Published on 29/12/2023
Tottenham Hotspur’s aspirations for a top-four finish took a hit as they succumbed to a 4-2 defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League, narrowly escaping their most substantial loss since Ange Postecoglou assumed managerial duties.
A victory would have propelled the injury-ridden Spurs above Manchester City into fourth place. However, they faced a formidable challenge on the south coast where a depleted Brighton side, also missing key players, dominated proceedings.
The hosts secured a well-deserved 2-0 lead at halftime, courtesy of a commanding early strike by Jack Hinshelwood and Joao Pedro’s successful penalty. Tottenham struggled to cope with Brighton’s relentless intensity. In the second half, Richarlison had a goal disallowed and the situation worsened when Pervis Estupinan, a halftime substitute, unleashed a powerful shot past Spurs’ goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, followed by Pedro converting another penalty.
As Tottenham seemed destined for defeat, a glimmer of hope emerged in the 75th minute when late substitute Alejo Veliz found the net from close range. The miraculous comeback gained momentum when Ben Davies scored with a header. Despite midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg hitting the post in stoppage time, Brighton held on nervously to secure the victory and climb to eighth place in the table, while Tottenham remained in fifth.
BRIGHTON V TOTTENHAM – LIVE UPDATES
Brighton hold on to beat Tottenham 4-2 in a Premier League thriller
Seagulls climb to eighth after racing into a 4-0 lead and holding off a late Spurs comeback
FULL-TIME! Brighton 4-2 Tottenham
90+5’ – POST! Hojbjerg’s curled shot strikes the post (BHA 4-2 TOT)
86’ – GOAL! Davies heads in a second Spurs goal (BHA 4-2 TOT)
81’ – GOAL! Young Spurs striker Veliz scores consolation (BHA 4-1 TOT)
75’ – GOAL! Pedro scores second penalty after Ferguson fouled by Lo Celso (BHA 4-0 TOT)
63’ – GOAL! Estupinan scores thunderbolt from 25 yards (BHA 3-0 TOT)
45’ – POST! Richarlison clips the outside of the woodwork from distance (BHA 2-0 TOT)
37’ – NO GOAL! Buonanotte’s neat finish rightly ruled out for offside (BHA 2-0 TOT)
32’ – POST! Milner rattles the post with a curling effort (BHA 2-0 TOT)
23’ – GOAL! Pedro scores from the penalty spot after Kulusevski’s foul (BHA 2-0 TOT)
20’ – POST! Van Hecke’s header cannons off the post (BHA 1-0 TOT)
11’ – GOAL! Hinshelwood hammers home a finish after great work by Pedro (BHA 1-0 TOT)
Ange Postecoglous says Tottenham ‘looked like a tired team’
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou speaking to media Match of the Day: “It is fair to say we looked like a tired team today, which is understandable. We’ve asked a lot of these players for a very long time and we lacked a little bit of energy today. They are a good team and we struggled to cope with them. We hung in there and that’s all you can ask for, they left everything out there.
“There are no grumbles from me with the penalties. They were clear and obvious. It’s amazing that VAR picks up everything apart from a tackle that maybe puts out another of our players [Dunk on Kulusevski].
“There were positives at the end this group of players are giving everything at the moment. It is demanding to play the football we ask and they are doing it week in week out. It’s not for a lack of effort.
“We haven’t been able to give the players a break at all and what we ask is pretty taxing.”
Brighton 4-2 Tottenham reaction
Brighton striker Danny Welbeck to Amazon Prime on Pervis Estupiñán’s goal: “It was incredible. We’ve given him a bit of stick because he’s taken a few opportunities where he has struck the ball from distance but today was incredible.
“He’s been out for a while and everybody is over the moon for him.
“You’ve got to get the technique right first and foremost and I think once the ball left his boot he knew that was in. It was a beautiful goal, and one he will remember forever.”
On Brighton’s 2023: “It’s been incredible. One that not many would have foresaw coming. We’ve done well and set the standards of where we want to be and we can only build upon that now. We want more, we have hungry people within the club and we want to keep on getting better and better.
“Even today we won 4-2 but we’re still disappointed for conceding two goals. There is always room for improvement.”
