TWO goals from Kieffer Moore proved not enough as Cherries surrendered a two-goal lead in a 3-2 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur.

The Cherries frontman put his side in the box seat at Vitality Stadium with a classy first-half finish, followed up by a powerful header just after the break.

But after Ryan Sessegnon pulled one back for the visitors, Ben Davies converted a header from a corner to level.

And substitute Rodrigo Bentancur fired in a winner for Tottenham after the hosts failed to clear their lines from a corner in stoppage time.

Defeat meant it was now three losses on the bounce for Cherries, following a six-game unbeaten run under interim boss Gary O’Neil.

The big team news for Cherries came with the inclusion of striker Dominic Solanke for the clash against the Lilywhites.

After picking up an ankle injury during Monday’s 2-0 defeat at West Ham, the frontman was judged fit to start alongside Wales international Moore.

Ryan Christie dropped to the bench. Jordan Zemura replaced Ryan Fredericks for the hosts.

There was also an enforced change in goal. With Neto out through injury, Mark Travers returned to the starting XI – youngster Cameron Plain was on the bench for the first time in the Premier League.

Spurs made six changes in total with crucial Champions League group games either side of the trip to the south coast. Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son still featured in attack for the north London side.

But it was Cherries who offered the first attack via a set piece on three minutes. Lewis Cook’s inswinging corner found the head of Moore, whose looping effort fell onto the roof of the net.

Gary O’Neil set up the home side with a back five from the off – Marcus Tavernier advanced forward from right wing-back and stung the palms of Spurs stopper Hugo Lloris with a left-foot shot.

And despite Tottenham threatening from a number of corners themselves, Cherries put themselves in front with a slick counter-attack on 23 minutes.

Solanke’s neat flick set Tavernier marauding down the right. The former Middlesbrough man showed great composure to pick out the run of Moore, who made no mistake with a fine first-time finish.

Moore was almost in again moments later. Lewis Cook’s cross from the right found the feet of the towering frontman, only for Emerson Royal to slide in at the last minute.

Spurs’ then offered a response 10 minutes before the break. After Oliver Skipp worked Travers at his near post, a whipped ball in from Son flicked off the head of Cherries defender Marcos Senesi and cannoned off the far post.

But having needed the half-time whistle, O’Neil’s side found a second on 49 minutes. A devilish delivery from former Spurs man Adam Smith allowed Moore to get goalside of Royal and power a header in off the bar.

Antonio Conte’s side were far from finished however, and pulled a goal back with a moment of quality just before the hour mark.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s perfectly-weighted through ball allowed Sessegnon to run in behind Tavernier and fire into the bottom corner.

And the visitors were not done there as they found their leveller in simplistic fashion. Son’s corner found the run of Davies, who headed home with keeper Travers in no man’s land.

Spurs were pushing for a winner. Eric Dier’s centre found an unmarked Son, the South Korean’s effort was parried away by Travers diving to his right.

Son’s free-kick then cannoned off the wall after Cook had fouled Lucas Moura. Moura was then in the thick of it in an altercation with Jaidon Anthony - an incident which saw a ball boy removed from the side of the pitch.

And with five minutes of time added on, Tottenham found their winner. An inswinging corner found Uruguayan Bentancur and, with his initial effort blocked, he fired home at the second time of asking to win it.

Cherries: Travers, Smith, Mepham, Senesi, Tavernier (Fredericks, 78), Lerma, Cook, Zemura, Billing (Anthony, 63), Solanke (Stephens, 89), Moore.

Unused subs: Christie, Rothwell, Lowe, Stanislas, Pearson, Plain (g/k).

Booked: Cook.

Tottenham: Lloris, Sanchez (Dier, 58), Lenglet, Davies, Royal (Perisic, 63), Skipp (Moura, h-t), Hojbjerg, Bissouma (Bentancur, 58), Sessegnon (Gil, 84), Son, Kane.

Unused subs: Doherty, Spence, Tanganga, Forster (g/k).

Booked: Sessegnon, Kane.

Referee: Anthony Taylor.

VAR: Jared Gillett