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Both teams are known to be playing a similar system as they play from the back. Brighton hosts Tottenham who has been devoid of form and coming on the back of a defeat to Liverpool. To test their squad in-depth, they have to perform tonight due to the absence of Harry Kane.
Son has formed a formidable partnership with Harry Kane and surely, He would have to play with Gareth Bale and Bergwijn tonight too. Bale is only having his second start since he got back to spurs in 170 minutes. He hasn't been able to replicate the form he has been known for in a while but has been showing the fans flashes of what he is capable of.
Interesting, Son has scored in the last three games that Harry Kane hasn't played in, so his absence shouldn't affect his form. Brighton named an unchanged side to the one that took on Fulham.
Spurs fans have been having discomfort from the fans who have witnessed the team go top at a point and now the form has deserted the team as they have fallen down the pecking order on the table. A win would do Tottenham a world of good, they'd hope.
In the 3rd minute, we saw a typical Brighton attack when a long pass found Maupay, he twisted and turn to find Gross who wiggled his way in and unleash a side-footed effort that beat the goalkeeper but was saved by the post. The effort was crossed back into the box only to be gathered by Lloris.
In the 12th minute too, Macallister released a long shot that went marginally above the goal post and no threat to Hugo Lloris. Brighton asked most of the question for the first opening exchanges of this match.
In the 17th minute, Brighton had the lead their effort deserved. What a beautiful team effort that led to that goal. Gross found Trossard in the box after a defence-splitting pass found him and Trossard left Lloris in shock as he found the back of the net. What a team goal that involved Maupay and Macallister too.
Tottenham has conceded first, 6 times this season and has come back to win just twice from those. They have been amazing from corners too as they have only conceded twice from corners.
In the first 30 minutes of the game, Tottenham didn't have any shot on target and to make it worse, they had no attempt at all. Brighton really caged them and Mourinho was furious on the touchline.
Maupay wasted a golden chance when he tried to make a turn from a pass he received in the box. He couldn't get enough touch on the ball and that attack was nullified. They should have been two goals up in the 32nd minute.
Jose Mourinho has had 100% record on the ground of Brighton but that is being threatened as at this moment with amazing gameplay from Brighton.
In the 37th minute, Gareth Bale denied a goal-bound header from a corner. That would be a relief because, at this stage, Spurs can't afford to be two goals behind but it is looking likely it would happen soon at this stage
Brighton had a series of attack and there was an effort Sanchez blocked with so many other nullified attacks from Brighton. The half time ended with 1-0 and it was fully deserved by Brighton. It is back to the drawing board for Mourinho.
The second half started and Mourinho took out Sanchez with Vinicius coming in for him.
Bale took Tottenham's first corner and Vinicius got a head to it by nodding it down but it was saved by the legs of the goalkeeper in the 53rd minute. Gross almost added to Brighton's lead in the 54th minute but Ndombele came to the rescue and it went for a corner kick. The resulting corner was kept out after few scrambles by Hugo Lloris. What a quick-thinking from the goalkeeper.
Brighton had so many attacking moves that only their finishing let them down. Tottenham had to respond and Bale came out for Lucas Moura in the 62nd minute.
Toby had another attack blocked as Tottenham had done all night. Maupay found Macallister but Toby came to the rescue to block the shot. Tottenham is capable of so much more than this lacklustre performance and it is shocking to see them struggle against Brighton. It's unbelievable especially knowing Brighton had never won at home all season before this match.
Macallister was screaming for handball in the box when his goal-bound effort struck Toby but that was never a penalty because his hands were close to his body. Another attack snuffed by Tottenham.
Maupay got his head to an inswinging cross from the left-hand side but his effort was wide, in the 73rd minute. That was agony for the coach, Potter, who want to seal this win and nullify any attempt of a comeback from Tottenham.
Son had another effort a minute after getting to the edge of the box to find space. He did and it was comfortably saved by the goalkeeper. A minute after too, Brighton's goalkeeper denied Vinicius' brilliant curling effort. It was destined for the net but the goalkeeper kept it out still. That was a vital stop at that stage of the game. Tottenham showing signs of life as another ball was cleared off the box in an attempt to draw level.
Spurs players are hopeful that they can wrestle a point from this match after an awful performance. Tottenham also staked their claim for a penalty in the 80th minute but it was far from a penalty.
What a miss in the 84th minute by Brighton. The ball was played to Connelly on a platter by Burn and all Connelly needed to do was to score but Toby still managed to stop the goal-bound effort. Wow. Toby saved it for a corner and that was the 7th corner of the night for Brighton.
Brighton couldn't add to their lead and Tottenham couldn't even get a draw. The game ended and that was the first time they are winning at home. They have enjoyed a breather now from Fulham who has a game at hand by 7 points. That is a massive 3 points for a 17th placed team. Tottenham definitely missed Harry Kane and it looked like they had no game plan since Harry didn't play. There was no creativity in Tottenham's side.
Tottenham would be playing Chelsea next and that is another huge game that must be won else the radar would go back on Jose as it did with the sacked Lampard. Tottenham stays in 6th place and it would be the battle of 6th and 7th when Tottenham plays Chelsea next.
Credit to Brighton. They worked their socks off for this. Duly deserved.
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