Ange Postecoglou has been hit with a yellow card after a sideline blow-up during Tottenham’s win over Bournemouth on Monday morning but he tried to downplay the incident afterwards by saying it was “just a little bit of emotion”.

The Australian manager was involved in a sideline incident with members of the Bournemouth coaching staff, which he joked was just a case of them exchanging greetings for the new year.

Despite Postecoglou being coy when addressing the incident after the match, he was fired up during the heated moment.

The Spurs boss appeared to take offence at something that was said after Bournemouth staff were seen voicing their fury towards injured Tottenham star Alejo Veliz.

The substitute appeared to suffer a knee injury late in the game and Postecoglou appeared to tell him to stay down on the ground to receive medical attention.

When Bournemouth appeared to protest at the potential act of time-waisting Postecoglou blew up and needed to be restrained by members of his team.

Both coaches were handed yellow cards over the incident while Spurs midfielder Giovani Lo Celso was also shown a slice of cheese.

Tottenham went on to win the contest 3-1, pushing the London club to within a point of the Champions League places.

Postecoglou appeared unflustered when speaking after the match.

When asked on Sky Sport about the sideline incident, he said: “We all just came together to wish each other a Happy New Year mate and make some resolutions”.

He went on to say: “It’s alright. Just a little bit of emotion in the game.

“I was more concerned with Alejo because we were trying to get him off the field and, apart from my physically going on the pitch and dragging him off, he wasn’t really going to go down.

“I think the Bournemouth staff thought maybe we were trying to make a substitution but we had none (left). It was just about getting him off.”

Fifth-placed Spurs are just three points off the top with the table tantalisingly poised heading into 2024.

“We’re three points off the top so if that is the difference between having a great season and where we are, I’ll take it,” said Postecoglou.

“When you’re trying to build something you will undoubtedly come up against some challenges. I am seeing progress.”

Pape Sarr’s precise finish into the bottom corner opened the scoring after just nine minutes.

But the Senegalese midfielder left the field in tears midway through the first half with an injury that puts his participation in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in doubt.

Bournemouth will feel they should have been level before the break as the in-form Dominic Solanke hit the bar amid a flurry of chances.

Instead, the visitors were picked off in the second half.

Son Heung-min is also set to depart for a few weeks to lead South Korea at the Asian Cup. The Spurs captain signed off in style with a thumping finish from a narrow angle before Richarlison made it 3-0.

Alex Scott pulled a goal back six minutes from time, but it was too little, too late for the Cherries, who remain in 12th.

Meanwhile, Arsenal will start the new year in fourth after being on top of the league heading into Christmas after a shock 2-1 defeat against Fulham at Craven Cottage in London on Sunday.

Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka made the first breakthrough of the game in the early minutes when his initial shot was deflected but he shot the rebound into the back of the net in the fifth minute.

Fulham levelled in the 29th minute from Raul Jimenez’s low shot, the Mexican striker bagged his fourth goal of the season.

After going to halftime deadlocked, Fulham took the lead after Bobby Reid capitalised on Willian’s corner.

Fulham could have extended their lead in the 88th minute but Andreas Pereira rattled the goalpost with his free kick.

with AAP