Tottenham Hotspur fell to an embarrassing defeat in opposition to Brighton and Hove Albion this night, placing a dent within the membership’s aspirations of securing a Champions League place this season.
Ange Postecoglou’s facet led 2-0 on the break after targets from the in-form Brennan Johnson and James Maddison, however it will all evaporate inside simply 20 minutes of the second half.
The hosts got here straight out of the blocks and turned the sport on its head after strikes from Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck secured the comeback for Fabian Hurzeler’s facet.
Spurs’ second half collapse places an finish to their five-game profitable streak, giving boss Postecoglou loads to ponder in the course of the upcoming worldwide break.
Brennan Johnson – a person in-form
Regardless of the defeat, Welsh winger Johnson continued his glorious type in entrance of purpose scoring for the sixth consecutive outing in all competitions.
It’s fairly the turnaround for the £47.5m signing, after being extensively criticised on social media for his lack of influence in the course of the opening few matches of the season.
His newest purpose in opposition to the Seagulls noticed him match Harry Kane’s report of most video games scored consecutively by a Spurs participant within the Premier League, fairly the feat given his early season type.
Nevertheless, his efforts in entrance of purpose would all depend for nothing given the second half collapse, with the Lilywhites undoubtedly desirous to neglect the outing in a rush.
Johnson can definitely go away the AMEX along with his head held excessive, however the identical can’t be stated for one participant who was extraordinarily wasteful with the alternatives that fell his means on the South Coast.
The Spurs participant who did not impress in opposition to Brighton
Given the current type of Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski has been compelled to function in a extra central place alongside Maddison and Rodrigo Bentancur – forming a partnership with the duo in current weeks.
This night’s assembly was no totally different with the Swede beginning alongside the pair on the coronary heart of Postecoglou’s midfield – however it was a night of disappointment from the 24-year-old.
The previous Juventus expertise solely managed 20 passes at a completion charge of 69% and likewise solely received 4 of the 15 duels that he entered.
Kulusevski additionally solely managed a complete of 55 touches throughout his 90-minute show, a tally that was decrease than goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario who registered a complete of 63.
|
Dejan Kulusevski’s stats vs Brighton |
|
|---|---|
|
Statistics |
Tally |
|
Minutes performed |
90 |
|
Touches |
55 |
|
Passes accomplished |
20/29 (69%) |
|
Duels received |
4/15 |
|
Possession misplaced |
23x |
|
Fouls dedicated |
2 |
|
Dribbles accomplished |
2/6 |
|
Stats through Sofascore |
|
The Swede additionally misplaced possession 23 occasions in the course of the defeat, essentially the most of any Spurs participant, highlighting his wasteful nature as he did not create any clear-cut alternatives.
The defeat will sting, particularly contemplating the 2-0 lead Postecoglou’s facet boasted on the interval, however the upcoming worldwide break offers the Aussie time to course of the defeat and stop it from taking place once more sooner or later.
Nevertheless, one factor is for sure, Kulusevski must be changed for the assembly in opposition to West Ham United in lower than two weeks time if his facet are to face any likelihood of a direct bounce again after the embarrassing loss on Sunday night.
