Bournemouth had played well up until the time for Spurs only goal in the last match. That is what the best sides do though - one chance - one goal. It is not the Tottenham way to sneak a win, but they still got the points. Still, AFCB frustrated Pochettino's side well up until the goal by making a very effective barrier to keep Harry Kane fairly quiet and Dele Alli.
The thing is that AFCB had done so well that Howe probably thought it too big a risk to change things so soon after the break. As long as the team kept on getting the odd chance he may have felt AFCB were still well in contention and could get their opportunity with what was on the pitch. But the way Bournemouth played would have needed them to score first I think to win the game, and when that did not materialise they were going to need to think about getting more possession which didn't happen.
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| The big screen catches the moment when AFCB are finally beaten by Eriksen's strike. |
As an away performance a 1-0 defeat to Spurs would be a good effort in most seasons but the poor start that the Cherries have made doesn't bring much satisfaction. The goal that Spurs did score was at a really crippling time. Bournemouth will have had an inspiring dressing room discussion about how well they had been doing and then they will have come out and seen all that good work wiped clean in just a minute or two after half time. It wasn't what they would have been expecting, and it must have been so annoying as it meant the second half would be a very different game.
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I wonder if anything had been said about Eriksen at half time as he had been the best player for Spurs and was enjoying creating chances for the front men. But AFCB's midfield had difficulty in picking him up and eventually he got in himself. I could see Eddie Howe just coming out of the tunnel after half time as Eriksen had scored, and he would not have seen the goal in real time I imagine. But he will have needed to get some fresh instructions out quickly after the goal. What I was surprised at was that he did not change things even quicker but stuck to the same game plan until the 75th minute.
The thing is that AFCB had done so well that Howe probably thought it too big a risk to change things so soon after the break. As long as the team kept on getting the odd chance he may have felt AFCB were still well in contention and could get their opportunity with what was on the pitch. But the way Bournemouth played would have needed them to score first I think to win the game, and when that did not materialise they were going to need to think about getting more possession which didn't happen.
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