 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Smith is now on a stretcher but play is yet to resume. It is unclear whether he is conscious or not. 


06:14 PM

57 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Big Bournemouth appeals for a penalty after Wilson collapsed under challenge from Vertonghen. Nothing given, and VAR was obviously happy to let play carry on. Spurs then break and Kane wants a free-kick - once again the referee waves play on. 

Very worrying scenes here, we could be in for a lengthy stoppage. Smith and Ben Davies collided and the Bournemouth man took a serious blow to the head. He is lying stricken on the turf. Jack Stacey is stripped and ready to come on. 


06:09 PM

52 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Kane's free-kick caught Smith in the stomach, and I think it winded the defender. It's a horrible feeling for a few seconds. The good news is he looks able to carry on, and Spurs settle back into a period of possession. 


06:07 PM

50 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Spurs enjoying possession deep in Bournemouth's half. Ndombele tries to squeeze a pass through to Kane, Kelly intercepted before Lerma dallied on the ball and was robbed by Lamela. The Bournemouth man tried to atone and tripped Lamela. Free kick Spurs, dead central 25 yards out. Kane over it...but he blasts straight into the wall. 


06:05 PM

47 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Spurs need to improve significantly, and that was more promising. Lamela led the counter-attack, fed Ndombele on his outside who picked out Son at the back post. He missed his volley and kicked fresh air. That was more like it though, at least it was a cohesive move. 


06:02 PM

Two changes from Mourinho

Ndombele and Son replace Lo Celso and Bergwijn. 


05:47 PM

HT: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Bournemouth have been the better side, but have neither maximised their set-pieces nor created much from open play. Tottenham need to show much more composure and authority in possession after the break. 


05:45 PM

45 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Lamela shoots well over the bar from distance. There is yet to be shot on target in this half...but there has been a now! Stanislas with a bit of a pea-roller from the edge of the box, but Lloris was at full stretch to tip wide. Kane with another important defensive header from the corner. Two minutes of added time to play. 


05:43 PM

43 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Harry Winks passes the ball straight out of play under the glare of Mourinho on the far side. Spurs just have not got going as an attacking force, or even put their foot on the ball to conserve possession. It only takes one moment of quality though, and the wind could come out of Bournemouth. 


05:40 PM

40 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Lamela brings down Rico - he actually got a good slice of the ball - to concede another Bournemouth free-kick in a promising position. Wide on the left, swung in from Stanislas, but it skips through to Lloris. 

The goalkeeper picks out Sissoko, but once again Tottenham but the brakes on and end up going all the way back to Lloris. 


05:37 PM

38 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Lo Celso short of options as he tries to lead a Tottenham attack, and is caught in possession again. The only positive from this half for Spurs is they have not conceded many chances, particularly from open play. 

That was better from them, they find Aurier on the right as the spare man again, but his low cross is blocked at the near post. Ramsdale claims the corner. 


05:35 PM

36 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Spurs' quality in possession has been well below the standards you expect from a team who were in the Champions League final not so long ago. Every pass looks a struggle. Sissoko this time is the player caught in possession, and Bournemouth spring forward. A Brooks shot from distance is deflected over. Another Bournemouth corner. 


05:33 PM

33 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Spurs letting the ball bounce in their area from a set-piece again, but Lo Celso almost set Bergwijn clear on the counter-attack. Good ball into space but Smith got round on the cover to win a big sliding challenge. 


05:31 PM

31 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Spurs had the chance to counter through Kane, Bergwijn and Lamela there, but they delayed and slowed the move down. Kane was eventually robbed on the edge of Bournemouth's box. Spurs are not transitioning smoothly when they regain possession, it's all a bit forced and stilted. King and Wilson competing well on long balls. 

Then Lerma, who is a walking yellow card, and Sissoko square up nose to nose. Both are booked. 


05:28 PM

28 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Howe will be very pleased with Bournemouth in the last 10 minutes or so, but they are stretched here. Aurier gets free down the right and feeds a cross in, but Ake made a timely defensive header under pressure from Lamela. Spurs win a corner, but Ramsdale takes. 


05:26 PM

25 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Mourinho quite animated in the break. Spurs had lost some control in the five or six minutes before the stoppage. Another Bournemouth set-piece is catapulted into the Tottenham box, this time a long throw, and Ake's knockdown almost dropped for Wilson in the six-yard box. 


05:24 PM

Drinks


05:22 PM

22 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Half of Bournemouth's goals this season have come from set-pieces, and they are threatening again. A wide free-kick is stood up to the back post where Lerma is free. He nods back across the face of goal, but Kane rose well to glance behind when Ake was waiting to score. Bournemouth keep the pressure on with another corner, and Spurs are struggling to get out of their half. 


05:20 PM

20 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Excellent defensive header from Davies to clear a devilish Stanislas delivery from that free-kick. They win a corner in the next phase of play which Spurs once again fail to clear, but the ball would not quite drop for a Bournemouth shot. VAR checks for an Aurier handball in the box, but nothing doing. Better from the home team. 


05:18 PM

18 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Two good bit of Bournemouth defending - first Kelly on Kane and then Rico on Lamela. Bournemouth are certainly showing the requisite work rate, just their quality on the ball that is lacking so far. They do have a free-kick in a dangerous spot on the right though, after Lamela brought down Wilson. Stanislas over it. 


05:15 PM

15 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Suspect we haven't heard the last of that early Kane penalty appeal - replays showed quite conclusively that King pushed him in the back but the referee's original decision was not overturned. 

Wilson looks to prod a pass through to King, but the ball does not run into his path. Sissoko tires to spray a long pass to the left flank, but it goes behind Davies and out of play. A bit tentative from both sides so far. 


05:13 PM

12 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Ake penalised for climbing on the back of Bergwijn, and Spurs take the free-kick short. Alderweireld's diagonal is too strong for Aurier and skips through for a goal kick. Bournemouth remain unscathed. 


05:10 PM

10 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Bournemouth struggling to get any good possession in Tottenham's half. King and Wilson against Alderweireld and Vertonghen looks a contest they can make gains from, especially if the forwards can get in a race with the defenders in the channels. 

Stanislas jinks into the area but Winks make an interception inside the box. Then King makes a threatening run from the left after a Lamela giveaway and Bournemouth have a corner. 


05:07 PM

7 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Spurs enjoying the better of the early exchanges. Lamela is playing from the right with Bergwijn in Son's usual slot on the left. Winks and Sissoko deep in midfield with Lo Celso in front of them  - a 4-2-3-1. Mourinho's team seeing plenty of the ball, but the question remains if they have enough creativity. 


05:05 PM

4 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Early danger in Bournemouth's penalty area. Aurier getting forward down Tottenham's right with Lamela on his inside, and the full-back whips a decent cross in that Bournemouth just about deal with. Took a flick off Rico at the near post and ran across the face of goal. From a resulting corner, Kane appeals for a penalty for a shove in the back from King. No penalty after a VAR check. 


05:02 PM

2 minutes: Bournemouth 0 Tottenham 0

Bournemouth look like they are working one from kick off, overloading down the left flank and pinging a diagonal in that direction. Gives them an early chance to pin Spurs back. The visitors get the chance to put their foot on the ball after Lamela wins a foul. 

Bournemouth will need to be aggressive, but Gosling over does it there - slides through Harry Kane at the cost of another Spurs free-kick. Nathan Ake is playing on the right of Howe's defensive pair today with Kelly on the left.


05:00 PM

KICK OFF!

Harry Kane loves a goal against Bournemouth, but it is the home team who get us going at the Vitality Stadium after players take the knee in support of Black Lives Matter. 


04:55 PM

Players and managers are on their way out

Eddie Howe says he wants his Bournemouth team to take the attacking positives from their 5-2 defeat at Old Trafford. You cannot be entirely sure about what you are getting with these two teams. The players are walking out of the tunnel now. 


04:38 PM

Jose Mourinho speaks


04:36 PM

You may have noticed Hugo Lloris and Son had words against Everton

Here is Luke Edwards explaining why that kind of altercation is certainly nothing new in dressing rooms. If anything, they are far tamer environments than they used to be. Here is a taster: 

In the course of speaking to a handful of current and former players from clubs up and down the country I have heard stories of players exchanging so many punches in a fight before it was broken up-  by admittedly startled teammates - that both had to leave the session, one to have ice applied to bruised hand and the other to seek medical treatment for the damage to their face.

I have heard one former player causally reminisce about the time he headbutted a teammate and close friend after he had swung several wild punches at the end of a verbal disagreement during training. The cut to the victim’s face was so bad it required stitches.

In another conversation I was told about the upcoming young striker who got over excited in one of his first training sessions with the first team squad, was on the receiving end of several late tackles and responded by swinging a haymaker on to the chin of one of the senior pros with as much force as he possibly could.


04:28 PM

Still no place for Tanguy Ndombele

It could be a case of Tanguy Ngonebele  in the next transfer window. There seems to be no trust or faith between the midfielder and Mourinho, with Tottenham's record signing struggling for fitness earlier in the season. The situation is frustrating for Spurs fans because Ndombele has so much ability, and is the kind of progressive ball-player their midfield has lacked since Mousa Dembele was still going strong. I thought Spurs had pulled off a major coup to get him last summer, but it goes to show no transfer is ever a certainty. 

Tanguy Ndombele - Reuters

04:07 PM

Three changes from Mourinho

Perhaps with Sunday's game against Arsenal in mind. Bergwijn and Lamela come in for Son and Lucas Moura while Jan Vertonghen returns in the place of the suspended Dier. One imagines Lamela might start from the left and float inside, or it could be a diamond with Bergwijn closer to Kane. 


04:02 PM

Bournemouth team and subs: Callum Wilson back from suspension


04:01 PM

Tottenham team and subs: Alderweireld and Vertonghen reunited


03:42 PM

Our man Sam Dean in position


02:38 PM

Two teams lacking in confidence

Bournemouth were billed as a one of the teams who would benefit from football's three-month coronavirus hiatus, but have lost four consecutive games since the Premier League's resumption. 

Their seemingly endless injury problems continue - defenders Steve Cook, Simon Francis, Chris Mepham and Jack Simpson are all doubts for this evening's game against Tottenham - and Eddie Howe's team are suffering from an identity crisis. They were once admired for their intricacy and commitment to passing through the thirds, but now rely on counter-attacks and set-pieces in the absence of creativity. Not that this stylistic shift has brought greater solidity: Bournemouth have conceded nine goals in their last two games, including a disastrous 4-1 home defeat to Newcastle. A five-year spell in the Premier League coming to an end now looks a strong possibility with Bournemouth four points from safety. 

It is not all champagne and backgammon at Tottenham either, with Jose Mourinho struggling to marry defensive stability and attacking fluency. Their 1-0 home victory against Everton was a crucial three points and kept them in the hunt of European qualification, but the performance hardly inspired confidence. Harry Kane did at least look a touch sharper in that game after some sluggish showings, but quality was lacking in all departments. 

Mourinho will be without Eric Dier for the next four games, including Sunday's home north London derby against Arsenal, due to his suspension for going into the crowd after Spurs' FA Cup exit against Norwich. Dier is not the apple of every Tottenham fan's eye, but has been one half of Mourinho's first-choice defensive pairing since lockdown so his absence does pose a problem. Dele Alli faces a fitness test. 

While the debate continues about whether Mourinho is the right man for Tottenham in the long-term, a win on the south coast would take them seventh - above Sheffield United on goal difference and one point clear of Arsenal going into Sunday's derby.