Tottenham Hotspur 2 Albion 1: Spurs hit back after Kirby opener

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Albion suffer their first defeat in four despite going ahead through Fran Kirby.

Luke Nicoli

2026-11-08T15:50+00:00

Fran Kirby fires Albion into an early lead. 📷Kyle Hemsley

Albion women missed the chance to leapfrog opponents Tottenham Hotspur into fourth place in the WSL table following a 2-1 defeat at the BetWright Stadium.

While the Seagulls made a dream start through Fran Kirby's early goal, Spurs hit back with a quickfire double after the break to take all three points.

It was a first defeat in four for Arturo Ruiz's side, who took to the field unchanged from last weekend's 2-1 home win against rivals Crystal Palace.

The Albion line-up before kick-off against Spurs. 📷Kyle Hemsley

His side were all smiles again just three minutes after kick-off when Olivia Garcia cut through the heart of the Spurs midfield. She then released Olaug Tvedten on the left, who took a touch before delivering a low cross to Kirby, allowing the forward to coolly tuck home her third goal of the season.

There was a short delay in play after skipper Maisie Symonds suffered a clash of heads, and once the game resumed Tottenham – who started the day in fourth place in the WSL table – started to gain more of a foothold in the game.

Cathinka Tandberg and Olivia Holdt had chances to equalise for the hosts but Albion keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was equal to both efforts.

Albion's rearguard was just as stoic whenever Spurs broke forward in the closing stages of the half as the Seagulls maintained their one-goal advantage.

The lead, however, lasted just six minutes after the restart when Signe Gauspet ghosted in behind the Albion backline to score with a deflected first-time effort.

Sophie Peskett at full stretch in the first half against Spurs. 📷Kyle Hemsley

Spurs doubled their lead just two minutes later when Drew Spence – the WSL's all-time record appearance holder – slipped in Holdt inside the box to drill home a low effort.

Tottenham continued on the front foot with Victoria Pelova testing Nnadozie, likewise Holdt once more, as the Seagulls were pinned into their own half.

In a rare foray forward in the second half for the Seagulls, Symonds sent in a deep cross which just eluded Caitlin Hayes while a late surge resulted in a Kirby corner that was headed wide by Hayes.

Olaug Tvedten wins the ball back in midfield. 📷Kyle Hemsley

A disappointing second-half display, certainly, but Arturo Ruiz's side have a chance to return to winning way in a Players' Cup encounter at home to Watford on Wednesday.

Albion: Nnadozie, Olislagers, Vanegas, Hayes, Mpome (sub: Murphy 70), Tvedten (Rayner 70), Garcia, Joramo (Krezyman 82), Symonds, Peskett (George 56), Kirby.