STARLET Jordan Zemura labelled Cherries’ late collapse at home to Tottenham Hotspur as “heartbreaking”, before admitting he perhaps could have done better for Spurs’ equaliser.
Goals in each half from Kieffer Moore had set Cherries on their way to a first win in three, only for the away side to claw one back around the hour mark via Ryan Sessegnon.
At a corner, defender Ben Davies was not properly dealt with at the back post, the Welshman heading home an equaliser, before another corner spelt disaster for the hosts in injury time, Rodrigo Bentancur able to fire home after the initial set-piece was not cleared to give Tottenham a 3-2 win.
Talking after the game, Zemura told the Daily Echo: “We’re gutted, because we worked so hard today to take a 2-0 lead against such a good side like Spurs, and then we lose 3-2.
“It’s heartbreaking at the end of the day.
“(Goals from) set-pieces are always the worst. Like, you work so hard to stop it from open play, you work so hard in the shape, and then you concede two set-piece goals.
“It's like, ‘oh gosh, that's a no brainer.’
“We have to be stronger, we have to be strong as a team there and make sure we don't concede.
“Today we suffered from that, and we end up losing the game.
“We were here to win. And if you don’t win, you don't lose, as much as we made sure, we took that team all the way to 94 minutes, whenever they scored, it was one of those ones where we’re now left with zero points.
“I felt like we were set up right from our manager and coaching staff.
“We were ready to compete and then today was unfortunate. I guess that's how it is. That’s how cruel football can be.”
Spurs’ final two goals highlighted a consistent deficiency of Cherries, an inability to properly deal with set pieces.
Cherries have now conceded 15 times from set-pieces, more than any other Premier League side.
Left-back Zemura revealed that Davies, who grabbed Spurs’ second, was actually his man.
“Even today, myself, I’m gutted,” continued the Zimbabwean international/
“Ben Davies was my man and then he scored at the corner. I feel like I was so close to him but he still managed to score and it's one of those ones where I'm learning.
“I know it's a goal conceded, but I'm learning from that moment.
“I'm learning from being on the pitch how the first half was, you think everything's fine and then shortly after 60th minute, everything changes and then you have to switch your mindset.
“I'm just grateful to be able to play today and then be able to help the team as much as I can.
“We’re devastated, but we just brush ourselves down and go again.”
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