Tottenham Opposition Scouting Report: Bournemouth

Tottenham can be confident in scoring against Bournemouth when the two sides meet on Saturday — but can they contain Eddie Howe’s attack?

Another home match for Tottenham should ensure at least that they don’t lose — they haven’t dropped full points yet this season at White Hart Lane. A draw against the Cherries would put a crimp in whatever remaining title aspirations Spurs still have however.

That fear is not without basis. Over the past five weeks Bournemouth have held both Manchester United and Liverpool to draws. Prior to that Howe orchestrated a 3-3 draw against Arsenal. Then, of course, there was the 0-0 scoreline when Tottenham visited Dean Court in October.

Bournemouth isn’t Middlesbrough though. While Boro’s defense is virtually unimpeachable, their attack is utterly limp. The Cherries, in contrast, rarely struggle to find the back of the net.

No team outside of the top eight can claim to have scored as many goals as Bournemouth have this season. Those 45 goals are just one shy of Jose Mourinho’s United, currently in fifth place.

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What makes that tally particularly impressive is how they go about adding to it. This isn’t a team like Sunderland, who just attempt to funnel the ball as much as possible to lead goalscorer Jermain Defoe. While Bournemouth’s leader, Joshua King, is certainly important, this is a holistic approach that relies heavily on individual parts.

King forms the fulcrum of the attack, but around him Howe positions aggressive runners and a point man in Benik Afobe. The effect is kinetic, and oftentimes opposition defenses are forced to sit deeper and more compact. How else can you ensure that the likes of Marc Pugh, Adam Smith and Charlie Daniels from running past your lines?

Howe’s fluidity in attack makes Bournemouth standout from most other bottom half sides, and will likely be enough to ensure they survive in the Premier League for another season.

That knack for goals is balanced out by a relatively porous defense however. No team outside of the relegation zone has conceded more goals than Bournemouth this season. This seems an obvious drawback for an aggressive attacking approach.

Lately Howe’s found a way to tip that balance in his favor however. He went unbeaten through the month of March, only eventually falling to Chelsea in a 3-1 defeat last weekend. For his efforts, Howe won the Premier League Manager of the Month for March.

Put together, and what Tottenham can expect on Saturday is clear. A Spurs back four will be pinned back when out of possession, with the full-backs obliged to pay particular attention to the flanks.

Next: Tottenham Lineup Predictor: Bournemouth at Home

Holding possession, then, will be vital, as will exploiting the space left in behind Bournemouth’s defense and midfield when they get caught in transition. This is Spurs’ specialty, of course, and it will result in goals. The bigger question is if Bournemouth can be stopped from leveling the account on the other end.