Tottenham v Brighton preview: Faltering Spurs face tricky test
Interim manager Cristian Stellini was frustrated with his side’s failure to carry out a “plan” after the hosts went down to ten men, and now he must come up with another to end their troublesome run of just one win in six outings (D3, L2).
Still right in the battle for a Champions League place but now low on confidence, the Tottenham camp will take no comfort from their underwhelming home record in the month of April; they’ve lost three of their last five PL matches in the month.
Another would make Stellini the first Spurs boss since Clive Allen in 2007 to lose his first official home game in charge, with a record of W7, D2 for managers in the hot seat since.
Brighton are aiming to swoop in and profit from Tottenham’s wobble as they chase what would be a remarkable top-four finish.
Their 2-0 win at Bournemouth on Tuesday night means they’ve now suffered just one competitive defeat across the whole of 2023 (W10, D4). That victory also cut the gap to Spurs coming into this round to just four points - with two games in hand!
The Seagulls' last visit to the capital came in February when they drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace. Solly March netted after half-time in that one, meaning 15 of Brighton’s last 18 PL goals in London have been scored in the second half.
Noteworthy perhaps given a 90th-minute winner here last season (1-0) ended a run of five straight away H2H defeats for Brighton.
Players to watch: Tottenham have scored in five of their last seven competitive H2Hs with Brighton, and Harry Kane netted in all five!
Labelled an “amazing player” by teammate Alexis Mac Allister after Brighton’s Tuesday night win, 18-year-old sensation Evan Ferguson has scored four goals in four combined matches for club and country.
Hot stat: Brighton have scored more goals in Saturday 3pm PL games than any other team this season (28).
