Brighton 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur: Premier League – as it happened

Simon Mail was at Amex and his report has landed. Thank you for reading this MBM. Good night!

Antonio Conte’s turn. “It was a good performance. It was a difficult match, but Brighton is a very good team. Their position in the table is a clear indication of that. They have some very talented players. It is difficult to come here and play a good match. We tried to play with high intensity and personality. The victory was well-deserved. However, it is a great compliment to Brighton because they are a very good team. There are many positive things. We go away with good confidence, but on Wednesday we have an important game at home, and I invite our fans to create an amazing atmosphere.”

Roberto De Zerbi speaks to Sky Sports. “We played a fantastic game and the result is not fair, 100 percent. Football isn't always right, and today's result is not good. I made a mistake [in assessing Tottenham’s initial formation] but after the first 15 minutes, on the pitch it was only Brighton. They were amazing today. I wished them well. We are now looking forward to Monday, when we can start working again. Football is not fair.”

Harry Kane speaks to Sky Sports. “It’s been a difficult week to say the least and it was nice to get a win today. It was a scrappy goal but I’m really proud of the boys. It’s been a tough week and a difficult place to come.”

Man-of-the-match Ryan Sessegnon adds: “We knew we had to perform today, and wanted to win because of [Gian Piero Ventrone]. Thankfully we did.”

As for the football … no, it wasn’t a game for the ages. The xG: 0.66 to 0.77. Spurs have regained some momentum in the title race, though, and their performance was much improved on last weekend’s insipid second-half effort against Arsenal. It’s a familiar story for Brighton, though: nothing to show for plenty of pretty build-up. Roberto De Zerbi narrates the tale, which was once told by Graham Potter.

Tottenham’s celebrations are reserved. That was one for Gian Piero Ventrone. It wasn’t a classic, but that’s not really the point: after an emotional week that saw the passing of Tottenham’s beloved fitness coach, the win stands as a tribute to their colleague. An emotional Hugo Lloris walks up to the Tottenham end and holds up a shirt bearing Gian Piero’s name. It’s a lovely, if awfully bittersweet, moment.

Harry Kane’s first-half header is enough for Spurs to consolidate third spot.

90 min +4: Lallana spins on the edge of the Spurs box but can’t find the crucial pass. Lloris slips and the clock ticks.

90 min +3: Sky’s man of the match award goes to Ryan Sessegnon. “Although I’d much rather he was still playing for Fulham, it’s great to see Sessegnon doing well at Spurs at last,” writes Richard Hirst. “He was a wonderful player for Fulham: in my mind’s eye he is always threading the ball past John Terry for Tom Cairney to score the winner against Villa in the 2018 play off final - oh happy day.”

90 minutes +2: Spurs agree with the free kick. Then play stops because Dunk took a headbutt.

90 minutes +1: Mitoma dribbles down the left. He enters the box, but is forced to turn his back. He’s heading back to the corner flag … but is barged in the back by Romero. It's a daft foul, as the Brighton player is going nowhere.

90 minutes: There are five additional minutes.

89 minutes: Brighton toss the dice, replacing Veltman & Caicedo by Lamptey & Gilmour. Spurs react by replacing Kane – hobbling a little gingerly after taking that whack – with Skipp.

87 minutes: Spurs are two banks of five that are now at the edge of their box. Brighton pings it around. Lallana almost tees Trossard up, but Doherty pokes away. Kane returns to defend and draws a foul form Mac Allister to relieve the pressure.

85 minutes: Mitoma, Lallana perform some elaborate backflips down the inside-left channels. The move doesn’t quite come off, which is a shame, because that could have led to a very pretty goal.

83 minutes: Perisic launches a low diagonal ball through Brighton box from the left. Richarlison reacts late and can’t poke in at the far stick.

82 min: Lallana replaces Gross.

81 minutes: This is a huge let down for Sanchez who causes all kinds of trouble for Mac Allister with a weak pass from the box. Hojbjerg immediately closes down the midfielder and almost deflects it back into the unguarded goal. It flies inches wide right.

80 minutes: Perisic is on for Son.

78 minutes: It goes on. Welbeck moves down the channel to the left and drags a weak shot across the goal.

76 minutes: Mac Allister spins gracefully away from Son, and should release March to his left, but misplaces a pass. Trossard picks up possession and lines up a shot, but can’t get that away. Brighton played well right up to the last third. Roberto De Zerbi now tells the Graham Potter story. This evening, Lloris had very little to do.

74 minutes: Long ball down the middle. Son takes possession and tees up to the right of D. He curls spectacularly into the top left. It's a great shot! Except it’s not a goal. Son doesn’t bother celebrating, knowing full well he’d gone a split second too early. Offside.

73 minutes: Welbeck almost releases Trossard from the Spurs box by kicking a ball down the left channel. Romero intercepts just in the right time and reads the danger.

72 minutes: Spurs get a free kick. Son swings in. Kane turns it on. The ball’s always heading wide left of the target, but Sanchez loses his bearings and flings himself dramatically at it. Fortunately for Brighton, he doesn’t get there, and therefore doesn’t concede a needless corner. Goal kick.

71 minutes: Spurs make the first change of evening, replacing Bissouma by Richarlison. Pantomime boos are still ringing in the lugs of the former Brighton man as he leaves.

69 min: Mitoma comes again, dribbling in from the left and replicating the first half of Ricky Villa’s famous goal in the 1981 FA Cup final replay. He can’t do the second bit, though, and chases the ball out of play. It was a lively run that got the crowd moving.

68 minutes: Mitoma immediately gets into the thick of things, cutting in from the right and sending a curler down the bottom right. Hojbjerg throws himself in the direction of block.

67 minutes: Mac Allister searches for Estupinan using a shovelled ball down the channel's inside-left channel. But the ball flies out for the goal kick. That’s Estupinan’s last involvement, as he’s replaced by Mitoma.

65 minutes: Brighton string many passes together and you will get absolutely nowhere.

63 minutes: March comes in from the right and tries to do a quick one-two against Mac Allister down the channel. Sessegnon does extremely well to hold his ground and make sure March can’t latch onto the return pass, ushering the ball back to his keeper. Smart play all around.

62 minutes: Spurs suddenly pose a threat. Kane spins Dunk down to the right and lashes a low shot across goal and inches wide from the left-hand post.

61 minutes: Caicedo strips Son from the middle of the park, and almost releases Welbeck down in the middle. Spurs counter with Dier intercepting. Kane moves down the right side and passes a diagonal pass infield to Son. Son is ready to shoot, but only Dunk can slide in and deflect it back off the striker.

60 minutes: Sessegnon moves into space to the left, and Bentancur sends him scampering clear. The resulting low cross doesn’t get past Veltman, which is just as well for Brighton as Son was waiting to slot.

59 min: All a bit scrappy. There is not a lot to do.

57 min: Brighton started the half quickly, but that’s all blown out now. Spurs appear to be quite comfortable at the moment.

55 minutes: Webster channeled his inner Beckenbauer as he walked down the inside-left channel. He takes a swing from the distance. Romero bravely extends his legs to try and deflect the shot towards a corner. His fruit bowl took most of the blow. He’s soon up again, after a few deep breaths and a quick inventory check, and nothing comes of the resulting corner, so it was all worth it in the end.

53 minutes: Sessegnon makes a pass down to the left to send Son on his way. Son approaches the box's edge and contemplates shooting. He’s got options, too: Kane in the middle, Sessegnon on the overlap. He eventually does nothing, but he eventually tries to dribble into the box and ship possession. Strangely, he is indecisive.

51 minutes: Spurs slow down things a bit with some patient-passing in the middle.

49 minutes: Veltman has been booked for a slide tackle against Son. He’d hooked the ball away from the Spurs striker, and was making off with it, so he’s livid. But the referee views that he’s gone through his man.

48 minutes: Caicedo robs Bentancur at the centre circle. He can’t turn and start an attack, because Bentancur holds on. The Spurs midfielder is quite fortunate to not have to enter the book.

47 minutes: Estupinan hooks from the left, but neither Trossard or Welbeck can connect, six yards away. Romero’s presence too much for them.

46 minutes: March immediately tackles Sessegnon down to the right and loops into Spurs' box. Lloris steps out and flaps, but does enough to keep the ball away.

Brighton start the second half. Neither of the managers has made any changes during the break.

Half-time entertainment.

Nothing happens in an extra minute. Spurs started strong and deserved their early lead. However, Brighton fought back and was able to get within touching distance of equalising on a few occasions. All set up for second-half fun!

45 minutes: One minute will be added to the end this first half.

44 minutes: Caicedo takes possession at the Spurs box's edge. He passes down the inside-left channel to Welbeck, who pelts towards bottom-left corner. Lloris tries to parry, as he should.

42 minutes: Sessegnon takes the ball from Veltman at the Brighton box's edge. He is ready to strike and prepares to turn, but the whistle blows for a foul. That was a pretty generous reading of the defender’s plight, and Brighton get away with one there.

40 minutes: Another Brighton corner. This time, it's to the left. It is easy enough for Spurs to deal with. After a slow start, Brighton has responded well.

39 minutes: Mac Allister plays March, just to the right side of the Spurs D. After a touch of inside, he hits a low drive that is only millimetres wide at the right-hand post. Lloris would have been able to get there if that had been on target. Brighton is getting closer.

38 minutes: Davies makes a smart pass down the right channel and almost releases Sessegnon into a Brighton box. Webster steps in to help Sessegnon kick the ball. However, it turns out that Sessegnon was offside.

36 minutes: Gross sends a outswinger towards Dunk on the edge of six-yard box. Dunk rises the highest and should work Lloris at most. However, he misses the target by aiming for the top left and sends his header inches above the bar. Very close to an equaliser.

35 minutes: Romero recuperates and gets back up. March’s first corner from the left leads to another. The second corner is now being worked on the opposite wing. Brighton will now send a corner in the right.

34 minutes: Brighton continues to push Spurs back. March comes in from the right. Estupinan’s presence forces Romero into the concession of a corner. Romero falls, having collided with Doherty.

32 minutes: The free kick is sent to the mixer. Bissouma makes up for his mistake by blocking Trossard’s shot.

31 min: … all of which frustrates Spurs, Bissouma ploughing through the back of Mac Allister and going into the book. The home fans wanted their hero sent off but yellow seems to be the right choice, even though Mac Allister will feel that no-nonsense challenge.