Brighton v Tottenham - Match Report

Tottenham Hotspur travelled down to the south coast on Saturday night to take on Brighton. Before the game, Brighton had only won one of their last nine meetings with Tottenham, whilst Spurs had only failed to find the net once in their last previous 15 matches against the Seagulls in all competitions. Brighton knew they were up for a test and a test it was. Tottenham were victorious against Albion winning the match 2-1 at the Amex Stadium.

Spurs made it difficult for Brighton in the first 10 minutes, pressing towards the Brighton goal and passing the ball around a Brighton team who simply struggled to intercept a pass or keep possession themselves early on in the first half.

A controversial decision took place just minutes before half time when Harry Kane was tripped outside the penalty area by Brighton's Gaetan Bong. The very little contact in the foul made the decision by the referee controversial. England's World Cup free kick specialist Kieran Trippier hit a strike that was travelling over the Brighton wall, only to be blocked by a Glenn Murray hand. Harry Kane scored three penalties at the World Cup in the summer and he blasted his penalty into the net in front of the North Stand at the Amex, frustrating the home crowd after holding Spurs off.

Brighton came out strong early in the second half creating chance after chance and getting the crowd behind them. This gave Brighton the confidence to get a goal back. Not to mention the Seagulls had then only lost four Premier League games at the Amex. Anthony Knockaert had a big chance in the second half, as he shifts the ball with both feet past Toby Alderweireld from a Beram Kayal pass, only to find his effort saved by Spurs' third choice keeper Paulo Gazzaniga.

Spurs looked to have it wrapped it up in the 76th minute when substitute Erik Lemela made it 2-0. Eric Died plays the ball out from the back to Christian Eriksen who accelerates into the space ahead of him of. The Dane plays a short pass to Lucas Moura who plays it wide to Danny Rose. Rose gallops down the left hand side and crosses in first time to find Argentine Erik Lamela who had time and space around him to hit a shot into the bottom corner and give Spurs a comfortable lead with 13 minutes to go.

Those 13 minutes were not all that easy for the Lilywhites, when Harry Kane beat his man to the ball and found himself in the clear. All he had to do was beat Mathew Ryan. Kane hit a shot that was palmed away by Ryan. The ball reached Shane Duffy who played a long ball to the energetic Knockaert. The Frenchman brought the ball down and shifted the ball towards goal. Knockaert cuts inside past the tired Danny Rose and riffles the ball past Gazzaniga.

The nerves continued for Spurs as Brighton so almost equalised with seconds to go as Knockaert almost doubled his tally. This time that well hit shot was saved by Gazzaniga.

A win for Spurs see's them in 5th place just 1 point behind Watford. Brighton move up the table just 1 spot as they overtake Southampton on goals scored.