Tottenham end Bournemouth hot streak with 3-1 victory

Tottenham Hotspur brought resurgent Bournemouth down to earth with a flattering 3-1 Premier League victory thanks to goals by Pape Matar Sarr, Son Heung-min and Richarlison on Sunday.

Bournemouth were unbeaten in seven league games with six wins in that sequence and they will wonder how that run was not extended as they dominated in rain-hit north London.

Sarr gave Tottenham an early lead before he went off injured while captain Son and Richarlison scored late on after the home side had ridden their luck against a slick visiting side.

Alex Scott replied for Bournemouth in the 84th minute but it was scant consolation for Andoni Iraola's side whose 24 goal attempts was double the number of Tottenham.

Unconvincing as it was, Tottenham's win sent them into the New Year in the thick of the battle for a top-four finish.

They are in fifth place with 39 points from 20 games, one behind fourth-placed Arsenal and only three adrift of leaders Liverpool who have played a game less.

"Every week is a battle and we had to battle today. At the same time I thought we played some decent stuff as well," Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou said.

"We're trying to build something. I'm at pains to keep repeating myself but we're trying to build a team that plays a bit differently and has some resilience and you can only gain that through tough times."

Postecoglou's side, still missing a host of first-team players and the suspended Dejan Kulusevski, started brightly and pressed Bournemouth into early errors with keeper Neto's casual ball out being closed down by Rodrigo Bentancur with the ball breaking to Sarr who dispatched a low shot into the net.

Bournemouth quickly settled though and Marcus Tavernier's free kick flew narrowly wide while in-form striker Dominic Solanke saw an effort deflect off Tottenham's Ben Davies and on to the top of the crossbar shortly before halftime.

Patched-up Tottenham had suffered yet another injury blow before that when Sarr limped off looking distraught.

Bournemouth continued to control proceedings in the second half with Solanke, who had nine goal attempts, forcing saves from Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vicario.

The visitors were left to rue their missed chances though on the 70th minute as Son got clear on the left of the area and thumped a left-footed shot beyond Neto.

Richarlison wrapped it up with a simple finish from Brennan Johnson's delivery -- the Brazilian's fifth goal in his last five Premier League appearances.

Tottenham played the final stages with 10 men after substitute Alejo Veliz went off injured and Bournemouth's late rally caused jitters in the home ranks as Scott touched home and then had another goal ruled out for offside.