28th December 2023
Brighton and Hove Albion 4 v Tottenham Hotspur 2
PREMIER LEAGUE - at the AMERICAN EXPRESS COMMUNITY STADIUM, FALMER.
For their final game of 2023, the Albion welcomed Tottenham Hotspur to the Amex for a Premier League encounter, "live" in front of the Amazon Prime cameras and broadcast by Talksport and BBC Radiio Sussex Sport.
Last time out the Seagulls drew 1-1 at Crystal Palace in the Premier on the 21 December and for Spurs visit Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi made four changes to his starting line- up from the Palace game, with Jason Steele, James Milner, Facundo Buonanotte and Danny Welbeck replacing Bart Verbruggen, Carlos Baleba, Simon Adringa (injured) and Kaoru Mitoma (injured).
In their previous game in the Premier Spurs had beaten Everton 2-1 at home on the 23 December and for the visit to the Amex Manager Ange Postecoglou made two changes to his starting line-up from that game, with Destiny Udogie and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg replacing Cristian Romero (injured) and Oliver Skipp (injured).
Last season, Spurs did the double over the Albion in the Premier, winning 1-0 at the Amex on the 8 October 2022, with the winning goal coming from Harry Kane (22m) and 2-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the 8 April 2023, with their goals coming from Heung-Min Son (10m) and Harry Kane (79m) and Lewis Dunk (34m) netting for the Seagulls.
Both teams showed their attacking intentions from the start, with Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario twice denying Albion striker Danny Welbeck in the opening minutes. The Seagulls took the lead on 11 minutes when Joao Pedro's purposeful dribble left four opponents in his wake before finding Jack Hinshelwood who fired the ball home from close in. 1-0. Vicario made another fine save to deny Pedro but on 23 minutes Albion increased their lead when Spurs Dejan Kulusevski pulled back Welbeck in the box, VAR confirmed the offence and up-stepped Pedro to convert the penalty-kick. 2-0. James Milner then sent a shot crashing against the post just past the half hour, with Vicario a spectator. Spurs were a threat on the counter and efforts by Brennan Johnson and Heung-Min Son were blocked by Igor Julio and Lewis Dunk respectively. Pedro then escaped his markers but Vicario made an excellent save to keep his close-range shot out, At the other end Richarlison was unfortunate to see his shot hit the post and Son's shot missed the target by a whisker. An excellent half of football by the Albion.
Half-time 2-0.
Pervis Estupinan substituted for Igor Julio at the start of the second-half when Richarlison twice had the ball in the Albion net but both efforts were ruled out for offside. Albion's third goal arrived on 63 minutes when Estupinan, from 25 yards out, scored with a spectacular left-foot shot into the top of the Spurs net, cue wild celebrations around the Amex for a goal of the season contender.
3-0.
Better was to follow on 75 minutes when Giovani Lo Celso brought down substitute Evan Ferguson in the box and Pedro calmly scored from the penalty spot for Albion's fourth and his 13th goal of the season in all competitions. 4-0. The Seagulls then took their foot off the gas in the final ten minutes, which allowed substitute Alejo Veliz to scramble home Son's cross on 81 minutes .
4-1. Defender Ben Davies then headed home from a corner on 85 minutes to set-up a tense finale for the home supporters. 4-2.
There was eleven minutes of time added on, during which Spurs nearly scored a third when Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's long-range shot struck the post and that was it, a thoroughly deservedAlbion win.
Final-score 4-2.
Match stats:
Albion had 15 attempts at goal, with 9 on target and won 7 corners, free-kicks conceded -15.
Spurs had 19 attempts at goal, with 3 on target and won 6 corners. free-kicks conceded - 6.
TO SUM UP -
For 80 minutes the Albion produced their finest football of the season and the win was their best of 2023. After three months out with injury Pervis Estupinan came on to score a cracker of a goal. The Albion head into 2024 with great optimism
Albion line-up (4-1-2-1-2):- Jason Steele; Jack Hinshelwood, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Lewis Dunk (Capt), Igor Julio (Pervis Estupinan 46); Billy Gilmour; Pascal Gross, James Milner (Jakub Moder 69); Facundo Buonanotte (Carlos Baleba 59); Danny Welbeck (Evan Ferguson 69), Joao Pedro (Adam Lallana 90+3).
Subs not used: Bart Verbruggen (G/K), Mahmoud Dahoud, Benicio Baker-Boaltey, Luca Barrington.
Tottenham Hotspur line-up (4-2-3-1):- Guglielmo Vicario; Pedro Porro, Emerson Royal, Ben Davies, Destiny Udogie; Papa Matar Sarr (Bryan Gil 65), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg; Brennan Johnson (Alejo Veliz 70), Dejan Kulusevski, Heung-Min Son (Capt); Richarlson (Giovani Lo Celso 65).
Subs not used: Fraser Forster (G/K) Eric Dier, Ashley Phillips, Yago De Santiago Alonso, Jamie Donley, Alfie Dorrington.
Referee: Jarred Gillett (Queensland, Australia).
Yellow Cards:
Albion: 3 - Lewis Dunk, Jakub Moder, Facundo Buonanotte.
Tottenham Hotspur: 2 - Dejan Kulusevski, Richarlison.
Possession: Albion - 45%. Tottenham Hotspur - 55%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: James Milner (Albion).
Attendance: 31675.
FORTHCOMING FIXTURES:
2 JANUARY 2024 - WEST HAM UNITED - away - Premier League
6 JANUARY 2024 - STOKE CITY - away - Emirates FA Cup, Third Round - kick-off 15.00.
Jack Kaye.