The euphoria of Manchester City already seems like a long time ago for Ange Postecoglou.
Twelve days since the four-goal romp at the home of the champions have brought him problems and setbacks at every turn like an advent calendar from hell.
Injuries and illnesses have stacked against him and three fixtures in eight days have brought him no wins.
Equalisers were conceded at home against Roma and Fulham and his depleted side did not deserve anything at Bournemouth, who climbed above them in the table.
Spurs looked flat and tired and copped another injury with Ben Davies limping off in the second half.
They were also fortunate not to concede more than the one goal scored in the first half by teenager centre-half Dean Huijsen.
Dean Huijsen ghosted in unmarked from a corner to head Bournemouth into the lead
The 19-year-old became the Cherries youngest goalscorer in the Premier League in the process
Ange Postecoglou’s depleted side looked tired and were lucky not to conceded more
Marcus Tavernier and Dango Ouattara missed the target with glorious chances to make it 2-0 in the closing minutes. Fraser Forster stood firm to save from Enes Unal and substitute Lucas Bergvall blocked from Tyler Adams.
That brilliant 4-0 win at City is the outlier for Postecoglou. It is the only win in six games in all competitions, with in-form Chelsea visiting on Sunday with an extra day of rest in the tank and a much stronger squad to select from.
Spurs were missing seven through injury and suspension, but Dominic Solanke returned after illness to start against the club he left in the summer and Archie Gray shook off the dead leg he picked up in Sunday’s draw with Fulham to make his first Premier League start.
Gray came in to give Pedro Porro a breather. The 18-year-old does not possess the same threat going forward but his defensive instinct is strong and evident early on when he chased down Justin Kluivert on the break.
Heung-min Son also started on the bench, with Postecoglou moving top-scorer Brennan Johnson from the right wing to the left to accommodate Dejan Kulusevski on his preferred flank.
Kulusevski had the first effort of the game, firing straight at Kepa Arrizabalaga after good work by James Maddison, who made a positive start, finding time and space in midfield as the visitors settled quickest and dominated the opening phase.
Maddison released Solanke, who fired over under pressure from Huijsen, the 19-year-old defender deputising for Marcos Senesi and who became Bournemouth’s youngest Premier League goal scorer when he opened the scoring in the 17th minute.
Forster made a block at his near post to deny Evanilson as Bournemouth’s first genuine attack of the game ended with a ricochet in the penalty box falling kindly for the Brazilian via Radu Dragusin and Destiny Udogie.
Son Heung-min turned home from close range for Spurs but his effort was ruled for offside
Ryan Christie struck the post for Bournemouth as the hosts spurned numerous opportunities
Evanilson also saw an effort ruled out for the hosts for offside after careless Spurs defending
From the corner that followed, Huijsen wriggled free with a simple run around the back of the crowd and arrived unmarked to plant a firm downward header past Forster from Tavernier’s expert dead-ball delivery.
Tottenham’s vulnerability from set-pieces became a theme throughout last season. It drew much criticism to the annoyance of Postecoglou. They have been more solid this season in general, but they conceded a late equaliser from the second phase of a corner last week against Roma.
Now this, and it seemed to drain some of their confidence. Suddenly, the crisp passing patterns of appeared more difficult to stitch together and Bournemouth became more assertive on the ball and the contest more even.
Tavernier had the ball in the net but had strayed a yard offside before the pass by Evanilson and Forster made a vital save just before the interval.
Milos Kerkez overlapping on the left found Tavernier and his glancing header looked to be destined for the net when the Spurs keeper, making his third appearance in a row since Guglielmo Vicario broke an ankle, reacted quickly and saved low with his left hand.
Postecoglou resisted the urge to make changes at half time and the pattern remained the same. Spurs took risks going forward and Bournemouth were always dangerous on the turnover, breaking at pace into wide open areas.
Kluivert sprinted clear of Udogie as they counterattacked from a Spurs corner but was unable to find a way past Forster from an angle, and a square pass to Evanilson might have been the better option.
Son supplied a brief boost when came on, full of purpose to replace Pape Matar Sarr. And Tottenham had a better balance with Johnson switched back to the right as part of the reshuffle.
Ben Davies went off with a hamstring injury, leaving Spurs without another central defender
Son found the net within seconds, tapping in a rebound as Kepa saved from Kulusevski but the flag went straight up and it was the right call.
Davies was forced off on his 300th Premier League appearance with what seemed to be a hamstring injury, leaving Spurs short of three central defenders.
Gray moved alongside Dragusin and Porro came on and tested Kepa with a sweet strike but there were chances at both ends as the game ripped open.
Maddison went close, Forster saved from Evanilson and Ryan Christie clipped the outside of a post.
Forster saved his own blushes with a save after a careless pass was stolen by Adams. Evanilson put the rebound into the net but was offside and was denied by a VAR intervention.
