CHERRIES’ unbeaten streak ended with 2023 as they fell to a spirited 3-1 defeat away at Tottenham Hotspur.

Pape Matar Sarr earned Spurs a ninth-minute lead before Heung-Min Son punished Cherries’ lax attempt at an offside trap midway through the second period.

Richarlison made it three in the final 10 minutes, before Alex Scott slotted home his first goal for Cherries as small consolation.

Cherries managed double the amount of shots as their hosts, but were unable to take most of their chances.

There were two changes to the side that ran out comfortable 3-0 winners over Fulham on Boxing Day.

Lewis Cook was restored to the starting XI following injury, whilst Luis Sinisterra started on the wing, Scott and Antoine Semenyo making way.

Cherries entered the game as the Premier League’s form side, unbeaten in seven with a total of 19 points from a potential 21.

Tottenham flew out of the gates, testing Cherries’ high-line approach intended to catch the hosts offside.

It worked when Son’s blushes were spared inside the opening minutes, the offside flag negating a glaring miss at the near post.

The early scares were dealt with, but Spurs’ opener was of Cherries’ own making.

An ambitious low-driven pass from Neto towards Ryan Christie was sniffed out, allowing Tottenham to quickly break.

Matar Sarr took advantage, standing up Marcos Senesi before firing across the Argentinian and goalkeeper Neto and into the bottom corner.

The hosts’ positive start could have rocked Cherries, but they grew into their own as the game progressed.

When Cherries did manage to fire efforts away, they were often blocked by Tottenham players.

Senesi sent a tempting through ball over the top, but Dominic Solanke was unable to take the ball down and get a shot off.

The closest the away side came to an equaliser was when Solanke saw a deflected effort loop goalwards, bouncing off the top of the crossbar.

A succession of corners ended the first half, with Cherries rarely testing Guglielmo Vicario in the Spurs goal from the dead balls.

Fears that Cherries had missed an opportunity in the first half were quashed when they started the second period with purpose.

Solanke went close with a powerful header at the back stick was saved by Vicario, the Italian's first major contribution to affairs.

But unfortunately for the away side, their pressure on the Tottenham goal still did not bear fruit.

In fact, it allowed Spurs to soak up pressure and look to hit their guests on the break.

Son’s lofted pass to Richarlison only required a better finish from the Brazilian, the striker placing wide one-on-one with Neto.

But Spurs’ captain Son would show Richarlison how it was done.

Fed the ball by Giovani Lo Celso, the South Korean international finished past Neto to double Spurs’ lead and effectively seal off the game.

Disheartened, Cherries’ belief somewhat faded.

Senesi’s body check on compatriot Lo Celso proved costly in two ways. Not only did it ensure the centre-back will be suspended for Cherries’ next Premier League fixture against Liverpool, but it also led to a third for Spurs.

From the free kick, the home side swept forward, culminating in a straightforward goal as Brennan Johnson delivered for Richarlison to tap home.

There was still time for Cherries to reduce the deficit and restore some pride. A simple cut back from Tavernier to the awaiting Scott provided Cherries with the composed finish they had been waiting all game for.

Substitute Bryan Gil almost restored Spurs’ three-goal cushion, only for his close-ranged header to smack the crossbar when it seemed easier to score.

There was further hope deep into added time when Scott nodded home a scintillating Tavernier cross, only for the linesman to flag for offside.

A VAR check eventually confirmed that the Guernsey-born starlet was offside, effectively ending Cherries' hopes.

Tottenham: Vicario; Porro, Royal, Davies, Udogie; Bentancur (Hojbjerg, 58), Matar Sarr (Skipp, 32), Lo Celso (Dier, 82); Johnson (Gil, 82), Son, Richarlison (Veliz, 82).

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

Booked: Skipp, Royal, Lo Celso.

Cherries: Neto; Smith (Brooks, 82), Zabarnyi, Senesi, Ouattara (Aarons, h-t); Cook, Christie (Scott, 69); Tavernier, Kluivert (Billing, 61), Sinisterra (Semenyo, 61); Solanke.

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

Booked: Kluivert, Semenyo, Senesi.

Match official: Simon Hooper.

VAR: David Coote.

Attendance: 61,780.