Premier League report: Tottenham 2-1 Brighton
Tottenham staged a second-half fightback to beat Brighton 2-1 and continue their excellent Boxing Day record.
England captain Harry Kane and Dele Alli struck in the second period to cancel out Adam Webster's first-half header to extend their unbeaten run on Boxing Day to 14 games, while Kane has scored eight goals in five matches on December 26.
Brighton meanwhile have not tasted victory on Boxing Day since 2005 and will have felt they deserved something from this one, as they wasted three clear cut chances, while Kane's equaliser was largely down to a good slice of luck.
Alli produced a brilliant first-time finish to give Spurs another Boxing Day win after Harry Kane had earlier cancelled out Adam Webster's opener.
It was Alli's fifth goal in eight games under Mourinho and it will have provided some comfort to the Portuguese, who revealed before the match that his Christmas Day had been ruined by his dog dying.
Match highlights
Brighton, who won the reverse fixture 3-0 in October, had threatened to ruin that run as they were the better side in the first half and had Webster's opener to hang onto.
But they have now gone three games without a win and must prepare for another lunchtime kick-off against Bournemouth in 48 hours.
Even before the loss of his family pet Mourinho's mood had been soured by spending much of the build-up to this game talking about VAR and how it is killing the game and his feelings would only have worsened in the 25th minute as his side had a goal ruled out.
Spurs had laboured in the opening quarter to get in behind Brighton, so they went long as Harry Winks sent Kane clear.
The England captain finished in the usual accomplished manner, rolling past an onrushing Mat Ryan, but VAR official Mike Dean needed the perpendicular lines to rule Kane centimetres offside.
Spurs needed that pick-me-up so to have the goal chalked off was a blow and what happened 12 minutes later was perhaps inevitable.
Winks was adjudged to have fouled Ezequiel Schelotto on the left, though contact was minimal, and Pascal Gross whipped in an inviting delivery which Webster climbed highest to power home.
Spurs were booed off by their fans at half-time, but they were immediately better after the break and needed only eight minutes to equalise.
Lucas Moura looked to have run into a blind alley but a lucky deflection saw the ball fall kindly to Kane and after Ryan saved his first attempt, the striker put the ball away at the second attempt.
It was his 10th goal of the Premier League season, the sixth successive season in which he has reached double figures.
That was just what Mourinho will have ordered and Spurs used it as a launchpad to push Brighton back.
Kane would have had another chance had his touch been better after Moussa Sissoko's raid forward, but there was no denying Spurs a second in the 72nd minute.
It was a brilliant team move as Moura and Kane linked up with Christian Eriksen, the Dane's brilliant diagonal ball finding Serge Aurier for him to tee up Alli, whose cushioned first-time finish found the top corner.
Alli should have had a second in the 90th minute when Kane played him through, but Ryan produced a fine flying save to turn the ball over the crossbar.
Opta stats
- Tottenham are unbeaten in their last 14 Boxing Day league games (W11 D3), since losing 0-2 at Portsmouth in 2003 – extending their longest ever unbeaten run on December 26th.
- Tottenham boss José Mourinho has never lost in eight Premier League games on Boxing Day (W6 D2), managing more games without defeat on the day than any other manager in the competition.
- Brighton have lost five of their last six away league games played on Boxing Day (D1), including losing both such games in the Premier League (also 0-2 vs Chelsea in 2017).
- Dele Alli has been directly involved in more goals in all competitions under Jose Mourinho than any other Tottenham player (5 goals & 3 assists in 8 apps).
- Tottenham’s Harry Kane has scored eight goals in five Premier League games on Boxing Day - only Robbie Fowler (9 goals in 10 apps) has scored more on December 26th in the competition. Indeed, Kane has bagged 26 PL goals in the month of December - 10 more than he has in any other month in the competition.
- Tottenham’s Harry Kane has now scored 100 home goals in 172 appearances in all competitions at club level, with 90 of those coming for Spurs (5 for Millwall, 3 for Leyton Orient, 2 for Leicester City).
- Pascal Groß has provided 15 assists for Brighton in the Premier League, eight more than any other Seagulls player in the competition.
- Brighton defender Adam Webster has scored as many goals in his 15 Premier League games this season (three) as he netted in 44 Championship matches for Bristol City last term.
Match Blog
Relive the game from our live blog...
Tottenham 2-1 Brighton
Spurs: Kane, 53; Ali 72
Brighton: Webster, 37
Full time: Tottenham 2-1 Brighton
Spurs get the win as they respond to their defeat to Chelsea. They were poor first half, but excellent second - inspired by Kane and Moura.
Brighton can feel hard done to and deserved something from this game. They wasted three good chances and Kane's equaliser came from a bit of luck, something the visitors certainly didn't have today.
That's now 15 games unbeaten on Boxing Day for Spurs, and it is 2005 since Brighton last won on December 26
90: Injury time
Four minutes added on
90: Ryan save
Spurs counter and Alli is played into on goal and fires into the top corner. Ryan makes a superb diving save to his top right to tip over the bar.
Stunning save, but Alli should have killed the game there
88: Brighton open up
Brighton come again and a cross finds the unmarked Burn at the back post, but as he stretches to control it he slips over and can only stab the ball to the penalty spot rather than getting it to a team mate and Spurs clear.
83: Yellow card
Silly from Sissoko. He commits the foul and stops Burn taking the free kick quickly by blocking the pass. He gets a little shove for his efforts and responded by shoving Burn three more times. He gets a yellow and, like Winks, will miss the game against Norwich next up
80: Brighton sub
Schelotto, making his first Premier League start today, is off and Bissouma is on
77: Gross shoots
Gross fires straight at Gazzaniga. It is an easy save, but the keeper spills it and gets lucky that no Brighton player was following in
76: Brighton sub
Trossard replaces Bernardo for the visitors
GOAL HIGHLIGHT
75: Spurs sub
The home side's final sub sees the recently booked Moura come off and Dier come on
74: Yellow Card
Moura goes into the book for a poorly timed lunge
73: Mooy goes for goal
Mooy looks to restore parity immediately with a long-range strike, but his fiercely-struck effort whistles a yard over the target.
72: GOAL!! Tottenham 2-1 Brighton
ALLI
That is a wonderful goal from Spurs. Eriksen shows great vision to fire a diagonal ball from the left wing to the back post to find Aurier. His first touch is perfect back to the unmarked Alli and from a tight angle, some how on his first touch he flicks the ball over Ryan, who was only just off his line, and it drops in at the far post.
It is a thing of beauty all round.
67: Spurs sub
Unsurprisingly Winks is quickly removed from the action before he is sent off and Eriksen is on for him
66: Gazzaniga save
20 out on the right of the D, Gross fires a stinging shot into the middle of the goal. It is at Gazzaniga's head and he punches clear
65: Winks a lucky boy
Brighton finally get a foot hold back into this game and storm forward. Dangerous cross is only just cleared by Spurs and Gross picks up on the edge of the box and goes to shoot. Winks brings him down, already on a yellow he should go, but the ref is too kind to him
GOAL HIGHLIGHT
63: Moura flying
Lucas Moura has inspired Spurs fightback here. He's been everywhere in the second half. He's been positive with the ball every time he's got it, causing panic in the Brighton defence.
Without the ball he is chasing and running down every Brighton player and making some big tackles.
Home crowd responding to his energy and getting louder now
60: Kane continues Boxing Day form
We recommended backing Kane to score today, and was also our half-time price boost, as he loves Boxing Day.
That's now eight goal in just five Boxing Day appearances from big Harry.
Only Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler (nine) has more goals on this date in the competition's history.
Ho, Ho, Ho
57: Almost a repeat
Spurs are a different animal now, aggressive in the tackle and quick in attack.
They come forward again and again Brighton win it back and smash a clearance against their own player. The rebound puts Kane in on goal again but the ball is too quick for him, he can't control and Ryan collects.
56: Spurs sub
First change for Spurs as Lo Celso replaces Sessegnon.
53: GOAL: Tottenham 1-1 Brighton
KANE
And this one counts. It is out of the blue and lucky but Spurs don't care.
Spurs are going nowhere when Moura picks it up 30 yards out, he turns and runs towards goal and beats a few defenders, but he has nothing on as he holds out his hands asking for help. He loses the ball, but as Brighton clear the ball is kicked against another Brighton player and roles through to Kane in the area. He shots into the bottom corner and Ryan makes a wonderful save
But the rebound comes back out to the England skipper and he half volleys into the opposite corner.
Great finishing from Kane, but so unlucky for Brighton, as Spurs were going nowhere until that deflected clearance
48: Connolly big chance
That should be 2-0 to Brighton.
Webster drives into the box down the right and gets to the byline. He chips a cross to the back post but no one is there. It comes out to the left wing to Bernardo, who crosses back in and Connolly ia unmarked six yards out at the near post. But he gets his jump and header all wrong and puts it way over the bar.
Hands on their head from both the player and his manager tells the story - huge chance missed
Second-half
Underway, no changes
Webster's excellent season
Adam Webster has now scored as many goals in his 15 Premier League games this season (three) as he netted in 44 Championship matches for Bristol City last term. All three of his goals in 2019-20 have come away from home.
SKY BET PRICE BOOST
Harry Kane has already found the back of the net in this game - the forward was denied by VAR but you can back him to score the game's next goal at 7/2.
Stats
Possession: Spurs 55% v 45% Brighton
Shots on target: Spurs 1 v 3 Brighton
Shot off target: Spurs 1 v 1 Brighton
Free-kicks: Spurs 3 v 7 Brighton
Keeper saves: Spurs 2 v 1 Brighton
Yellow cards: Spurs 2 v 2 Brighton
Half-time: Tottenham 0-1 Brighton
The opening 20 minutes were typical of a Boxing Day lunch time kick off - slow and flat atmosphere. It was an equal game.
It hotted up in the next 20, with Harry Kane's goal ruled out for a tight offside and then Webster's headed goal.
Typical of Spurs under Jose, they cannot defend for 90 minutes and they switch off for 10 minute spells. In this spell they were hurt again and Brighton deserve their lead
45: Injury time
There will be 2 minutes of injury time
Goal highlight
42: Yellow Card
Harry Kane tries to grab hold of this match again for his side, picks up the ball in his own half and drives into opposition territory, holding off the challenges until Gross comes clattering in and he is booked
40: Gazzaniga saves
Gross fires in the resulting free kick from the left and Spurs head behind for a corner. Gross runs across field to take this from the right and this time his cross is headed towards goal by Bernardo, but Gazzaniga is equal to it and saves
39: Yellow Card
Spurs are on the rack here and Brighton counter down the left this time through Connolly and again are only stopped by another foul, this time from Sanchez and he goes in the book, where he joins his teammate Winks
38: Tottenham 0-1 Brighton
WEBSTER
From the resulting free-kick on the right, Gross whip it into the six yard box and Webster wants it more than anyone else and powers the header home from close range
36: Brighton counter
From that free-kick Ryan quickly throws the ball out and Brighton counter down the right. They are only stopped by Winks committing the foul and Brighton have a chance here from the free-kick on the right wing.
Winks booked and will missed their next came against Norwich
35: Spurs free-kick
Another Spurs free-kick, 30 yards out on right edge of the box. Chipped into the back post, but Sissoko is offside as he tries to lob Ryan, who reached up and caught it anyway
31: Kane free-kick
Kane lashes the ball towards goal and it makes contact with the Brighton wall. Spurs appeal for a penalty but a swift VAR check finds no handball infringement and the game continues with a Spurs corner, which coms to nothing.
30: Yellow Card
First of the day... Moura drops his shoulder and drives towards the Brighton area where he's bundled to ground by Burn. Free-kick to Spurs and a booking for the Brighton defender.
Free kick to Spurs on right edge of area
That Offside call
23: Goal Disallowed: Tottenham 0-0 Brighton
Kane is offside, but it is another one where VAR has had to get those annoying tiny lines out and it looks like a fingernail is offside, so of course it is ruled out.
No festive joy from VAR today clearly
23: GOAL!! Tottenham 1-0 Brighton
KANE
That's now eight in five Boxing Day games, but it is a tight offside call going to VAR.....
21: Mooy deflected wide
Mooy, who has started excellently, twists on the edge of the box and gets it on his left foot to curl into the bottom corner.
A deflection off a Spurs leg is the only thing that stops it going in.
Corner kick is cleared by Spurs
15: Kane no Christmas Turkey
He's been provider so far in this game, but Harry Kane is a man that fires on Boxing Day. He has 7 goals on December 26 in four games, including a hat-trick against Southampton two season ago, and one this time last year in a 5-0 destruction of Bournemouth.
The England captain is 8/11 to score anytime and 9/4 to open the scoring in this one
13: Alzate again
More excellent patient passing and build up from Brighton eventually sees Alzate unmarked and in space 25 yards out in centre field.
He lines up the shot right footed and fires low into the bottom right corner. Gazzaniga gets down and across quickly and palms away.
Tottenham have holes where they don't want them in their defensive third and Brighton are finding them.
11: Even game so far
It has been a good start to this game and despite Spurs having two good early chances it has been an even game so far.
Brighton have started well and kept possession well, stretching Spurs in defence.
08: Sessegnon again
Sessegnon makes a great run down the left and a long ball from the back from Toby Alderweireld finds him. He's in one-on-one with the keeper, draws him, but then hits the left upright.
His blushes are spared as the flag goes up and he was offside. He's had two chances early on and looks dangerous
05: Sessegnon chance
Spurs go straight down the other end from the goal kick and Kane gets space on the right edge of the box and delivers a superb cross across the six yard box to the back post to the on rushing Sessegnon, he slides in at the back post but mis-judges the flight of the ball and misses it. Should have scored
04: Brighton have a go
Alzate does well to hold onto the ball and twist away into space from Sissoko on the edge of the box and he fires low but wide.
00: Kick-off
Tottenham in the white and dark blue, Brighton in the away all black
Teams:
Tottenham: Gazzaniga, Vertonghen, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Aurier, Alli, Winks, Sissoko, Lucas Moura, Sessegnon, H Kane.
Substitutes: Vorm, Lamela, Dier, Lo Celso, Foyth, Eriksen, Tanganga
Brighton: Ryan, Webster, Duffy, Burn, Schelotto, Bernardo, Connolly, Stephen, Mooy, Gross, Alzate.
Substitutes: Button, Maupay, Bissouma, Trossard, Murray, Montoya, Propper.
Form
Tottenham's defeat to Chelsea last time out ended a run six Premier League home games without defeat (W4 D2) - they haven't lost consecutive home games in the competition since January.
Brighton have won one of their last seven, with that coming back on December 5 at Arsenal. The ref that day was Graham Scott and he is against the man in the middle today
Brighton double?
Brighton have never recorded a league double over Tottenham, but having hammered Spurs 3-0 earlier in the season they have the perfect chance to deliver their fans an extra Christmas present
Leaky Mourinho
Since Jose Mourinho's first game in charge of the club, no Premier League team has conceded more goals than Spurs across all competitions, which is 14. That's the joint-most, along with Arsenal.
Tottenham to win and BTTS at 15/8 could be a good way to go here
Brighton hate Boxing Day
So Spurs love Boxing Day, but the same cannot be said about Brighton. While Spurs' family are lovingly exchanging gifts and cuddling up on the sofa to watch TV, Brighton's family are the ones getting drunk and fighting.
Graham Potter's side are winless in their last 10 Boxing Day games, with their last win coming against QPR in 2005.
SOCCER SATURDAY PRICE BOOST
Sky Bet have Price Boosted the following:
- Chelsea, Sheffield United and Everton to all win is 5/1
- Chelsea and Sheffield United to win and Everton to draw with Burnley is 14/1
- Chelsea, Sheffield United and Burnley to all win is 18/1
Best Bet
The Sporting Life's best bet for the early kick off is....
Historically the Boxing Day lunch time kick-off fails to deliver much festive cheer, the players look like they've eaten too much Christmas pudding and the atmosphere is generally flatter than usual due to a hungover/tired crowds.So we don't expect much entertainment or goals in this one.
As impressive as the Seagulls have been under Graham Potter, they have the league's fifth-worst away record having won just twice on the road all season.
After losing to Chelsea, Spurs will be keen to bounce back to keep their top-four hopes alive. Backing the hosts to have a low-scoring victory, especially with a major goal scorer and creator in Heung-min Son suspended, is worth considering at a best price of 8/5.
Tottenham love Boxing Day
Spurs' record on Boxing Day is exceptional, having not lost in the last 13 games played on December 26. They've won 10 of those!
It gets even better when at home, having last tasted Boxing Day defeat on home soil back in 1991 against Nottingham Forest (1-2).
Brighton, meanwhile are struggling, having won just five points from their last 21 available in the Premier League.
Brighton Team News
Graham Potter has reacted to Brighton's loss to Sheffield United by making five changes - Shane Duffy, Ezequiel Schelotto, Bernardo, Aaron Connolly and Steven Alzate step in with Lewis Dunk, Martin Montoya, Leandro Trossard, Dale Stephens and Neal Maupay making way.
Brighton: Ryan, Webster, Duffy, Burn, Schelotto, Bernardo, Connolly, Stephen, Mooy, Gross, Alzate.
Substitutes: Button, Maupay, Bissouma, Trossard, Murray, Montoya, Propper.
Spurs Team News
Jose Mourinho makes two changes, with Ryan Sessegnon making his first Premier League start for Spurs, and Harry Winks also coming in. Eric Dier drops to the bench while Son Heung-min is suspended.
Tottenham: Gazzaniga, Vertonghen, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Aurier, Alli, Winks, Sissoko, Lucas Moura, Sessegnon, H Kane.
Substitutes: Vorm, Lamela, Dier, Lo Celso, Foyth, Eriksen, Tanganga
Welcome
Season's greeting on behalf of the whole Sporting Life team. We hope you had a great Christmas Day and are fully fuelled on mince pies, turkey and Sporting Life's expert analysis and best bets to get your through Boxing Day and hopefully earn some profit too.
Follow all of today's Premier League football with our three live blogs - starting right here with Tottenham v Brighton, followed by our second blog covering all the 3pm games, then concluding with Manchester United against Newcastle United at 5.30pm. We'll also have coverage of Leicester v Liverpool at 8 via our match centre