Spurs were able to rally from 2-0 down against Bournemouth, in large part because of their ability to introduce senior players off the bench

Bergvall was excellent after replacing Yves Bissouma at half-time, finally adding fight and an element of control to Spurs’ frantic, wide-open midfield. He nearly halved the deficit with a long-range strike that came back of the post moments before Sarr’s goal.

For months, Postecoglou has been insisting that Spurs would dramatically improve when their injured players returned and the schedule eased up. Yet after another clear week of preparation and with surely the strongest bench he has ever had at Spurs,