Scott on target in Spurs defeat

Goals from Pape Matar Sarr, Son Heung-min and Richarlison put Spurs 3-0 ahead before Scott came off the bench to reduce the arrears six minutes from time.

The playmaker also had a second ruled out for offside deep into added time.

Andoni Iraola’s team created a hatful of presentable chances after Sarr had opened the scoring for the hosts in the ninth minute.

But a combination of fine goalkeeping from Guglielmo Vicario and some dogged defending from Ange Postecoglou’s team prevented the Cherries from scoring until Scott found the back of the net after Son and Richarlison had made it 3-0.

Lewis Cook and Luis Sinisterra returned to the Cherries starting line-up as head coach Iraola made two changes following the 3-0 win over Fulham on Boxing Day.

In the early stages, Son squandered a glorious opportunity to open the scoring, the Spurs captain slicing wide from a Brennan Johnson cross, although he probably would have been flagged offside.

And as the hosts made a fast start, Richarlison skied his hurried effort high over the crossbar after being found by Sarr.

As the Cherries countered, Dango Ouattara’s precise centre in the seventh minute picked out Dom Solanke whose header was saved comfortably by Vicario.

Tottenham drew first blood through Sarr in the ninth minute, the Senegal international finding the bottom corner of the net from just inside the 18-yard box.

As the Cherries went in search of a quick response, Destiny Udogie nipped in front of Solanke to clear the danger after the pair had chased down a Marcos Senesi through ball.

Marcus Tavernier saw his 25-yard drive roll past the upright before Cherries goalkeeper Neto beat away Emerson Royal’s stinging shot.

As chances continued to come for both teams, Senesi outjumped the Spurs defence to meet Tavernier’s free-kick but could not direct his header goalwards.

And a combination of Adam Smith and Neto prevented Son making further inroads, the defender sliding in to ensure his shot lacked pace, the Cherries goalkeeper saving with his knees.

Solanke’s flicked header from Smith’s cross flashed past the post before Sinisterra climbed at the near post to nod Cook’s 34^th-minute corner over the crossbar.

Cherries had their hearts in their mouths when Solanke went to ground following a challenge with Udogie but he was able to continue following a spell of treatment.

Cherries went close to restoring parity when Tavernier’s free-kick from 20 yards deflected off Richarlison in the Spurs wall and went behind for a corner.

And after Cook had delivered, Ouattara rose highest but could only divert his header wide of the target.

Kluivert fired wide after the ball had fallen invitingly for him following a mazy run from Sinisterra on the stroke of half-time.

There was still time for the Cherries to create further chances, Solanke’s deflected effort dropping on top of the crossbar and Kluivert’s shot blocked for a corner.

Ouattara, who took a knock towards the end of the first half, was unable to continue and was replaced by Max Aarons at the break.

Vicario’s fine reaction save prevented Solanke from levelling at the start of the second half, the Spurs goalkeeper diving to his right to keep out the striker’s header from Cook’s corner.

As Spurs responded, a quick counter ended with Richarlison dragging his shot wide having been perfectly teed up by Son’s incisive pass.

Solanke arrived at the near post to prod Tavernier’s centre narrowly past the post as the Cherries continued to press for an equaliser.

However, Son doubled the hosts’ advantage on 71 minutes, his left-foot strike from Lo Celso’s through ball giving Neto no chance.

And to rub further salt into Cherries' wounds, Richarlison swept home a low cross from Johnson to add a third goal ten minutes from time.

Scott, on as a replacement for Ryan Christie, pulled one back for the visitors when he finished with accuracy into the corner of the net following good work by Tavernier and Philip Billing six minutes from time.

In the closing stages, Bryan Gil hit the crossbar for Spurs and Solanke headed wide for the Cherries, while Scott had a second goal ruled out for offside following a VAR check.

Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario, Porro, Emerson Royal, Davies, Udogie, Sarr (Skipp, 32), Lo Celso (Dier, 82), Johnson (Gil, 82), Bentancur (Højbjerg, 58), Son Heung-min, Richarlison (Véliz, 82).

Unused subs: Phillips, Donley, Dorrington, Forster (g/k).

Booked: Skipp, Emerson Royal, Lo Celso.

AFC Bournemouth: Neto, Smith (Brooks, 81), Zabarnyi, Senesi, Ouattara (Aarons, h-t), Cook, Christie (Scott, 69), Sinisterra (Semenyo, 60), Kluivert (Billing, 60), Tavernier, Solanke.

Unused subs: Mepham, Rothwell, Moore, Travers (g/k).

Booked: Kluivert, Senesi, Semenyo.

Referee: Simon Hooper.

Attendance: 61,780.