SKIPPER Simon Francis was stretchered off with a serious-looking injury during Cherries’ 5-0 Premier League defeat to Tottenham at Wembley Stadium.

The long-serving defender fell awkwardly as he attempted to challenge Son Heung-min in the closing stages of the first half.

Cherries were already three goals down after Christian Eriksen fired a fortuitous opener, Son profited from Charlie Daniels’s error and Lucas Moura finished off a sweeping move.

Harry Kane lashed home a fourth after the hour, his seventh goal in six league appearances against the Dorset club.

And Son bagged another after Eddie Howe’s men had seemingly survived another assault on their penalty area.

Cherries’ hunt for an away win on Boxing Day now stretches into a 10th year – their last having been at Cheltenham Town in League Two.

Boss Howe made one change to the side which had beaten Brighton, Ryan Fraser replacing Joshua King as the visitors utilised a five-man midfield.

England star Dele Alli was left out of the Tottenham squad after sustaining a hamstring problem against Everton, so Lucas took his place.

Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino changed three of his back four with Kyle Walker-Peters, Juan Foyth and Danny Rose in for Kieran Trippier, Davinson Sanchez and Ben Davies.

The opening was scrappy and both sides lacking incisiveness in their play, with the underwhelmed Wembley crowd reduced to a hush.

It took 13 minutes for the first clear opening to appear. Francis exchanged passes with David Brooks and stretched to sit up a fine cross to the far post, which Fraser could only head into the body of Junior Stanislas and keeper Hugo Lloris fell on the ball.

Another opportunity arrived seconds later, Jefferson Lerma floating into the box for Brooks, who attempted to lift over Lloris but did not get a firm enough contact, enabling the World Cup winner to easily save.

Cherries were punished for not taking their chances in the 16th minute, when Eriksen put Spurs ahead with their first effort. Walker-Peters played inside to the Dane on the edge of the box and in the absence of any real pressure, he shot at goal. The ball clipped off Lerma’s left leg, deceiving Asmir Begovic, and nestled in the net.

All of a sudden, chances were flowing. Kane’s floated cross to the back stick was a fraction too far ahead of Walker-Peters, who strained every sinew to reach it.

Some 23 minutes in and Tottenham doubled their lead having capitalised on a defensive error. A long pass forward was headed up in the air by Daniels and the full-back lost possession as he tried to bring the ball under control. Walker-Peters squared for Son and the South Korean belted emphatically past Begovic from 18 yards.

Francis and Lerma were briefly in the wars after colliding in an aerial battle, while Begovic had to be alert to clear after Francis’s back-pass kept Kane interested.

It got worse for Cherries 10 minutes before the interval, Walker-Peters supplying his third assist of the afternoon – making the 21-year-old the youngest player to provide three assists in Premier League game in 15 years.

The right-back was picked out by Harry Winks on the diagonal and his cross was perfectly judged for Lucas, who stroked into the left corner.

Cherries tried vainly to hit back but Stanislas’s low centre was just too far ahead of Callum Wilson. Moments later, Fraser’s cross was headed straight into Lloris’s arms by Stanislas.

Worse was to follow when Francis was forced off and Lerma put himself one caution away from a two-match ban after hauling down Lucas.

But there was still time for one more chance before the break. Brooks fed Fraser and the Scotland international’s cross was well met by the head of Daniels but Lloris parried and the ball was hacked clear.

Soon after the restart, Wilson’s appeals for a penalty went unheeded by referee Chris Kavanagh after the frontman had gone to ground under a challenge from Foyth.

And Cherries must have felt that everything was against them when Stanislas’s effort was ruled out – correctly.

Fraser’s low cross from the left was slid into the net by the former Burnley midfielder but replays showed he had been offside when the cross had been delivered.

Spurs were not done and sought to extend their advantage when Nathan Ake brought down Lucas 25 yards out. Kane’s free-kick was pouched by Begovic but soon the England talisman got his goal.

Eriksen collected the ball and lifted over the backline in search of Kane, who swept home left-footed at the near post.

Cherries created further chances when Rose blocked from Stanislas before Lys Mousset – brought on two minutes earlier – headed wide fellow substitute Diego Rico’s cross.

But Spurs rubbed salt in the wound midway through the second period. Rose lost his feet after being teed up by Kane but the frontman retrieved the ball and set up Lucas, whose thunderous effort was repelled by Begovic. However, Son quickly reacted and smuggled past the Bosnian keeper before tapping home.

Daniels flashed a half-volley across the face with nine minutes left and Rico crashed off target but Cherries could not find a consolation.

MATCH FACTS

Tottenham: Lloris, Walker-Peters, Alderweireld, Foyth, Rose, Winks, Sissoko, Eriksen (Davies, 84), Lucas, Son (Llorente, 88), Kane (Skipp, 77).

Unused subs: Sanchez, Trippier, Lamela, Gazzaniga (g/k).

Booked: Son, Winks.

Cherries: Begovic, Francis (Rico, 45+3), S Cook, Ake, Daniels, Brooks (King, 74), Lerma, Stanislas, Surman, Fraser, Wilson (Mousset, 67).

Unused subs: Mings, Ibe, Defoe, Boruc (g/k).

Booked: Lerma.

Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire).