Spurs 1 – 0 Brighton

Spurs v Brighton Previous Fixture

Spurs returned to winning ways at the weekend after a 2-1 victory over Brighton at the Amex. The result marked a much-improved display for Spurs and a return to the goals for Harry Kane.

Spurs started the better side and went close through Toby Alderweireld’s deflected header from Kieran Trippier’s corner. His effort was well saved by Brighton goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.

Heung-min Son also went close with a shot from outside the area as Spurs looked to end their recent bad run of form.

Five minutes before halftime Harry Kane had the perfect chance to halt his mini goal drought. It came after Trippier’s free kick was handled by Brighton target man Glenn Murray and a penalty was awarded.

We picked him out in our pre-match preview as a potential threat for Brighton. Yet it was Spurs that profited from him.

Like he did with his spot-kicks at the World Cup, Kane expertly converted the penalty. His effort could not be more in the corner if he tried and put Spurs into a well deserved lead at halftime.

The penalty also put him 5^th on the all-time highest goalscorers list for Spurs, level with Jermain Defoe on 143 goals.

Harry Kane joins @IAmJermainDefoe as Spurs' fifth all-time leading goalscorer ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/Usn1Gqa0KV

— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 22, 2018

Shortly into the second half, Christian Eriksen had a shot from the edge of the area which was very close to going in the top corner. That effort aside, it was a quiet evening for the Danish international.

By then Spurs should have been out of sight yet their one goal lead meant Brighton were right in the match.

The first real key chance for the Seagulls came after 65 minutes through Anthony Knockaert. Beram Kayal put through the tricky winger who exploited Spurs’ high defensive line for the first time in the match.

After rounding Toby Alderweireld, the Frenchman had all the goal to aim at but his strike could not get past Paulo Gazzaniga.

Spurs’ third choice keeper started only his second Premier League game for the club after Michel Vorm picked up an injury in training the day before the match. His performance may mean that he remains in the side ahead of Vorm when the Dutch keeper returns to full fitness.

Spurs’ dominance of the encounter got rewarded with a second goal after a brilliant team move. Substitute Erik Lamela started and finished the attack. The wide midfielder picked up the ball inside the Brighton half and drove at their defence before passing to Lucas Moura. Moura then continued Lamela’s excellent work by feeding Danny Rose down the left hand side whose first time cross went straight to Lamela.

He still had a lot to do with the fizzed in pass from Rose but he expertly guided the ball into the corner to put Spurs 2-0 up. Lamela’s effort and endeavour to get on the end of the cross typified his display at the Amex.

The only remaining thing needed to cap off a much improved showing for Spurs was a clean sheet but that was not to be.

After Spurs had a chance to get a third, Brighton broke with a minute of stoppage time to go. Knockaert drifted into the area and fired a shot past Gazzaniga to give his team hope. It turned out to be a consolation though as Spurs ended up victors.

Mauricio Pochettino looked relieved after the final whistle. It was not a vintage performance from Spurs but it was a well-deserved and important victory after their recent run of form. The victory puts Spurs up into 5^th position in the Premier League as they head into a hectic run of fixtures.

Man of the Match

Our man of the match pick is Erik Lamela as his cameo off the bench was the difference in the tie. His goal showed a composed side to the player that has undoubted technical ability.

The Belgian centre half pairing of Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen were also impressive and Danny Rose played well at left back.

Spurs v Brighton Attendance

American Express Community Stadium: 30,531

What the Managers said

Mauricio Pochettino

“The start pleased me the most. We took the game in a very good way, the attitude was great, fantastic. The players wanted to show ‘we are here and we’re going to fight for my team, for my fans, for everyone at the Club and that’s what we wanted. We need to translate that into every game we play.

I expected the reaction. We are together. We feel the love between each other and like in all families. Sometimes we fight, sometimes we’re disappointed, sometimes we’re upset and all those periods that happen. But the love is there and of course, the relationship is fantastic.

“We have to keep going because we have the quality to win a lot of games.” (Spurs Official Wesbite)

Chris Hughton

“We were up against a very good team, a very expansive team, and with the formation we play sometimes it’s difficult to press them in the areas you would like.

They can move the ball very well and what’s important is that you stay in the game. Without the penalty, if we went in at half-time at 0-0, I think it gives us a real good opportunity to get something from the game, if we were able to press higher.

I think it was a penalty but I think it was a soft award of the free-kick. Gaetan does get a touch on the ball. And we should have had a penalty not just because Dier went down with Lewis Dunk but because he’s got hold of his shirt. Sometimes they go your way, sometimes they don’t.” (BBC Sport)

What the Players Said

Harry Kane

“It’s a massive win, massive for momentum, for belief. Our energy was great. We pressed hard, everyone worked hard around the pitch and got what we deserved.

Everyone battled, everyone pressed – and that’s when we’re at our best. That’s when we start to find gaps because we wear teams down and that’s what happened. Especially in the second half, we could have scored three or four more and finished it off but we didn’t and had to fight right until the end. Sometimes that makes it feel that much sweeter.” (Spurs official website)

Spurs all-time Top Goalscorers list

1. Jimmy Greaves – 266
2. Bobby Smith – 208
3. Martin Chivers – 174
4. Cliff Jones – 159
5. Harry Kane – 143

As of 22^nd September 2018

To see the return fixture in the Premier League at the Spurs New Stadium, book your Spurs v Brighton Tickets and Hospitality package today!

Spurs v Brighton – Last Season

Spurs beat Brighton & Hove Albion by two goals as they make it three wins in one week at Wembley.

Almost from the first kick Tottenham were quick to control the tempo of the match and pressed high against Brighton. Shane Duffy, leading the Brighton defence by example, denied dangerous shots on target from both Kane and Son early on keeping the score level.

It was in the 40th minute when Spurs finally netted to go ahead, however, it came by the most fortunate of circumstances. After beating his man in the final third, Aurier lofted a cross into the area looking for a teammate. However, it was most certainly over-hit and went far beyond the vicinity of the Spurs No. 10. But it similarly beat Mathew Ryan, whose outstretched hand could not prevent the descending ball from finding the top right-hand corner of the net.

Spurs maintained a high tempo during the second half but struggled to find their second. Brighton had their best chance of the encounter in the 69th minute, after Hemed found some space for a shot on goal, but was readily denied by Hugo Lloris.

Three minutes from the end Son secured the three points for Tottenham by heading in a Christian Eriksen free kick. The Dane curled a free kick to the near post, where his teammate was ready to flick it behind him and off the leg of Davy Propper, the deflection took it past Ryan. The Liverpool stalemate with West Brom this week mean that Spurs occupy the fourth position in the Premier League.

Spurs v Brighton Attendance

Wembley: 55,124

Starting Line-ups: Spurs v Brighton FC

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Aurier, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose, Sissoko, Winks, Lamela, Eriksen, Son, Kane

Brighton: Ryan, Schelotto, Duffy, Dunk, Bong, Kncockaert, Kayal, Stephens, Propper, Izquierdo, Hemed

Poch’s Comments

“I think its fantastic for us – three victories in a row. It was fantastic for the players who are so happy with the performance. The overall performance was much better than Brighton’s, we created a lot of chances and we deserved to win. We believe and we fight for the Premier League. Our passing was good, we moved the ball in a good tempo and created a lot. I am very pleased about the three points.”

Man of the Match

Heung-Min Son continues his run of excellent form. Spurs played a pretty mediocre game, but there was nothing mediocre about his performance. His energy, and dynamism kept Spurs ticking, he is the sort of player who you bring on in the circumstances when you need a boost. One word: leader.

What’s next for Tottenham Hotspur?

Spurs travel to Manchester to play Premier League leaders Manchester City. A tough yet so important match-up.

To see this exciting face-off at the Spurs New Stadium, book your Spurs v Brighton Tickets and Hospitality package today!