Taking advantage of Liverpool’s defeat at Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur thrashed AFC Bournemouth 4-1 at the Vitality Stadium thanks to a brace from in-form winger Heung-Min Son to move into 3rd spot in the Premier League table.
Sunday’s resounding win, wasn’t always plain sailing, however, as Bournemouth took the lead via Junior Stanislas in the 7th minute itself and Spurs’ star striker Harry Kane was forced off with an ankle injury soon after.
Mauricio Pochettino, despite having Fernando Llorente to call upon, sent on Erik Lamela in place of Kane, with Son leading the line in a false-nine formation.
The move paid off almost immediately as the Lilywhites were getting stronger as the match progressed.
Serge Aurier sent in an inviting cross from the right-flank for Dele Alli to guide home 10 minutes before the interval.
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The second-half began as the first ended, with the Lilywhites in the ascendancy, and the visitors would take the lead in the 62nd minute when Alli found Son with a smart cross and the Korean’s volleyed effort hit the ground before nestling in the back of the net.
Christian Eriksen would release Son for a one-on-one with Asmir Begovic and despite having Lamela alongside him, the Korean opted to round the Bosnian custodian and nervelessly slot home three minutes from time.
Aurier, who had been devastating on the right-flank all night, would then get in on the act with a close-range header to extend Spurs’ lead as they bounced back from their UEFA Champions League exit in style.
After 30 games played, Spurs are on 61 points, four behind second-placed Manchester United and one ahead of Liverpool.
The Lilywhites, barring their continental dissapointent, have hit a rich vein of form of late and while Kane’s injury will be worrying them to no end, Pochettino’s side are favourites to finish in the top-four with just eight matches left in the season.