Brighton v Tottenham LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Spurs comeback falls short
Brighton 4-2 Tottenham: The Seagulls hung on after racing 4-0 ahead in a thrilling post-Christmas cracker
Tottenham Hotspur’s top-four ambitions suffered a blow as they lost 4-2 at Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League with only a late rally saving them from their heaviest defeat since Ange Postecoglou became manager.
Victory would have put injury-hit Spurs above Manchester City into fourth spot but they were mauled on the south coast as a Brighton side also missing key players ran riot.
A powerful early strike by Jack Hinshelwood and Joao Pedro’s penalty gave the hosts a deserved 2-0 lead at half-time as Tottenham struggled to deal with Brighton’s intensity. The visitors responded in the second half with Richarlison having a goal disallowed but when half-time substitute Pervis Estupinan sent a thunderbolt past Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario and Pedro netted a second penalty the game seemed over.
However, when Tottenham’s late substitute Alejo Veliz fired home from close range in the 75th minute and Ben Davies scored with a header a miraculous comeback suddenly looked possible. Midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg hit the post for Spurs in stoppage time as Brighton looked nervy but they held on to move into eighth place in the table while Tottenham remain fifth.
Relive all the action below:
GOAL! Brighton 2-0 Tottenham (Pedro pen 23’)
Joao Pedro steps up to the spot and SCORES! He sends Vicario the wrong way as he goes into the left corner.
Brighton now 2-0 up and it’s a long way back for Spurs.
PENALTY! Brighton 1-0 Tottenham
22 mins: Ok, at the next break in play, we get a VAR review for the penalty. Kulusevski could be in trouble here - it looks a pretty clear shirt pull.
The referee Jarred Gillett goes over to the monitor and eventually decides IT’S A PENALTY! Kulusevski yellow carded for his troubles and what a chance this is to double the lead.
POST! Brighton 1-0 Tottenham
20 mins: Good tackle by James Milner after Hinshelwood gave the ball away. Brighton then go up the other end and win a corner.
And they hit the post! Jan Paul van Hecke gets up highest to win the header and it cannons back off the right upright!
And then appeals for a penalty as Welbeck is pulled to the ground by Kulusevski as he tries to get to the rebound. VAR will surely check this.
Brighton 1-0 Tottenham
15 mins: Hinshelwood then shows his defensive credentials with good covering at the other end before Brighton push forward again.
Pedro skips inside on his right foot once again and forces Vicario down to block the ball away. He’s not happy with his defence at allowing the shot there.
GOAL! Brighton 1-0 Tottenham (Hinshelwood 11’)
And now Brighton deservedly lead! Lovely finish from Jack Hinshelwood after great work from Joao Pedro.
Pedro surges into the penalty box from the left with great pace, darting between defenders afraid of bringing him down for a penalty. Keeps his eyes up and slots the pass to Hinshelwood who has room towards the right of the box - one touch and the second is hammered hard at goal, rising as it flies past Vicario.
Superb play by Brighton!
SAVE! Brighton 0-0 Tottenham
6 mins: Oh wow! This save from Vicario is even better - a great stop! Less than a minute after his previous stop, Spurs’ Italian stopper springs to his left and brilliantly pushes away Welbeck’s shot.
Pedro and Facundi Buonanotte had linked up before a ricochet fell to Welbeck in space 10 yards out - a good strike but brilliant reactions from Vicario to keep it at 0-0.
SAVE! Brighton 0-0 Tottenham
5 mins: This is all Spurs so far - dominating possession and probing at the Brighton defence. Johnson surges down the right but Johnson’s clipped cross is too long.
But the first save of the game is at the other end! Brighton counter with pace and Danny Welbeck ghosts past a couple of tackles before a one-two with Gilmour and Welbeck strikes powerfully at goal but Guglielmo Vicario pushes the ball away well.
Brighton 0-0 Tottenham
4 mins: Spurs looking sharp early on and Brennan Johnson controls a ball fizzed into his feet before Igor Julio hacks him down. A free-kick within shooting distance, about 25 yards out, but Pedro Porro’s effort is into the wall.
Brighton 0-0 Tottenham
2 mins: Tottenham coolly play the ball out from the back to beat Brighton’s high press and a clever backheel from Son Heung-min on the right touchline gives Richarlison room to stride forward. Eventually, Dejan Kulusevski’s cross is cleared by Billy Gilmour.
A sign of things to come from Spurs though potentially. Kulusevski with that freedom to roam from the No 10 position behind Richarlison.
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