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Date: 30 August 2025
This was only my second away league game this calendar year; but both were played in North London, and both were victories for Bournemouth!
Although I’m still less mobile than I’d like, and the one mile walk from the tube station to the ground was a bit of an effort to say the least, it was worth it to witness Bournemouth achieving an historic win.
The starting line-up was unchanged – neither Kluivert nor Christie being fully match-fit yet – and the team got off to a great start. With four minutes on the clock an excellent pass from Senesi found Evanilson, whose deflected shot beat Vicario in Spurs’ goal. We totally dominated the rest of the first half creating numerous chances, but couldn’t increase our score. On 25 minutes I thought the players were taking a drinks break (why? The temperature was less than 20 degrees) but then I realised our captain, Smith, was injured. He wasn’t able to continue, and Araujo was suspended, so Hill took over as right back. Half time, 1-0 to us.
I expected the second half to be very different, and Spurs to move up a gear, but no – the game continued where it had left off. We’d won a corner kick within a minute of the restart. Spurs didn’t have their first serious shots on goal until midway through the second period, but our defence – particularly Petrovic when called upon – stood fast. I was also impressed with Truffert’s game and – as always – with Semenyo who, I note, has now become the long throw specialist in addition to all his other skills...
Although we continued to dominate, 1-0 is a small lead to rely on. When seven minutes were added to the 90 we feared the worst, but held out.
Spurs had introduced and welcomed their brand new signing, number seven, Xavi, before kick-off. I was surprised how many Spurs supporters were already wearing the shirt. But apart from that, the home crowd had nothing else to celebrate today!
The team lined up as follows at the start of the game:
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Petrovic;
Smith, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert;
Adams, Scott;
Brooks, Tavernier, Semenyo;
Evanilson
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Petrovic;
Hill, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert;
Adams, Christie;
Adli, Kluivert, Semenyo;
Kroupi
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