What a game plan Brighton formulated on Sunday afternoon when beating Spurs. Such genius from Fabian Hurzeler to go into half time 2-0 down and then come back and win 3-2 by the final whistle. It was some second half performance. Where do you even start?
The perfect place seems like by expressing how emotional I was waving adios to Pascal Gross before the game. It was so lovely to be able to say goodbye, even though Gross is now a Borussia Dortmund player and well on his way to leaving an indelible mark on the club he supported as a boy.
Gross told the Amex he would never forget playing for Brighton. Personally, I hope he returns one day as Albion head coach. Wouldn’t that be great?
The atmosphere certainly seems to have improved since the change in pre-game routine. Matches now kick off with Sussex by the Sea being sung by every Brighton fan at the top of their voice, rather than when the teams first walk onto the pitch.
I suggested the change here on WAB last season, based on there being a reason Liverpool play You’ll Never Walk Alone immediately before the start of games.
The visit of Spurs though was a little different as we had a minute applause for the regrettable loss of former Brighton manager Barry Lloyd.
When the game got underway, it was dark and dingy weather-wise. The blue and white of Brighton stood out but the dark green of Spurs was horrible.
Or as someone put it to me during the match, it looked like Tottenham were wearing shirts which Seagulls had shit all over. How right they were in the end!
The Albion were forced to kick towards the North Stand in the first half, suggesting Lewis Dunk had lost the toss.
Spurs seemed to enjoy attacking the end where their supporters were from the first whistle. Literally, the first whistle when Timo Werner broke straight from kick and his cross was nearly converted by Brennan Johnson.
Tottenham put the ball in the back of the net not long after. Werner headed in a Pedro Porro cross but the linesman’s flag went up for offside.
Brighton fans were overjoyed with the escape, although at this point it seemed like a long afternoon was in store. Spurs were showing the sort of form which swept them to a 3-0 win at Manchester United a week earlier.
The Albion were dealt an injury blow on nine minutes when Adam Webster went down and needed replacing due to a thigh injury.
Webster looked so disappointed, and Igor Julio came on in his place. I am sure we all wish Webster a speedy recovery after another setback.
He joins the two JPs on the side lines, Jan Paul van Hecke and Joao Pedro. Just like last season with all those injuries, Brighton must plod on.
Spurs took the lead they deserved on 23 minutes, Johnson scoring after an excellent through ball from Dominic Solanke. The Albion could consider themselves luckily they only trailed 1-0 and not 3-0.
34 percent possession for Brighton told its own story. The Albion had not come close to lighting the blue torch paper on their game.
Brighton finally mustered a chance when Kaoru Mitoma crossed but like Johnson earlier for Spurs, Danny Welbeck could not get the right connection and the chance passed the Albion by.
At this point, I thought it was going to be one of those days when nothing goes the Seagulls’ way. In golf, they call it the rub of the green. Those around me in the East Upper began to fear the worst.
Things got progressively worse for the Albion after that, culminating in James Maddison hitting a low ball towards Bart Verbruggen in the Brighton goal.
Verbruggen was partially unsighted and could not get enough behind the shot to keep it out. Spurs led 2-0 and there was hardly anything to smile about.
I considered having a second hotdog of the day to numb the pain during half time. It was such a long way back for Brighton.
There was a small glimmer of hope, however. Spurs this season have tended to start games strong before fading away in the second half for some reason. Might that happen against the Albion?
If it did, Brighton would need an early second half goal to take advantage of it. One change saw Ferdi Kadioglu replaced by Pervis Estupinan. Confidence remained at rock bottom on the terraces as the game restarted.
But the mood started to change when our prayers were answered three minutes into the second half. Mitoma crossed, Tottenham defender Destiny Udogie missed his clearance and Yankuba Minteh slotted home at the back post.
The Albion were suddenly fighting for every ball. 10 minutes later and Georginio Rutter epitomised that by battling his way through a shoulder barge to score the equaliser.
Brighton were now pumped up. The Amex was going barmy. Fabian Hurzeler was directing the troops whilst poor old Ange Postecoglu was left shaking his head and looking downwards.
Another eight minutes later and the Albion scored what Craig Revel Horwood would describe as an A-MAZ-ING goal. Rutter somehow kept the ball in play, sliding in and flicking a cross over a couple of Spurs defenders to Welbeck.
Completely unmarked, Welbeck nodded it into the left hand side of the goal. From 2-0 down to 3-2 up in the space of 18 minutes.
The task for Brighton now was seeing the game out until the final whistle, which they did for an epic win. Spurs and Postecoglu meanwhile were left wondering what had gone wrong.
Results elsewhere played into the Albion’s hands as Chelsea and Nottingham Forest drew, as did Aston Villa and Manchester United.
The Seagulls soared into sixth place in the table going into the international break, 12 points in the bag and with a positive goal difference of three.
A position we would all have taken at the start of the season with a new manager and so many new signings.
Tony Noble @Noble1844Tony
