Spurs 2-0 Brighton - report from Wembley

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Chance: Son misses at far post – 24mins
It was a familiar story in the opening minutes at Wembley, as we enjoyed plenty of possession but were faced with a massed and determined defence. In fact it was the visitors with the first half chance, Jose Izquierdo firing over the bar after good work from Anthony Knockaert and Ezequiel Schelotto. Kane had an effort cleared off the line on 21 minutes by Duffy, before Harry Winks dinked over a cross which Kane flicked on but Son couldn’t convert at the back post.

 
Above: Erik Lamela in action.

Goal: Spurs 1-0 Brighton – Serge Aurier – 40mins
Not much was happening in front of goal at either end, Duffy heading straight at Lloris from a corner and Sissoko’s 20-yard effort was comfortable for Ryan. But suddenly we were in front and it came completely out of the blue. Harry Winks laid a pass off to Aurier wide on the right, he produced a neat piece of skill to get away from Izquierdo and then sent over a cross towards goal. As he did, the Brighton player was late in a challenge as he went to block, prompting the assistant to wave his flag for a free-kick – only for Aurier’s cross to drift over Ryan and into the net, with referee Bobby Madley waving play on and letting the goal stand.

Save: Lloris denies Hemed – 70mins
The goal at the end of the first half meant the visitors would have to come out a bit more after the interval and that did seem the case, as we were finding more space in attacking areas, with Kane and Son seeing shots blocked and Ryan saving well from Lamela, diving to his right to tip around the post. But as the game went on, so Brighton’s confidence grew and they created a number of chances midway through the half. Hemed drove straight at Lloris, Duffy sent another header goalwards before their best chance on 70 minutes, the ball breaking to Hemed 12 yards from goal but again, his effort was too close to Lloris who saved well.

Goal: Spurs 2-0 Brighton – Heung-min Son – 87mins
We introduced Dembele and Dele into the action to try to wrestle back control of the game again and it certainly helped, as we started to push Brighton back and dominate the football. It was almost 2-0 on 85 minutes when Eric Dier was fouled 25 yards from goal, Kane stepped up and drilled a low free-kick through the wall which Ryan pushed onto the post and the danger was cleared. But only briefly though. Two minutes later, Aurier was upended wide on the right, Eriksen whipped in a cross which Son met at the near post, crouching to flick home with his head to double our lead and wrap up another home win – our third in eight days.

Mauricio Pochettino said

"It was tough, very tough. I'm happy in the end to win and three points is so important for us. I'm so pleased with the effort and the performance. It was a night to be patient, try to build and to play, play, pass, pass until finding the best option. The team was very good. I'm happy with the performance and it's good to be back in the top four.