Brighton & Hove Albion 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur climbed up to third place in the Premier League thanks to a 1-0 win over Brighton on Saturday night, as Harry Kane scored the only goal of the game.
Roberto De Zerbi’s start to his career as Brighton boss has been impressive but he was outwitted by his Italian countryman, Antonio Conte, who masterminded a clinical, if narrow victory. The Seagulls played a lot of nice football and applied some pressure, but they failed to break down a resolute Spurs defence.
When Conte’s side goes ahead, they tend to see the job through and that’s exactly what they did after a deft flick from Kane gave them an early lead, and Spurs could have doubled their lead were it not for some great defensive work by Brighton skipper Lewis Dunk.
Tottenham are now ensconced in the top four with a six point cushion to fifth place, while Brighton have slipped down to sixth.
Highlights of the game
Tottenham were poor last week in the derby defeat to Arsenal but they started very brightly at the Amex Stadium and had a few early chances before they went ahead midway through the first half. On 21 minutes Brighton keeper Robert Sanchez made a superb save to keep out a swerving shot from Rodrigo Bentancur but there was little he could do a minute later when Spurs scored. Brighton had cleared the resulting corner but only as far as Bentancur who spread he ball out the right wing. Heung-Min Son picked it up, cut inside and unleashed a shot which Kane flicked on and into the net, with Pascal Gross playing him onside.
The Seagulls came agonisingly close to an equaliser when Gross swung in a corner which Lewis Dunk met cleanly but his header flew inches over the crossbar. And then as Brighton pressed Solly March fired a shot inches wide with Hugo Lloris well beaten, and before half time Lloris saved well to deny Danny Welbeck.
After the break Spurs pushed for a second but were denied by Dunk who made a brilliant saving tackle when Kane put Son clean through on goal. And mid way through the second half Son though he’d doubled Spurs lead with a superb curler but it was ruled out for offside.
At the other end of the pitch Welbeck had another great chance to level but he dragged his shot wide of Lloris’ post, and whenever Brighton had an opportunity they lacked composure in front of goal, a problem which dogged them during Graham Potter’s reign.
So the outcome became inevitable.
GOAL! Brighton 0-
Key statistics
The latest Premier League 2022 betting odds back Spurs for a fourth or fifth placed finish but they finished the day in third thanks to Kane’s goal, despite some concerted pressure from Brighton. The Seagulls had 58 per cent possession, 14 shots to eight and four the three on target but they didn’t have the guile, or luck, to beat Lloris.
Harry Kane has scored 12 goal sin his last 12 Premier League games and has netted in each of his last four appearances. Another goal next week will make it a personal best run for the England skipper.
Antonio Conte has lost none of his last 54 Premier League games when leading at half time, winning an incredible 50 and drawing four, and Spurs have won 22 of their last 23 games when leading at the break. So Brighton fans probably knew what was coming!
What’s next?
In other Premier League 2022 results from Saturday Manchester City smashed Southampton 4-0 to go top, Chelsea whacked Wolves 3-0 to go fourth and Newcastle battered Brentford 5-1 to go fifth.
And Sunday’s big game sees long time leaders Arsenal at home to stuttering Liverpool. We’ll be reporting on that game here at SBOTOP and both teams will be desperate to win. The Gunners can return to the top of the table with a victory, while Liverpool need some points to help them climb up from tenth position.
Next up Brighton have two very winnable games; first they visit Brentford in the Friday night match before hosting Nottingham Forest the following Tuesday. The Seagulls could do with picking up some points from those two fixtures as they are followed by a trip to Manchester City on October 22nd.
Spurs have two home games to come, firstly they meet Eintracht Frankfurt in a replay of last week’s goalless draw in Germany, and then they entertain Everton next Saturday, before heading up to Manchester to face United on Wednesday the 19th.
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