- Harry Kane fires Spurs ahead
- Pascal Gross equalises from penalty spot
- Hardworking performance secures valuable point
- Seagulls stay 13th in the Premier League
Brighton & Hove Albion drew 1-1 against Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday evening at the Amex Stadium.
Pascal Gross’s penalty cancelled out Harry Kane’s opener with both goals coming in quick succession at the start of the second half.
Chris Hughton made two changes to the side that lost 3-2 at Crystal Palace at the weekend with Bruno and Anthony Knockaert replaced Ezequiel Schelotto and Jurgen Locadia.
Lewis Dunk’s challenge on Lucas Moura earnt him the game’s first yellow card in the early stages of the contest.
It gave the visitors their first opening of the game, as a free-kick was awarded on the edge of the penalty area, but Christian Eriksen fired the set-piece straight into the wall and the danger was cleared.
At the other end great work by Glenn Murray earnt the hosts a corner after the striker had outmuscled Jan Vertonghen, and it presented the Seagulls with an opportunity of their own.
Gross’s out-swinging delivery was met powerfully by the head of Dunk in the centre – much in the same way the two had combined on Saturday for the first goal at Selhurst Park – but the defender’s effort was claimed by Hugo Lloris with Knockaert unable to get a toe to the ball from close range.
A superb solo run by the Frenchman had the Amex on their feet soon after as the midfielder skipped past challenges and fired towards goal but his effort was deflected up and into the grateful arms of Lloris.
Maty Ryan did well to hold a shot on goal from Heung Min-Son as the game continued to ebb and flow before Dale Stephens’ cute flick from Gross’s cross skewed away from goal as the home side continued to look dangerous on the break.
The Australian keeper was called into action again when he was alert to tip away Moura’s effort from distance over the crossbar before Jose Izquierdo ghosted in at the far post but couldn’t meet Gross’s tempting cross with an outstretched leg.
Harry Kane and Son combined well to allow the latter to shoot from the edge of the area just before the break, but Ryan once again got down well superbly to tip away the effort as the half came to a close.
Tottenham, who have won ten away games in the League this season, grabbed the lead immediately after the restart through Kane.
Son got the better of Dunk on the byline, and the midfielder squared for the England striker to fire home via a deflection off Bruno from eight yards.
But no sooner had they fallen behind than Hughton’s men were level. Izquierdo darted into the area and away from Serge Aurier, and the Tottenham defender bundled over the Colombian to hand the home side a chance to level from the penalty spot.
The responsibility was given to Gross and the German midfielder stepped up to beat Lloris to the keeper’s right and tuck the ball into the bottom corner, much to the delight of the Albion fans.
That frantic start to the half was followed by a more subdued period before Shane Duffy deflected Aurier’s fierce drive narrowly away from goal with 18 minutes left on the clock.
Leonardo Ulloa then replaced Murray for the hardworking hosts and the visitors made a double switch with Erik Lamela and Moussa Dembele replacing Moussa Sissoko and Moura respectively.
Solly March came on for Izquierdo with 15 minutes left and Kane was replaced by Fernando Llorente.
In the closing stages Gross fired volleyed over Ulloa’s clever flick from a throw-in and Lamela fired straight at Ryan as both sides continued to press for a winner.
Three additional minutes were signalled and Ulloa went agonisingly close to latching onto Stephens’ lofted through ball, but that was to be the last of the action of the evening.
The reaction from Albion fans as the whistle blew emphasised the importance of the result with Burnley next up for the Seagulls at Turf Moor on Saturday 28th April.
Albion line-up: Ryan, Bruno ©, Dunk, Duffy, Bong, Knockaert, Kayal, Stephens, Izquierdo (March 75), Gross, Murray (Ulloa 74).
Subs not used: Krul, Schelotto, Goldson, Baldock, Locadia.
Tottenham Hotspur line-up: Lloris, Aurier, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Davies, Wanyama, Sissoko (Dembele 74), Moura (Lamela 74), Eriksen, Son, Kane (Llorente 85).
Subs not used: Vorm, Trippier, Dier, Llorente.
Attendance: 30,440.