Tottenham 2-2 Bournemouth: Ange Postecoglou’s side come from two goals down to claim a point

It was frantic and anxious, and the fightback came about courtesy of a mis-hit cross drifting in at the back post and softish penalty, but Ange Postecoglou will grab what he can in times like these.

Maybe there is evidence his luck is on the turn because Tottenham were a little fortunate to escape with a point against Bournemouth.

They spluttered through the first half and improved without impressing in the second. And they can take some credit for their spirit and the refusal to give up, and yet they were second best for long spells in the game and could easily have conceded more.

James Tavernier and Evanilson gave the visitors a 2-0 lead in 65 minutes before Pape Matar Sarr’s cross went in and Son Heung-min salvaged a point for Spurs winning and converting a late penalty.

Home form in the Premier League has been poor. This point takes them to six in the last 10 home games but after the blow of an insipid defeat at AZ Alkmaar on Thursday, this at least represents a slight upturn in fortunes.

Important players are back on the pitch, returning to fitness and all eyes are on the second leg against AZ because progress in the Europa League, where there is a place in the Champions League for the winners, is the only way Postecoglou can repackage his second season as anything other than failure.

Son slotted the spot-kick to help his side snatch a point after going two goals behind

Ange Postecoglou’s side responded well after their visitors had taken control in the match

Tottenham’s fans are painfully aware of the position they are in, and an awful start against Bournemouth invited anxiety to take a grip on the atmosphere inside the stadium.

Indeed they were fortunate not to be a goal down after 18 seconds. Cristian Romero, under no pressure, side-footed a pass to Evanilson, who was clean through on goal but unable to produce a finish with enough punch to beat Guglielmo Vicario.

Romero was one of six changes made by Postecoglou to the team beaten by AZ. He led the team out and his name drew the biggest cheer when his return was confirmed before kick-off.

But the Argentina centre half started very much like someone with only 15 minutes of competitive football in the last four months as he made a hash of one pass after another in defence.

He rolled Yves Bissouma into trouble, deep in midfield. Bissouma’s poor touch didn’t help, and Ryan Christie won the ball and released Justin Kluivert. For the second time in the first four minutes, Vicario was faced with a one-on-one.

This time he saved with his legs and was back up on his feet to keep out a header from Tavernier when Bournemouth flung over another cross.

Andoni Iraola’s team were excellent. They were quicker and sharper. They bristled with energy and aggression, content to let Spurs have the ball and spring their traps.

Tottenham survived the early pressure and grew into the game but the more they ventured forward the more vulnerable the were to Bournemouth’s blistering counter attack.

Pape Matar Sarr pulled one back for the home side with a speculative effort in the second half

Sarr (left) celebrated scoring his side’s first goal with team-mate Lucas Bergvall (right)

Milos Kerkez was the architect of the opening goal, intercepting a careless pass by Pedro Porro and springing out of defence. Kerkez carried the ball at speed across the halfway line and delivered a spectacular cross on the run from wide on the left.

It swerved and dipped, beat Kevin Danso in flight and seemed to entrance Djed Spence, who lost his man, Tavernier, who slid in at the back post to convert on the half volley.

Spurs were booed down the tunnel at half-time, whereupon Postecoglou made two changes, sending on Son and Lucas Bergvall. Immediately, the home team had more fizz going forward although no less fragile at the back.

‘It became a basketball game and that suits them,’ said Postecoglou. ‘We want more control. High tempo but less chaotic.’

Kluivert found the net after another sweeping counterattack only to find the goal ruled because Antoine Semenyo was offside. Son struck a post with a trademark swerving low shot deflected onto a post.

Bournemouth’s second was scored by Evanilson, a neat dink over Vicario’s dive after another strong run down the left by Kerkez and a disguised pass from Kluivert.

Bergvall thumped a low shot into a post form 25 yards and Sarr pulled a goal back when his cross confused Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Kluivert hit a post at the other end before the equaliser from Son, who could not wait to fall down after Kepa made the mistake of sliding out rashly in an attempt to beat him to a pass by James Maddison.

Evanilson doubled the lead break with a calm finish midway through the second half

Marcus Tavernier gave the visitors the lead shortly before the half-time break in north London

Son got his toe to the ball, and was one his way down, trailing a leg for the inevitable contact from the goalkeeper. ‘Son is very smart,’ shrugged Iraola. ‘He forced the contact but Kepa gave him a chance and the referee decides in the moment. He decided a penalty and it has cost us.’

The point takes Bournemouth to within three points of Manchester City in fifth.

‘We need to be more efficient,’ said Iraola. ‘Big teams, the teams that achieve big things find ways to win. We are the opposite, playing well with one point from our last two away games.

‘We go to difficult places and play well, and we see teams around us finding ways to make their performances matter. We miss a little bit of this. We need to improve this… game management or call it what you want.

‘But we are still in the fight. And the players deserve to take something from this season.’