Tottenham had two players sent off as they missed the chance to guarantee Champions League football next season with defeat by Bournemouth.
It was far from ideal preparation for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, who face Ajax in the Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday in Amsterdam, having lost the first leg 1-0.
Son Heung-min was dismissed for pushing Jefferson Lerma at the end of a frantic first half, in which Eric Dier was lucky not to have been sent off and Bournemouth could conceivably have had two penalties.
Then, just over two minutes after coming on at half-time, Juan Foyth was also shown a straight red card as he slid studs-up into Jack Simpson.
Bournemouth gave a senior debut to 19-year-old Irish goalkeeper Mark Travers and he made five saves in the first half to keep Spurs at bay, but was a spectator in the second half.
Despite their numerical advantage, the Cherries were unable to capitalise until Nathan Ake popped up to score a 91st-minute winner, heading in from a corner.
Spurs have now won just once in their past four league games and stay third on 70 points with only next Sunday’s match against Everton to come.
In the race for a top-four spot, they are four points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal, who have two games remaining. Chelsea can go third if they beat Watford on Sunday.
PHOTO/COURTESY
