Danny Rose: 'We're grateful for these late goals'

Danny Rose says the team’s late wins will be “vital come the end of the season.”

Christian Eriksen popped up with an eye-of-the-needle finish from 25 yards to finally breach Brighton’s packed defence with full-time fast approaching at the new stadium on Tuesday night, securing a huge 1-0 victory in the race to finish in the top four.

It’s not the first time our Danish star has come up with the goods in the closing moments of games – he memorably struck in stoppage time to secure a 1-0 win over a similarly stubborn Burnley side at Wembley back in December, while also firing in late to snatch victory by the same scoreline over Inter at the same venue to really give our Champions League campaign a shot in the arm back in the group stage in November.

As left-back Danny points out, goals of that nature have been critical – but it’s not solely been Christian who has been responsible for them.

“We know in these sorts of games we’re going to have a lot of the ball and this is when you depend on your creative players like Christian, Sonny (Heung-Min Son) and Lucas (Moura),” he said in the aftermath of the win over Brighton. “Thankfully, Christian has got a habit of scoring late goals this season and that’s another one that we’re grateful for. These are going to prove vital come the end of the season.

“It’s the tightest top four race that I can ever remember – Christian, Sonny and other players have scored some late goals for us. They’ve all had to chip in with Harry Kane being injured.

“For Sonny, I think it’s the third season in a row he’s got near the 20-goal mark for us and Christian with his assists… he’s always up there among the best in Europe, not just the league. Lucas has had a very good season as well so it’s nice that everyone has chipped in with the goals. We’re on the home straight now and we hope we can make this a memorable season.”

After another all-action performance on the left flank, England international Danny hailed the team’s sheer will to win as we approach another important home game against West Ham on Saturday lunchtime (12.30pm).

“That’s what the manager has instilled – all those years ago when he arrived, he wants that fighting spirit throughout the squad,” said the left-back. “Earlier in the season he was disappointed with how we lost against Southampton and Burnley and he just wants us to keep fighting every day in training and in games.

“Had we not won today (against Brighton), I think he would have been proud of the attitude and that we kept going but thankfully we’ve won and other results have gone for us this weekend, so now we look forward to a London derby at the weekend and hope we can have a great finish to the season.”