Out of the FA Cup – but Brighton know they can take points from Spurs

The run up to Brighton’s FA Cup tie at Spurs was largely dominated by fans moaning about the ticket allocation. The Albion took 5,700 tickets out of a possible 9,000 and this seemed to upset a lot of people.

Whilst it is true that we have seen in recent times nearly 7,000 away fans go to MK Dons when increased allocations have been offered, that was for a 3pm kick off on a Saturday. There were trains running, parking near the stadium and Brighton were going for promotion.

Spurs away was different. Line repairs meant you could not get the train home afterwards and there is nowhere to leave a car close to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

No sensible business person would gamble on buying 9,000 tickets and risk losing £50,000 if they did not sell out. Thankfully, our club is run by sensible business people.

Once the weekend rolled around, those gripes about tickets could not distract from the business of the FA Cup. What a weekend it was for it.

Kidderminster Harriers were unlucky not to pull off one of the greatest shocks ever at home to West Ham, where they led 1-0 until the 91st minute only to lose 2-1 in the last minute of extra time. How unfortunate for the non league side.

We also saw good old Middlesbrough take out Manchester United 8-7 on penalties. Chris Wilder must have been so proud of his team’s efforts.

Of interest for Brighton fans at Old Trafford was Aaron Connolly coming on to chase shadows in the second half. You thought there might have been a chance for him to shine when it went to penalties, but even as the shoot out went to sudden death he still did not feature.

Is there some of of clause that means loanees are not eligible to take spot kicks in the FA Cup which I did not previously know about?

Unfortunately, Brighton were not able to join Middlesbrough in the next round. With the way the squad has been performing lately, I think a lot of us felt there was a good chance we could take out Spurs. But we also thought it would have to be a good day with no howling errors.

Needless to say, it was not one those days. To quote our amazing coach Graham Potter, “We were not at our best.”

Which was in stark contrast to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which most first-time visitors from Brighton described as the best in England.

I also learnt that it is apparently the greenest not only in this country, but in the whole of Europe. Don’t tell Brighton City Council that as they might get a little upset.

For those who did not get a ticket, the game was televised on ITV4. Our ambassador in the studio was Glenn Murray, along with former Spurs player Robbie Keane.

It still bugs me that whenever Brighton are shown live, the market share of coverage always goes to the other team.

Spurs this, Spurs that… poor Glenn did his best to get a word in for Brighton but it was just so one sided that neutrals might have forgotten two teams were playing.

Brighton started well enough, moving the ball around well. There was an early warning sign of what was to come however when Harry Kane could not make the most of a dodgy clearance from Robert Sanchez and the Albion were lucky to escape a calamity.

Then within seconds, poor Adam Webster stumbled when trying to decide whether to clear the ball up the right or run with it.

Before Webster knew what had happened, Son Heung-min was on the ball and slipping a pass to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Next the ball went to Harry Kane who was not correctly marked, allowing him to take on two defenders and rocket a shot into the top corner.

It was an amazing strike and a great goal. Brighton though were guilty of making mistakes and you cannot do that at this level, as the players well know.

A slice of fortune gave Spurs their second. Solly March kept pace with Emerson Royal running down the right, only for the Albion player to deflect a cross high and fast over the head of Sanchez and into the back of the net for 2-0 to Spurs.

This was bad luck for Brighton, but it just goes to show how many problems deflected balls and crosses can cause for goalkeepers and defenders – as Spurs would discover themselves a little later.

Half time was reached with the Albion 2-0 behind and facing an uphill climb to get back into the game. Brighton came out full of enthusiasm after Potter’s team talk, the players probably angry with themselves for what had happened in the first half and showing that fighting spirit the Albion have become known for.

Spurs had plenty to think about, especially from Yves Bissouma. He was simply amazing. There was a back heel in the area for Neal Maupay to do a quick turn which was unfortunate not to lead to a goal.

Maupay seemed to snatch at the chance and one would think he would be disappointed not to really test Hugo Lloris.

Jakub Moder was next to be disappointed when sending one too high. Bissouma had a shot tipped over as the game opened up, but that let Spurs show their might on the counter and Sanchez did well to save from Son and Kane.

Then it happened. Bissouma got the goal he deserved, coming across towards the right side of the Spurs goal, working his way back across into more space and hitting a shot which deflected off Hojbjerg.

Now the fight back could begin. Or so we thought. Brighton being within one goal of Spurs was short lived, Son ran from almost the halfway line, going past Webster and Lewis Dunk at speed.

Sanchez came out to challenge and ended up being beaten by Webster of all people who knocked the ball past his own goalkeeper. Webster chased back to try and retrieve the situation but Kane slid in to make it Spurs 3-1 Brighton.

I always say “It is never over until the fat lady sings” and the Albion might have made a game of it if Maupay had finished a gem of a pass from Webster.

Maupay though could only put his shot straight at Lloris who comfortably made the save, another chance that Neal knew got away.

Substitute Danny Welbeck also came close with a header that fizzed wide whilst for Spurs, Steven Bergwijn ballooned a sitter over the bar after Antonio Conte gave the Albion some relief by taking off Son.

This may not have been the Albion’s night, but think about this – it can serve as a base for Brighton to go onto take six points from Spurs in the Premier League in the two meetings still to come this season.

Potter and the players now have a better idea of the current Spurs set up under Conte and they will surely not make the the same individual mistakes next time they face Tottenham. The Albion’s exit from the FA Cup can yet be turned into a positive.

Tony Noble @Noble1844Tony