ANDONI Iraola’s wait for a first win as Cherries boss goes on, after Tottenham Hotspur ran out comfortable 2-0 winners at Vitality Stadium.

James Maddison, who had been a fitness doubt in the build-up to the game, played a key role and put his side ahead on 17 minutes.

Ryan Christie and Philip Billing had effort from range to level, before Dejan Kulusevski doubled Tottenham’s lead just past the hour mark.

Justin Kluivert made his first competitive start for the club, in one of two changes from the side which lined up at Anfield last weekend.

Jaidon Anthony dropped out, while the other change saw Lloyd Kelly preferred to Marcos Senesi at centre-back. Lewis Cook returned from injury on the bench.

Cherries made an energetic start, pressing Spurs high and looking to nick the ball from the visiting defenders.

But it would be Spurs who would create the first chance of note.

With around quarter of an hour gone, goalkeeper Neto’s pass was cut out, allowing Tottenham in on goal. The Brazilian redeemed himself with a smart save with his foot to deny Maddison.

But Maddison would soon get the better of the Cherries captain. Pape Sarr’s defence-splitting pass found the run of Maddison, who did not get the cleanest of connections, but it was enough to beat the hand of Neto.

Maddison was running the show in midfield and set Spurs on their way to another attack soon after. Son Heung-min eventually teed up Sarr, whose shot was denied by Neto.

Son then volleyed wide, before some chances began to fall Cherries’ way. Semenyo’s effort was well blocked by Micky van de Ven, before Philip Billing’s header was held by goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

Spurs came close to grabbing a second goal with a swift counter-attack. As Cherries appealed for a foul on Semenyo, the visitors broke. Richarlison cut inside Kelly and got past Neto, before Cherries scrambled back with Milos Kerkez hacking clear.

Richarlison then headed wide at the back post from a Maddison free-kick, before the impressive Ryan Christie let fly at the other end, his effort beaten away by Vicario.

Cherries carved out one more chance on the stroke of half-time, Billing curling wide from 20 yards.

Iraola turned to his bench at the break with Cook replacing Rothwell, who had suffered a finger injury shortly before Maddison’s opener.

Cherries made a decent start to the second period. Dominic Solanke flashed a ball across the face of goal, before Semenyo smashed an effort just wide.

Iraola made a double switch on the hour mark with both Anthony and Hamed Traore introduced.

But the changes did not have the desired effect, as Spurs quickly doubled their lead.

Destiny Udogie did well down the left, getting to the byline and cutting back for Kulusevski. The Sweden international ghosted past the static Cherries defence to tuck a shot across goal and into the bottom corner.

Anthony and Maddison exchanged unsuccessful shots, before Iraola made another switch with David Brooks coming on.

As rain poured down from the storm clouds overhead, chances on the pitch dried up as the game moved into the final 10 minutes, Ben Davies missing a late chance to add further gloss to the score.

Cherries: Neto; Aarons, Zabarnyi, Kelly, Kerkez; Semenyo (Brooks, 73), Rothwell (Cook, h-t), Billing (Moore, 86), Kluivert (Anthony, 60); Christie (Traore, 60); Solanke.

Unused subs: Mepham, Hill, Senesi, Radu (g/k).

Booked: Kelly.

Tottenham: Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie (Davies, 82); Sarr (Perisic, 59), Bissouma (Lo Celso, 74); Kulusevski, Maddison (Skipp, 73), Son; Richarlison (Hojbjerg, 60).

Unused subs: Sanchez, Royal, Solomon, Forster (g/k).

Booked: Bissouma, Richarlison, Perisic.

Referee: Tim Robinson.

VAR: John Brooks.