Tottenham suffered defeat in the Premier League for the first time this season as they lost 1-0 at home to Bournemouth on Saturday.
Evanilson scored the only goal for the Cherries in the fifth minute.
There was a buzz surrounding Tottenham following victories against Burnley and Manchester City.
The arrival of Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig has also given the club a boost.
However, the loss to Bournemouth shows that there is still much work for Thomas Frank’s side to do.
Daily Mail Sport’s MATT BARLOW assessed the game.
Frank expresses his frustration
These are the days sent to test new Tottenham bosses. Never mind Manchester City away, it’s the ones they’re expected to win that cause anguish in this North London postcode.
Days when the fresh optimism of a new £51million signing evaporates quickly, replaced by familiar despair with Thomas Frank flapping his arms at the fourth official because the decisions are going the wrong way.
They were jeered by the home crowd at the end, just a week after victory at City. ‘I would prefer them not to boo, but I understand that was not a good performance and they have high expectations, which is absolutely fair,’ said Frank.
Here we go again, the veteran Spurs watchers were thinking. Somewhere Ange Postecoglou was raising a glass to Bournemouth.
Thomas Frank saw his side’s winning start in the Premier League ended by Bournemouth
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No creative spark…
It was tempting to wonder just how much Xavi Simons could have changed the outcome. Frank said it would have been useful to have someone who might conjure ‘something out of nothing’ but this was a day when the dearth of creativity screamed out from the bench.
The threat of Mohammed Kudus was easily nullified by Bournemouth’s new left back Adrien Truffert, while new centre-half Bafode Diakite pocketed Richarlison, who has started the season so well.
Pedro Porro, perhaps preoccupied with keeping an eye on Antoine Semenyo, had little of his usual influence going forward.
An injury setback to Dominic Solanke, who missed most of preseason with an ankle injury, was a reminder that there is no reliable source of goals without Heung-min Son.
Brennan Johnson, who was last season’s top scorer, hero of the Europa League final and had scored in the previous two Premier League games, misfired on the left flank and the decision to replace him was greeted with a cheer but the options on the bench were limited.
The threat of Mohammed Kudus was easily nullified by Bournemouth left back Adrien Truffert
Tactical mistakes…
Frank was hailed for his tactical acumen and flexibility through the first three games in his new job, but Spurs started poorly, conceded after five minutes and failed to respond.
They moved the ball too slowly in deep areas, they were utterly overwhelmed for the first hour of the contest and did not find a foothold into the game until the closing stages.
Bournemouth both won possession in the press in the final third and caused problems firing long balls direct into spaces, particularly looking for Semenyo behind Porro in the early stages.
Spurs improved when Mathys Tel came on and Lucas Bergvall moved deeper into midfield, from where he sought to pass the ball forward with more zip. Although this came in tandem with the visitors sinking deeper with an eye on the clock.
Pedro Porro struggled in the early stages, with Antoine Semenyo running in behind
What a difference a day makes…
It didn’t take long for Djed Spence to crash back down to earth after his first England call-up. Slow to push out, Spence played Evanilson onside for the only goal, scored with the help of a deflection in the fifth minute.
Everything changed for Spence at Bournemouth in December, a day when Tottenham lost by the same score and Postecoglou came under fire from the travelling fans.
Spence walked across to put an arm around his beleaguered boss and led him back to the dressing room, and his Spurs career never looked back. Before long he was in the team regularly, signing a new contract and now in the England squad.
Hopefully, another 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth does not represent the other bookend to an exceptional nine months in lilywhite.
The day after his first England call-up, Djed Spence struggled against Bournemouth
All hail the Cherries…
Bournemouth on this evidence are no worse off for selling the bulk of their defensive unit in the summer. They defend very much from the front under Andoni Iraola, brimming with energy and intent, turning over possession in the final third.
David Brooks, who was exceptional, set the pattern. Working hard with flashes of technical brilliance on the ball. It was a shame he could not add a goal. He rattled the bar in the second half. Alex Scott and Tyler Adams also impressed in midfield.
The exceptional David Brooks set the pattern for Bournemouth against Tottenham
The Cherries shot count was at 15 before Spurs managed their first and Djorde Petrovic was not required to make a save until Bergvall fired one straight at him in the 69th minute.
Only a hamstring injury soured the occasion for Iraola, who may, on his way back to Dorset, have congratulated himself on a decision to decline interest in the Tottenham job.
