Notebook – AFC Bournemouth vs Spurs

We make the trip to Bournemouth in the Premier League this afternoon (3pm kick-off).

Ahead of the match, here are all of the game’s key points of note…

1 – A strong record

Bournemouth are a side we have generally enjoyed facing in the Premier League era. In our 10 meetings to date in the top flight, we have only lost once – that was a 1-0 defeat in May, 2019, in which we had two players sent off. Of the other nine, we have won seven and drawn twice.

2 – A mixed bag at the Vitality

Despite our strong record against Bournemouth in general, when we have made the trip to their south coast home, there has been a rather mixed set of results. In five top flight trips to the Vitality Stadium, we have either failed to score entirely (three times – two 0-0 draws and a 1-0 defeat) or scored at least four goals (a 5-1 win in 2015/16 and a 4-1 win in 2017/18).

3 – Kane-ing the Cherries

And when we have scored a hatful against Bournemouth, Harry Kane has usually been on target. Our number 10, who is enjoying his best-ever start to a season having scored 10 in his 12 Premier League appearances this season, has scored seven goals in just eight appearances against the Cherries – that is two more than today's opponents (five) have managed in 10 Premier League games against us.

4 – The Cherries’ return

This season, Bournemouth returned to the top flight after two seasons in the Championship. Having been relegated at the end of the 2019/20 season, the Cherries couldn’t quite manage an immediate return to the Premier League the following campaign as they were defeated by Brentford in the play-off semi-finals, however they were not to miss out last term as they finished second, earning automatic promotion.

It has been a mixed start to life back in the top flight. Having lost three of their opening four games, which included a 9-0 defeat to Liverpool, they moved to replace head coach Scott Parker with interim boss Gary O’Neil and it is fair to say they have picked up since. A run of six games unbeaten followed O’Neil’s appointment, however they have now lost each of their last two.

5 – For and against

With it being a mixed start to their return to the top flight, Bournemouth have also seen mixed results in both defence and attack. Despite their recent fine form, it should be pointed out that in seven of their 12 games so far, the Cherries have failed to score – no side has failed to score on more occasions in the competition. Four of those blanks have come at home, however in the two home matches they scored in (2-0 vs Aston Villa and 2-1 vs Leicester), they have won both.

They have also shipped 25 goals already across that period – only once before in their history have they conceded more goals at this stage of a football league campaign – 29 in 1994/95 (Division Three/League One).

6 – Conte against promoted sides

Antonio Conte has got quite the record against newly promoted sides in the Premier League. Of his 19 such games to date, he has lost just once, winning 15 and drawing three.

7 – Travers’ troubles

Following an injury to first choice goalkeeper Neto, it is likely that Mark Travers will start between the sticks for Bournemouth on Saturday – a goalkeeper who has endured a pretty tough run in the Premier League. Having made eight appearances to date in the competition, the Irishman has conceded 25 goals, an average of one every 27 minutes. That is the worst ratio of any of the 251 goalkeepers who have played at least five game’s in the competition’s history.

However, it cannot be forgotten that when the 23-year-old made his Premier League debut back in May, 2019, he did so against us and produced a man-of-the-match display as Bournemouth ran out 1-0 winners.

8 – Our last trip to the Vitality

It has been over two years since we last made the trip to Bournemouth. Back in July, 2020, we experienced a rather disappointing afternoon at the Vitality Stadium as, with games being played behind closed doors following the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, we struggled to get out of first gear against the Cherries as we drew 0-0.

The game’s key talking points focussed around two VAR decisions as first, Harry Kane’s claims for a penalty were waived away after it looked like our number 10 had been pushed to the ground in the penalty box in an off-the-ball incident. Then, in the closing minutes up the other end, Callum Wilson thought he had won it for the hosts as he acrobatically volleyed home however, following a VAR review, his effort was ruled out.