• Tottenham's Rodrigo Bentancur celebrates scoring the third goal in the 3-2 Premier League win against Bournemouth on October 29, 2022. Action Images
    Tottenham's Rodrigo Bentancur celebrates scoring the third goal in the 3-2 Premier League win against Bournemouth on October 29, 2022. Action Images
  • Spurs manager Antonio Conte embraces Rodrigo Bentancur after the final whistle. Getty
    Spurs manager Antonio Conte embraces Rodrigo Bentancur after the final whistle. Getty
  • Rodrigo Bentancur celebrates the winner. Getty
    Rodrigo Bentancur celebrates the winner. Getty
  • Kieffer Moore celebrates after scoring the opening goal. AFP
    Kieffer Moore celebrates after scoring the opening goal. AFP
  • Kieffer Moore celebrates scoring Bournemouth's second goal. Getty
    Kieffer Moore celebrates scoring Bournemouth's second goal. Getty
  • Kieffer Moore celebrates his second. Getty
    Kieffer Moore celebrates his second. Getty
  • Ryan Sessegnon is congratulated by Harry Kane after pulling a goal back for Tottenham. Getty
    Ryan Sessegnon is congratulated by Harry Kane after pulling a goal back for Tottenham. Getty
  • Ryan Sessegnon scores Tottenham's first. Getty
    Ryan Sessegnon scores Tottenham's first. Getty
  • Tottenham's Ben Davies levels at 2-2. Getty
    Tottenham's Ben Davies levels at 2-2. Getty
  • Tottenham's Ben Davies celebrates with Rodrigo Bentancur after levelling. AP
    Tottenham's Ben Davies celebrates with Rodrigo Bentancur after levelling. AP
  • Tottenham's Lucas Moura, right, and Rodrigo Bentancur celebrate at the end of the match. AP
    Tottenham's Lucas Moura, right, and Rodrigo Bentancur celebrate at the end of the match. AP

Antonio Conte hoping stunning fightback will inspire Tottenham's belief


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Tottenham manager Antonio Conte said his side must believe more in themselves after they fought back from two goals down to beat Bournemouth 3-2 on Saturday.

A vital win keeps Spurs third in the Premier League and stops the rot after back-to-back league defeats.

Conte looked like he might pay the price for making six changes with Tuesday's crucial Champions League trip to Marseille in mind as Kieffer Moore struck either side of half-time for Bournemouth.

But Tottenham turned the game around with three goals in the final 33 minutes from Ryan Sessegnon, Ben Davies and Rodrigo Bentancur.

“In the first part of the game we were a bit soft,” said Conte. “I prefer to avoid this type of situation but I have to praise the reaction of my players.

“This type of win can help us to have more confidence to trust much more in ourselves.”

Spurs were sluggish in the early stages and were punished when Moore steered Marcus Tavernier's cross into the far corner.

Conte responded at half-time by introducing Lucas Moura and switching to his favoured 3-4-3 system.

But the visitors had a mountain to climb five minutes into the second half when Wales international Moore rose highest to power home Adam Smith's cross.

Sessegnon gave Spurs life just before the hour mark as he latched on to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's excellent through ball before firing into the far corner.

Bournemouth were then left to lament their defending from corners as they slipped to a third straight defeat.

Mark Travers was recalled in goal for the Cherries in place of the injured Neto and failed to deal with Ivan Perisic's delivery to allow Davies to head into an empty net.

Tottenham pilled on the pressure in the closing stages in search of a winner and got their reward when Bentancur coolly slotted in a loose ball after Bournemouth failed to deal with Son Heung-min's corner.

Victory takes Spurs to within three points of leaders Manchester City and opens up a five-point cushion over fifth-placed Chelsea in the race for a top-four finish.

Updated: October 29, 2022, 5:07 PM