Match Day Tottenham v Bournemouth, Saturday 14th October 15:00

[SALTIRE]

Match chat.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Will be slightly weird going to Wembley for this. I've been there for England, hopefully this will be somewhat more fun, even if the result is another Spurs battering.

Performances were improved before the break, even if the results were still frustrating v Everton and Leicester. Not sure if the break will have been a help or hindrance, certainly the knocks we've picked up to King and Arter will be a big hindrance. Otherwise it might give some fresh legs to others who didn't travel, and a few previously injured players like Stanislas will be nearer full fitness.

London away days with Bournemouth are usually good win or lose. I expect to lose, but maybe we're due a break going our way this season.

 

[Pagnell]

Surely Tottenham's first league win at Wembley. With Kane scoring 8 goals.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Mixed emotions today from that.

We setup well, barely gave Kane a sniff for long periods, Cook marshaling him well. Spurs were looking well stifled for options in their final third, and we managed to create the two best opportunities of the first half. Lovely stuff at half time we were thinking. I mean of course we didn't take those chances. And of course Spurs scored immediately after the second half kicks off, partly thanks to our own complete screw up, our only one all game.

And from then on it's tough to get yourselves back in, although we did well to remain restrained and sensible, opening ourselves up a little but not throwing the game away totally. We created openings, and Defoe should have scored when through (indeed Sky and BBC's live updates reported that he had scored!). Spurs did get more space later as we opened up more and more, but will probably feel they should have done more with it. Ali missed one of the easiest chances I seen in a while, point blank with his head. And Begovic made one good save. Otherwise they just didn't quite get going today.

And I hope at least some of that was down to us, and our well measured performance that on another day brings us an unexpected point. Like Man City. But like Man City, so much has to go your way and there is very little margin for any error against these sides. Ultimately we made one lapse at the back, and we weren't clinical enough up top.

I was hoping a league fixture with my own club and usual mates would raise my impression of Wembley, formed previously from England games. Unfortunately it didn't really - Mighty impressive looking and all, but once a football match kicks off, there's just no atmosphere.