Christian Eriksen fires late winner to give Tottenham precious win and sink Brighton
For 88 minutes Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy blocked and headed and threw their bodies on the line. For 88 minutes if it was not Dunk it was Duffy; if it was not Duffy it was Dunk. Twenty-eight attempts at goal by Tottenham Hotspur had been thwarted and almost all of them crashed against the defensive shackles at the heart of Brighton.
How Tottenham needed a locksmith to unpick that, someone with the key, with the guile to break through and so it came that the ball landed at the feet of Christian Eriksen who threaded a powerful low left-foot shot from outside the penalty area that skimmed up off the turf to finally beat Mat Ryan.
For once that defensive wall was part of Brighton’s undoing as Ryan was unsighted, Dale Stephens turned his back, substitute Beram Kayal was slow to react and bodies were in the goalkeeper’s way before he saw the ball too late to stop it beating him and earning Spurs the precious victory that took them three points clear of fourth-place Chelsea in their fight to finish in the Champions League places.
For Brighton, an equally precious draw was taken away from them meaning they are still just three points ahead of Cardiff City – albeit with a superior goal difference – and with only three games to go for both sides in their battle to avoid relegation. It feels like Brighton’s fixture on Saturday at home to Newcastle United may settle their future.
Even though they showed more ambition than during the weekend draw away to Wolverhampton Wanderers it also means that Chris Hughton’s side have now not scored for seven matches in all competitions which has to be a grave concern.
Still it took another late goal by Eriksen to defeat them – and the Dane specialises in those, most notably earlier this season against Inter Milan in the Champions League, when Spurs were heading out. They are now in the semi-finals, of course, but this contest was a sharp contrast to their last eight tie against Manchester City.
There was even the sight of Vincent Janssen coming on as second-half substitute to make his first appearance in 20 months – since, in fact, Spurs first game at their temporary Wembley home. They lost that match, against Chelsea, although Janssen is a winner in Spurs new home as they made it four wins from four games here and four clean sheets, too.
The striker was on the pitch although, in truth, he contributed little and the sight of him and Fernando Llorente as the Spurs strike-force exposed the scale of squad rebuilding that Mauricio Pochettino should be granted this summer.
The manager’s resources are severely stretched and he had little option but to turn to Janssen even though the £17 million mis-fit has been excluded from the Champions League squad and was only allowed to train again with the first-team in January because there were no buyers for him.
Of more immediate concern to Spurs will be to secure the future of Eriksen, who will go into the final year of his contract next season if he does not sign a new deal – something Spurs are desperate for the 27-year-old to do.
It is obvious to see why because amid the attacking weapons they have at present, the dynamism of Son Heung-min, the brash drive of Dele Alli, the Dane is the one who provides a little subtlety, a little bit of a different craft.
It was more basic from Brighton. Block and tackle. Dunk and Duffy. They were immense and it was summed up when Eriksen, typically and cleverly, picked out Alli who deftly brought the ball down and poked it goalwards.
Ryan got a hand to it, but the shot was going in before Duffy intervened on the line to divert it away with a thigh. Dunk, who had earlier hooked the ball clear to prevent Alli tapping it home, punched the air in celebration.
That came on the stroke of half-time and at the end of 46 minutes of growing frustration for Spurs with the average position of every one of their 10 outfield players showing they were in the Brighton half. Jan Vertonghen played as a deep-lying playmaker, at times. Even so, the visitors did provide a threat on the breakaway with Florin Andone spikily aggressive and only denied by a superb last-ditch tackle by Danny Rose as he ran all the way from his own half to inside the Spurs penalty area.
In the second-half it was Rose who forced Ryan into a save, with a fierce right-foot shot that the goalkeeper punched into the air before catching, although that only came after Duffy did not capitalise on Brighton’s one genuine chance as he sent a free header straight at Hugo Lloris soon after the restart.
Brighton defended ever deeper and were fortunate when Toby Alderweireld turned on the edge of the area, slipped, but managed to shoot low first. It beat Ryan, struck the inside of a post and ran across the goal-line with Vertonghen’s follow-up from a tight angle being blocked.
By now Spurs were reduced to more and more shots from long range before, finally, making one of them – and number 29 in all – count as they moved closer to securing their future and left Brighton’s in doubt.
Full-time: Tottenham 1 Brighton 0
The final whistle goes, and Tottenham have claimed a crucial win. Devastating for Brighton - especially the outstanding Duffy and Dunk.
90+2 min - Tottenham 1 Brighton 0
Great work from March to jink past a couple of Spurs challenges. He fires a shot off from the edge of the box but it whistles wide of the near post.
90 min - Tottenham 1 Brighton 0
Tottenham make their final change - Foyth on for Son.
We'll have four minutes of time added on.
GOAL! Tottenham 1 Brighton 0 (Eriksen 88)
The deadlock is finally broken! And it's Christian Eriksen for Tottenham! He's misfired with a few tonight, but this time he picks the ball up about 25 yards out and pings one into the bottom corner with his left foot. What a huge goal that could be for Spurs in the race for the top four.
29 - Christian Eriksen scored Spurs' opening goal with what was their 29th shot and 21st from outside the box against Brighton. Finally. #TOTBHA
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 23, 2019
86 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Locadia does well to shield the ball and win a foul off Trippier. It's a free-kick from out wide on the left that Gross will whips in looking for Brighton's big men up from the back. But after all that, Tottenham easily head clear. Brighton's centre-backs sprint back to resume their defensive shape.
Hughton then makes his final change: Kayal on for the impressive Bissouma.
84 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
So nearly for Spurs! Eriksen's shot is saved by Ryan, and just as Janssen is about to pounce Dunk hacks the ball clear. Tottenham then want a penalty when Rose falls down under challenge from March. No pen, says referee Chris Kavanagh. Probably the right call.
82 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Giddy at a touch of the ball in the Spurs half, Murray loses all his composure and thwacks a shot into Row Z. Spurs then replace Wanyama with Davies, which will mean Rose reprising his midfield role of recent weeks.
81 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Alderweireld whips in a cross that Dunk misses. Llorente is caught by surprise and sends an awkward effort well wide.
80 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Oh my, things really are desperate! It's Vincent Janssen time! Moura comes off, and on comes Janssen for his first Spurs appearance in 20 months.
Go on son, this is your moment.
78 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
The chances are coming thick and fast for Spurs now. This time it's Alli heading well over at the back post after Alderweireld's deflected shot careered into his path. Surely Brighton can't keep this up for too much longer?
76 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Bernardo is booked for a foul on Son down the Tottenham right. The resulting free-kick finds Rose, whose scuffed volley lands at Son's feet. Son can only slice an effort wide though.
75 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
And another chance for Spurs! Moura nods the ball back for Alli, who slices high and wide from about eight yards out. He was absolutely clattered by Duffy as he hit that - it could, and possibly should, have been a pen.
74 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
How has that stayed out?! Tottenham take a corner shot, and after a few passes Alderweireld receives the ball and hits a shot on the turn from about 12 yards out that hits the inside of the post and dribbles across the line to safety.
That's the closest Spurs have come. Brighton respond with a second change - March on for Jahanbakhsh.
72 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Son skips past Duffy but there's his centre-back partner Dunk to make the block. Those two have worked brilliantly together for Brighton tonight.
71 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
There are 20 minutes to play, but Brighton are sat so deep as if we're in stoppage time. Murray gets a rare Brighton touch in the opposition half, before his lack of pace is exposed and Alderweireld can win the ball back.
69 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Spurs still to make a change. Their bench illustrates why:
Subs: Gazzaniga, Sanchez, Janssen, Dier, Foyth, Davies, Skipp
68 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
It's so congested in the Brighton defence that Rose elects to have a bash from range. It's on his right foot but is struck with plenty of power, and Ryan can only gather at the second attempt after pushing the ball up into the air. It's all Spurs but still no breakthrough.
65 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Andone rants and raves as he goes off, neatly demonstrating precisely why he has been substituted.
64 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Plenty of time for him to produce something special, but Eriksen has been poor tonight. He's just overhit another cross when a bit of quality was desperately needed.
And, in other news, here comes Murray. Andone, who could have been sent off in the first half, is the man to make way.
62 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Bissouma does really well to slide in and deny Son as he burst into the box. Duffy heads the resulting corner clear.
60 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
A frustrated Son tries to bend one into the top corner with his left foot, but it flies well over.
58 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Spurs don't look especially dangerous, but a goal is surely coming unless Brighton can start stringing a couple of passes together. At the moment they're so panicked on the ball that it's just wave after wave of Tottenham pressure.
Eriksen still hasn't found his range, though. He floats a diagonal pass harmlessly out of play.
56 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Brighton just can't get out, and they're relieved that Wanyama offers them some respite with a pea-roller of a shot that drifts sadly wide.
55 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Son looks a little frustrated out wide on the right. Wonder if Poch will move him into the middle and take Llorente off if it stays like this for much longer.
53 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Eriksen threads a dangerous looking cross in from the left. Moura should go after it, but is caught flat-footed - much to Eriksen's chagrin.
52 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Spurs look set to lay siege to the Brighton goal this half, but Rose overhits his cross having overlapped to good effect.
51 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Spurs attacking the steep south stand in the second half. Can it suck the ball in Kop style? Not yet. Eriksen smashes a shot from range a few yards over.
48 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Out of nowhere, Bernardo hares forward about 30 yards with the ball, until Eriksen decides to bring him down at the cost of a yellow card.
Brighton work the resulting free-kick to Gross who floats a cross all the way to the back post for Duffy to meet. It's a decent chance but Duffy heads straight at Lloris rather than going across goal where a couple of Brighton players were waiting for a tap-in. Decent opening, that.
46 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
We're back under way. No changes for either side at the break. Walking second yellow card Andone remains on the pitch, which could be entertaining.
The Dunk block I was talking about
�� - Lewis Dunk to the rescue!
The @OfficialBHAFC defender is sprinting towards his own goal but somehow diverts Lucas Moura's effort away from goal! ��
Watch Tottenham v Brighton live on Sky Sports PL: https://t.co/cY1dzKitRXpic.twitter.com/sH9AXI4ewz— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 23, 2019
Not to be confused with the Duffy block.
Jan the man
Jan Vertonghen really embracing this new centre-back/number 10 crossover position tonight. He's already had three shots. No player has had more touches or completed more passes in the opposition half.
— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) April 23, 2019
Half-time at the THS
Chris Hughton will be delighted with that. Tottenham have dominated the ball, but have not yet found the breakthrough - thanks to some inspired defending from Dunk and Duffy.
Mauricio Pochettino will not be worried - his team have carried a pretty constant three - but he'll surely make changes if Brighton continue to hold firm.
All to play for in the second half.
45 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
How on earth has that not gone in? Alli brilliantly controls Trippier's cross and nudges a shot beyond Ryan that Duffy clears off the line. Sensational defending from Brighton again!
The half-time whistle sounds shortly after. At the break it's Tottenham 0 Brighton 0.
43 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Locadia, who's looked very inch a striker playing out wide, switches off and allows Trippier to run off him in the box. Trippier has time to size up the cross, but Brighton eventually bundle the ball clear. Andone meanwhile continues his attempts to get sent off - this time barging Vertonghen over after the ball had gone.
40 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Moura pings a shot straight into Ryan's midriff from about 25 yards, as Spurs respond with an effort of their own. The game has just opened up a bit these last few moments, which will suit the hosts more than Brighton.
38 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Couple of chances for Brighton on the counter. First Rose does brilliantly to chase back and dispossess Andone who was heading dangerously for goal. Jahanbakhsh then whips in a dangerous cross from the right that just eludes Andone in the middle.
37 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Andone really should be off here. Just moments after getting booked, he leaves one in high on Trippier's ankle that Chris Kavanagh deems only to be a foul.
Locadia then barges Alderweireld over in the box. It was a legal challenge, but he went in pretty hard without really needing to. Brighton need to watch themselves here.
34 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Heroic defending from Dunk to slide in at the far post and clear Moura's left-wing cross that was headed for Alli. He did so well there.
Andone then picks up a booking for bundling Rose to the floor. Brighton have had a yellow card coming for a while.
33 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Son wants a penalty after going down under challenge from Dunk in the box. It's one of those you so rarely get because a. Son probably wouldn't have reached the ball and b. there isn't one obvious moment that's a foul - it's more a series of small bits of contact.
32 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Moura switches to the left, and is welcomed there by an unsubtle hack to the ground from Montoya. The defender is lucky to escape a booking, before Ryan comes out commandingly to claim Eriksen's subsequent free-kick.
31 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Now it's Eriksen's turn to miscue an effort from range. That was firmly in the 'you'd expect better from him' category.
Spurs dominating the ball, but Brighton holding firm for the moment.
29 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Vertonghen ambles forward and lamps a shot from distance that flies well wide.
Meanwhile Alan Smith talks charmingly about actor Zac Efron, who is in the crowd. Lovely stuff.
27 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Replays show Vertonghen caught Andone with his elbow when going up for a header. Don't think that can be classed as deliberate.
26 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Alli embarks on a weaving run that leads to a foul on Wanyama and a free-kick about 25 yards out. Spurs take it quickly to find Moura in space, but Bernardo does well to get across and make a diving block.
23 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Good response from Brighton, who haven't scored in their last five matches remember. They force another corner that Lloris is forced to come out and punch clear.
21 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Eriksen finds the space to pop another shot away from range - this one's deflected wide for a corner. Brighton make a mess of clearing it, and eventually Locadia brings down Rose out wide on the left. Eriksen whacks it into the mixer, and after a goalmouth scramble, Brighton can clear. It looked for a moment like Vertoinghen was about to score a tap-in until he was eventually crowded out.
The pressure is building for the hosts.
18 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Alli appears fine to continue, happily.
17 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Brighton with rare foray into the Spurs half win a free kick about 40 yards out and to the right. Gross takes it right-footed, and after a ricochet off Alli, Wanyama absolutely leathers the ball out for a corner. That would have been a spectacular own goal! Meanwhile Alli landed awkwardly in deflecting the ball and looks a tad uncomfortable.
Gross then bends in the corner, which Vertonghen has to get in the way of. Trippier heads the subsequent corner away. Set-pieces look like Brighton's most likely/only route to goal this evening.
14 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Moura certainly looks like being the man to unlock this massed Brighton defence. He's staying so wide and has already put in a few dangerous crosses aimed at Llorente.
12 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Mat Ryan, the Brighton goalkeeper, is already wasting time at every goal-kick. A booking could be on its way.
9 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Eriksen fizzes in a cross shot from about 25 yards that just evades Alli. Had he touched that, he might well have scored.
8 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Moura is seeing lots of the ball in a wide right position. Eriksen also looks busy. No clear-cut chances as yet, though.
5 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Son forces a corner down the Spurs left that Brighton allow to travel much too far but they eventually hack the ball clear.
3 min - Tottenham 0 Brighton 0
Moura is clipped by Bissouma about 20 yards out to the right of goal. Trippier to take it... he floats it in, and Vertonghen can only loop a header well over.
Kick-off
We're under way. A reminder of the teams for this one...
Tottenham: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Wanyama, Eriksen, Alli; Son, Lucas, Llorente
Subs: Gazzaniga, Sanchez, Janssen, Dier, Foyth, Davies, Skipp
Brighton: Ryan, Bernardo, Dunk, Montoya, Duffy, Jahanbakhsh, Stephens, Gross, Bissouma, Andone, Locadia
Subs: Button, Bong, Kayal, Balogun, Murray, March, Burn
The players are out
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium looks splendid, and kick-off is just a few minutes away.
He lives!
There is Vincent Janssen, back right.
Five changes in all for Tottenham
Hugo Lloris, Kieran Trippier, Danny Rose, Victor Wanyama and Fernando Llorente are all back in the team - replacing Paulo Gazzaniga, Davison Sanchez, Eric Dier, Ben Davies and Juan Foyth.
The teams in full
Tottenham:Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Wanyama, Eriksen, Alli; Son, Lucas, Llorente
Subs: Gazzaniga, Sanchez, Janssen, Dier, Foyth, Davies, Skipp
Brighton: Ryan, Bernardo, Dunk, Montoya, Duffy, Jahanbakhsh, Stephens, Gross, Bissouma, Andone, Locadia
Subs: Button, Bong, Kayal, Balogun, Murray, March, Burn
Top scorer Glenn Murray is one of the Brighton players who drops to the bench. Big boost that for Tottenham.
Six changes for Brighton
Looks like manager Chris Hughton is prioritising Saturday's game against Newcastle.
�� Here's how Albion line up for tonight's @premierleague match against @SpursOfficial at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium...
�� Chris Hughton makes 6⃣ changes to the side that drew on Saturday.
�� Matchday Live is presented by @SnickersUKcom.#BHAFC �� pic.twitter.com/DjtbnJVFiX— Brighton & Hove Albion ⚽️ (@OfficialBHAFC) April 23, 2019
A strong Spurs team - and Janssen on the bench again!
Spurs: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Wanyama, Eriksen, Dele; Son, Lucas, Llorente
#THFC: Lloris (C), Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Wanyama, Eriksen, Dele, Son, Lucas, Llorente.@WilliamHill odds (18+) https://t.co/2j4iYVdPez#PL ⚪️ #COYSpic.twitter.com/hAarRROUVd
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 23, 2019
Squeaky bum time
Another day, another chance for one of the top four-elect to make a hash of qualifying for the Champions League.
After all four of Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea dropped points over the Easter weekend - with all but Chelsea losing - Spurs have the chance to open up some distance between themselves and the rest.
Starting the match in third, Tottenham would move three points clear of fourth-placed Chelsea with a win. They would also have a four-point buffer over fifth-placed Arsenal, having played a game more.
So if they can hold their nerve tonight, Spurs would take a major step towards ensuring qualification for the competition in which they are so excelling this season.
Their opponents Brighton have far less lofty ambitions - for them it is all about survival. Saturday's 0-0 draw at Wolves ended a run of four straight losses, and moved them three points clear of 18th-placed Cardiff, so they do at least come into this with a modicum of confidence. That said they have not scored in their last five league matches, and tonight forms part of a nightmare run-in that also sees them take on Arsenal and Manchester City.
Unless Spurs build a lead early - as well they might - we can expect a tense affair at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with so much at stake.
Either way, their manager Mauricio Pochettino insisted over the weekend that tonight's game - and not the upcoming Champions League semi-final against Ajax - is their priority.
"Now our energy is in Brighton," he said. "It is so clear that we have two objectives - one is to be in the top four at the end of the season and the other is to beat Ajax, but we need to go step-by-step.
"The players, they know it, I think the behaviour and the mentality is perfect.
"You know very well if there is something wrong I see it and I am going to tell them but I think they were very professional at City, the performance was very good and very professional."
We'll have team news for you at about 6.45, ahead of a 7.45 kick-off.
