Brighton 4 – 2 Tottenham

Tottenham’s three-game winning run came to an emphatic end as Roberto De Zerbi’s rampant Brighton handed them a 4-2 defeat at the Amex Stadium.

The Seagulls looked to be heading to a stunning 4-0 victory thanks to two Joao Pedro penalties, a powerful Jack Hinshelwood strike and Pervis Estupinan’s brilliant long-range effort.

But, with the home supporters chanting ‘we want five’ and the away fans heading for the exits, Spurs set about launching an improbable comeback thanks to Alejo Veliz and Ben Davies’ late goals.

Lewis Dunk was lucky to avoid a red card for an ugly tackle on Dejan Kulusevski – with Ange Postecoglou questioning why VAR did not intervene – as Brighton, having spent the vast majority of the game on the front foot, forced to cling onto their lead in the final minutes.

But cling on they did, with De Zerbi’s side moving seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, while Spurs missed the chance to return to the top four.

How Brighton clung on during frantic finale

Spurs’ response to their five-game winless run before Christmas was impressive, with Postecoglou’s side arriving on the south coast after taking nine points from their last three games.

But a closer look at that run showed a weary Newcastle and a Nottingham Forest coached by the since-sacked Steve Cooper among their victims, while Spurs were lucky to beat Everton at the weekend.

Brighton were intent on ensuring their name wasn’t added to that list and set about exposing the visitors, with Guglielmo Vicario forced into two fine early saves from Danny Welbeck.

But the Seagulls quickly claimed the lead they deserved when Hinshelwood lashed the ball into the roof of the net after Pedro’s mazy run.

The Brazilian then scored the first of his spot-kicks after Kulusevski was penalised for dragging Welbeck to the floor from a set-piece after a VAR review.

Spurs were fortunate to go into the break only two goals down, with Vicario tipping away Pedro’s chipped effort after a loose Pedro Porro pass, before James Milner – who was superb playing as a left winger – struck the post.

Spurs threatened to launch a comeback after half-time, with Richarlison and Destiny Udogie spurning glorious chances, while the former twice saw goals disallowed for offside.

But Estupinan halted Spurs in their tracks, returning from a long-term injury as a second-half substitute and finding the top corner from outside the area with a spectacular strike.

Pedro added a fourth when Giovani Lo Celso fouled Evan Ferguson in the area, at which point it appeared Spurs were out for the count.

But Brighton, as they so often do, made their own trouble, with Dunk losing possession to Kulusevski in his own half, allowing Veliz to sweep in what seemed to be a consolation goal.

Davies then nodded in at the back post and, during nine minutes of added time, Spurs hit the post through Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and had a goal-bound Porro strike blocked in the six-yard box.

But Brighton’s advantage was too much for Spurs to overcome, with De Zerbi’s side claiming their first win in three games as they continue their quest to remain in contention for European qualification.

Postecoglou questions Kulusevski call

Postecoglou admitted his side were “tired” in defeat but questioned why VAR did not intervene after Dunk’s tackle on Kulusevski.

“It was obviously clear and obvious because it only took him three minutes to see it at the screen,” was the Spurs boss’ tongue-in-cheek response when asked Kulusevski’s foul on Welbeck for the penalty.

“VAR picked up everything today, apart from the one tackle that might cost me another player. They’re the decisions.”

Postecoglou added: “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.”

De Zerbi: Spurs win best way to end the year

De Zerbi was delighted with what he saw from his side, saying: “This was the best way to finish the year. I’m really proud for the last 10 minutes – not for the first 80 minutes – because it is too easy to speak about this.

“I’m really proud for the last 10 minutes when we were suffering a lot and made a mistake with the first goal we conceded.

“We need to know where we want to go and we have to know who we are and we played a great game because we showed incredible courage to defend man-to-man for 90 minutes.”

Pedro took his goal tally to 13 for the season and De Zerbi said: “He played another incredible game. I am really pleased with his improvement in mentality, attitude. In the defensive phase he defended like a centre-back for 90 minutes.

“He is becoming a top player. I hope in the next year to work with him but it will be very tough.”

Analysis: 2024 promises more excitement for Seagulls

Sky Sports’ Joe Shread at the Amex Stadium:

“When Joao Pedro rolled in his second penalty of the game to move Brighton 4-0 up on Tottenham, there were still 15 minutes on the clock. It looked as though Ange Postecoglou’s side, who had been so limp throughout, could be on the end of a drubbing.

“But Brighton, who are without a clean sheet in the Premier League this season, couldn’t help but make things more interesting, handing Spurs two late goals.

“De Zerbi shrugged off those lapses, admitting that both the devastating attacking play and the sloppy defending are what make his Brighton who they are.

“What they are is perhaps the most enjoyable side to watch in the Premier League, while De Zerbi is one of the most creative managers.

“Shorn of most of his wide players, who else would have deployed the 37-year-old James Milner as a marauding left winger?

“It worked – as things so often do for De Zerbi. 2023 has been an incredible year for the Seagulls – and there will surely be more to come in 2024.”

Opta stats: Spurs’ defence springing leaks

• Brighton are unbeaten in their last eight Premier League games at the Amex Stadium (W4 D4), equalling their longest run without defeat in top-flight home matches (previously eight games between September and December 1981).
• Spurs have conceded 19 goals across their last nine games in the Premier League. Indeed, since the start of November, they have the highest expected-goals-against total of any team in the division (21.4), while no team have conceded more than their 19 goals.
• Joao Pedro has scored all eight of the penalties he’s taken for Brighton this season, while he’s netted more from the spot than any other player across Europe’s big five leagues in all competitions in 2023/24.
• Four different teenagers have started 5+ games for Brighton in the Premier League this season (Evan Ferguson, Carlos Baleba, Jack Hinshelwood and Facundo Buonanotte) – only Middlesbrough in 2005/06 have had more teenage players start at least five games in a Premier League campaign (5).

What’s next?

Brighton’s next game is at West Ham on Tuesday, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 7.30pm.

The Seagulls then travel to Stoke in the FA Cup third round on Saturday January 6; kick-off 3pm.

Tottenham are next in action on New Year’s Eve when they host Bournemouth; kick-off 2pm.

Spurs then welcome Burnley to north London in the FA Cup third round on Friday January 5; kick-off 8pm.