Tottenham manager Antonio Conte says fighting back to beat Bournemouth was “vital” for his side before the crucial Champions League trip to Marseille.
The visitors showed hunger and resolve to recover from two goals down, clinching victory when second-half substitute Rodrigo Bentancur pounced quickest in the second minute of stoppage time.
“It was great to see the desire of my players and the reaction they had,” said Conte, whose side need a point at Marseille to reach the last 16.
“Also, the nastiness they put into the pitch because I have seen in the eyes of my players the desire to win this game.
“It was important to win this game. I think we showed good character.”
Initially Spurs were flat as Bournemouth looked set to end a run of two successive defeats.
Wales international Kieffer Moore, making a rare start, swept the Cherries ahead following a flowing counter attack.
His second was more about guts than guile as he outmuscled Emerson Royal to meet Adam Smith’s cross with a powerful header which went in off the bar.
Spurs rarely threatened before Ryan Sessegnon narrowed the gap with a cool finish into the bottom corner.
That sparked a shift of momentum and Spurs levelled when home keeper Mark Travers made an unconvincing attempt at claiming a corner, allowing Ben Davies to head in from Ivan Perisic’s delivery.
Spurs continued to press and were rewarded when Bentancur reacted quickest to sweep in from another set-piece.
The relieved celebrations at the full-time whistle, from both the Spurs players and the travelling support, illustrated the importance of a morale-boosting win.
“My feeling [when 2-0 down] was we still had the possibility to win this game,” added Conte.
“When we suffered in the first half I told my players it is on us. I asked for more personality, more responsibility and more decisions.
9″My players showed great character and great desire and didn’t accept defeat. In the end we deserved to win because we created chances.”
(BBC Sport)
