Oct 8th 2022 – Brighton & Hove Albion vs Tottenham
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 0 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1 – ( Harry Kane 1 – 22 minutes ) –
PREMIER LEAGUE – at the AMERICAN EXPRESS COMMUNITY STADIUM, FALMER.
After their thrilling 3-3 draw with Liverpool at Anfield on the 1 October the Albion were back at the Amex for a Premier League encounter with third-placed Tottenham Hotspur.(17 points from 8 games), “live” in front of the Sky Sports cameras and over the airwaves on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Sussex Sport. The
Albion occupied fourth-place in the Premier with 14 points from 7 games.
Unsurprisingly, Albion Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi named an unchanged starting line-up from the Liverpool game. It was De Zerbi’s first home match in charge of the Seagulls.
In their previous Premier outing Tottenham had lost 1-3 at Arsenal on the 1 October, losing their unbeaten run in the Premier in the process.
For their visit to the Amex, Manager Antonio Conte made four changes to his starting line-up from the Arsenal game, with Ben Davies, Matt Doherty, former Albion player Yves Bissouma and Ryan Sessegnon coming in for Clement Lenglet, Emerson Royal (suspended), Ivan Perisic and Richarlison.
Last season in the Premier, Spurs won 2-0 at the Amex on the 16 March 2022, with their goals coming from Cristian Romero (37m) and Harry Kane (57m).
In the reverse fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the 16 April 2022, the Albion beat Spurs 1-0, with the all-important goal coming from Leandro Trossard (90m).
Prior to kick-off there was a minute’s applause to mark the sudden passing of Spurs Fitness Coach Gian Piero Ventrone at the age of 61.
The visitors were first out of the traps and it was Albion goalkeeper Robert Sanchez who made a fine save to deflect a well-struck free-kick from Heung-MIn Son. Albion then came into the game and Leandro Trossard’s finely-weighted pass found Danny Welbeck but the striker’s low shot flashed wide of the post. Spurs took the lead on 22 minutes when from Son’s re-cycled corner the same player crossed into the box and there was the predator Harry Kane to send a stooping header into the Albion net. 0-1.
The Seagulls bounced back after this set-back and Moises Caicedo saw his shot from distance parried by Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Prior to the break Albion created a number of opportunities, as Lewis Dunk’s header just missed the target, Solly March sent a low shot wide and Welbeck had a well-struck shot saved by the busy Lloris.
Half-time 0-1.
The second-half started quietly with Spurs seemingly content to sit on their lead but the visitors missed a great chance to add a second goal when Kane of all people shot wide from close range, when he should have done better.
Albion substituted Kaoru Mitoma for Pervis Estupinan on 67 minutes and the Japanese international came close to equalising for the Albion when he forced keeper Lloris to parry his shot from close-in. Welbeck pounced on Ryan Sessegnon’s mistake but unfortunately fired his shot wide when well-placed. Near the end Matt Doherty’s last-ditch challenge thwarted Trossard as the Belgium international was about to release his shot.
A disappointing result for the Seagulls.
Final-score 0-1.
Albion had 14 attempts at goal, with 4 on target and won 6 corners, free-kicks conceded – 9. Spurs had 8 attempts at goal, with 3 on target and won 2 corners, free-kicks conceded – 9.
TO SUM UP – A low-key affair in which Spurs returned to North London with the three points, thanks to a Harry Kane header
. Not the result we wanted for Roberto De Zerbi’s first home game. As happens, the Albion front players need to sharpen up on their finishing.
Albion line-up (3-4-2-1):- Robert Sanchez; Joel Veltman (Tariq Lamptey 88), Lewis Dunk (Capt), Adam Webster; Solly March, Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo (Billy Gilmour 89), Pervis Estupinan (Kaoru Mitoma 67); Pascal Gross (Adam Lallana 82), Leandro Trossard; Danny Welbeck.
Subs not used: Jason Steele (G/K), Levi Colwill, Deniz Undav, Jeremy Sarmiento, Ed Turns.
Tottenham Hotspur line-up (3-5-2):- Hugo Lloris (Capt); Cristian Romero, Eric Dier, Ben Davies; Matt Doherty, Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma (Richarlison 70), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Ryan Sessegnon; Heung-Min Son (Ivan Perisic 80), Harry Kane (Oliver Skipp 90).
Subs not used: Fraser Forster (G/K), Djed Spence, Davinson Sanchez, Clement Lenglet, Pape Matar Sarr, Bryan Gil.
Referee: Tony Harrington. Fourth Official: Graham Scott.
Yellow Cards: Albion: 1 – Joel Veltman. Tottenham Hotspur: 2 – Yves Bissouma, Harry Kane.
Possession: Albion – 59%. Tottenham Hotspur – 41%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Ryan Sessegnon (Tottenham Hotspur).
Attendance: 31498.
ENOCK MWEPU – It was announced by the Albion on the 10 October 2022 that
midfielder Enock Mwepu (24) had been forced to end his playing career, due to a hereditary heart condition. A Zambian international, Mwepu, who captained his national team, joined Albion from RB Salzburg in July 2021, on a 4-year contract, for a fee of £18 million.
FORTHCOMING FIXTURES:
14 OCTOBER 2022 – BRENTFORD – away – Premier League –
kick-off 20.00. “Live” on Sky Sports.
18 OCTOBER 2022 – NOTTINGHAM FOREST – home – Premier League –
kick-off 19.30. “Live” on Amazon Prime.
Jack Kaye,
12 October 2022.