Brighton beat lacklustre Spurs to claim first home win
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BRIGHTON, England (Reuters) – Brighton & Hove Albion claimed their first home Premier League win of the season as Leandro Trossard’s first-half goal proved enough for a 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Belgian Trossard slotted past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris from close range after Pascal Gross’s pull back in the 17th minute as a lively Brighton side dominated the first half against a desperately disappointing Spurs side.
Jose Mourinho’s visitors showed a little more intent after the break but still rarely threatened Robert Sanchez’s goal.
Brighton hung on tenaciously to secure a win that opened up a gap between themselves and the relegation zone.
They remain in 17th place but are seven points above third-bottom Fulham and nine above West Bromwich Albion.
“It’s our best performance this season and last. From start to finish we did what we needed to do, created some chances, scored a really good goal, good attitude around the pitch, good quality, against a top opponent,” manager Graham Potter said.
“I thought it was closer to a 2-0 than a 1-0. I am really proud of the players.”
Out-of-form Tottenham’s second defeat of the week after Thursday’s 3-1 home loss to Liverpool leaves them in sixth place, six points off the top four having won only two of their last nine league games since topping the table.
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“In the first half I felt the team was probably too sad with the goal conceded and the situation,” Mourinho said. “There was a lack of energy. In the last 25, 30 minutes they gave everything but of course with some limitations.”
DESERVED WIN
Brighton have taken seven points from their last nine and thoroughly deserved their first home league win since June.
They could have taken the lead even earlier as Gross clipped the post after a neat build-up.
Tottenham did not learn their lesson though and Brighton’s slick approach play caused them no end of problems.
It was a similar move that led to the goal with Alexis Mac Allister playing in Gross who reached the byline before picking out Trossard to finish with ease.
With England striker Harry Kane injured, Mourinho gave Gareth Bale only his second league start since he returned on loan from Real Madrid but the Welshman was largely peripheral.
Spurs changed their formation at the break with Carlos Vinicius coming on to bolster the attack while Bale was withdrawn on the hour and replaced by Lucas Moura.
Vinicius forced a fine save from Sanchez and Son Heung-min had a couple of shots at goal, but it was Brighton who went closest to scoring again as Aaron Connelly’s finish from point blank range was somehow kept out by Toby Alderweireld.
Brighton’s joy was clear at the final whistle as they finally found some home comfort.
“It’s a confidence boost, we have worked hard all season, now we have won at home and we have a taste for more,” match-winner Trossard said.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ken Ferris)