Ryan: We Could Have Applied More Pressure

Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Maty Ryan believes the team could have applied more pressure on Tottenham Hotspur at the Amex Stadium on Saturday afternoon, as the Seagulls were narrowly beaten 2-1 in the Premier League.

The Australian was beaten twice by Harry Kane and Erik Lamela, before Anthony Knockaert’s late goal, and he felt the north London side were given too much time on the ball to dictate the play.

He said, “Given the circumstances, we gave them a bit too much respect and allowed them to do what they’re good at. We didn’t put them under as much pressure as we would have liked.

“They were on the back of a few losses and the pressure was on them coming here. In hindsight, I would have liked to have seen us get at them a little bit more.

“We went long and the ball just kept coming back again. We were perhaps too respectful sitting off them, instead of putting them under pressure in high areas.

“We were too cagey in the first half, but in the second half we were better and had more of a go at them. We were chasing the game, so we needed to come out and get at them.”

Knockaert had a fine chance to level the game before Lamela’s goal on the south coast, and although the Frenchman was unable to convert, Ryan felt his opportunity gave the side confidence.

“It would have been a turning point if he had of converted that chance, but football’s a funny game and there was still plenty of time left after that opportunity.

“We could have created more chances and scored, so the hope wasn’t gone after Anthony’s first chance.

“If anything, that chance probably spurred us on and gave us the belief to create more opportunities against them.

“Unfortunately we weren’t able to convert any of them, and therefore we got nothing from the game.”

The Seagulls now turn their attention to next Saturday’s visit to Manchester City, and with Albion searching for their first clean sheet of the season, Ryan is focused on making progress.

“I’m doing my best to keep the team in games, but it’s six games without a clean sheet and we’ve conceded too many goals.

“We need to go away, work hard and learn from these games. If we tighten up the defence, it will hopefully give us more of an opportunity to win games.

“We can take pride from our away performance against Liverpool. We’ll have to be at the top of our game against Man City, and if we do that I believe we can take something from the game."