Ange Postecoglou has vowed to fight to revive Tottenham’s fortunes after receiving “some direct feedback” from disaffected fans following from a limping 1-0 Premier League loss to Bournemouth.
Postecoglou’s boot exploded and was blocked from the goal at the Vitality Stadium, having seen the sideline denied by Dean Huijsen’s 17th-minute header. The Australian declined to go into detail about the heated exchange but said he understood the reaction of supporters of the movement.
“I don’t like what was said because I’m human, but you hold it,” said Postecoglou, whose team has won just one of its last six games in all competitions. “I’ve been around long enough to know that when things don’t go well you understand the frustration and disappointment.
“They are rightly disappointed tonight because we got the football game out of our way. I’m OK with all that. They gave me some direct feedback that I want to take a guess. All I can say is, I’m really confused tonight and I’m determined to get it right and I’ll fight until we do. Asked what was said by the tour guide, Postecoglou replied: “Maybe he’s not here, mate.”
Tottenham started brightly in Dorset, but created little throughout the 90 minutes and luckily did not lose a bigger margin. The Bournemouth midfielder Ryan Christie hit the post and the impressive team failed to capitalize on several other occasions to put the result beyond doubt.
Spurs dropped below the Cherries, in 10th position, with Sunday’s London Derby at home to Chelsea flying high, to come following their latest setback in the season so far. To make up for a miserable evening for the injury-hit club, defender Ben Davies limped off his 300th Premier League appearance and turned to the side’s charmers.
“It looks like he made nerves,” Postecoglou said. “Him and Radu” [Dragusin] Every game we’ve played, this is one position we can’t turn around. Obviously it will be time now, we will have to wait and see how long it is. It’s the kind of consequence we have at the moment squad.
Huijsen’s match-winner became Bournemouth’s youngest ever Premier League goal, nodding in a corner from M Tavernier. The Spain Under-21 defender, who is 19 years and 235 days old, was making only his third top-flight start since the summer of youth, in place of the injured Marcos Senesi.
Cherries boss Andoni Iraola said: “Dean has shown from the start that he is someone with confidence in himself. With Marco’s trick, he will certainly have to play more. It’s from the clinic itself. I loved the second half the most; We played decently in the first half, not conceding chances but we probably weren’t as threatening as we were in the second.
“Now we don’t regret that we managed to win, but when in the second half there was a lack of danger. Luckily for us we were able to finish the job.” Speaking of Senesi, who sustained a quad injury Saturday’s 4-2 win at WolvesIraola added: “It is quite significant that it will probably happen at some point, but we still have to evaluate it more.”