Tottenham player ratings vs Brighton as Alejo Veliz scores but makeshift Spurs struggle
Tottenham fell to a 4-2 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday night in the Premier League.
Ange Postecoglou made two changes to the team that beat Everton at the weekend, with Oliver Skipp ruled out with a knock although expected to be back for the New Year's Eve match at home against Bournemouth. Postecoglou had nine first team players unavailable for the trip to the Amex Stadium and that meant a bench mostly full of youngsters.
Tottenham were looking for a victory to get back into the top four after Manchester City leapfrogged them with their win against Everton on Wednesday night.
However, Brighton took the lead within 12 minutes against Spurs' makeshift backline. It was too easy for Joao Pedro to dribble across the edge of the Spurs box past a few challenges and he knocked the ball to Jack Hinshelwood to lash home a powerful strike. They doubled their advantage after the referee Jarred Gillett was advised to go to his pitchside monitor after Dejan Kulusevski grabbed Danny Welbeck by the shirt and hauled him back as he was trying to shoot. The penalty was given and dispatched by Joao Pedro.
Spurs began probing for a goal back but were punched in the gut by Brighton's third, a dipping strike from distance from Pervis Estupinan which nestled in the far corner. Then the hosts got a fourth after a lunging tackle by Giovani Lo Celso on Evan Ferguson resulted in a penalty which Pedro again scored.
Tottenham did get a goal back as Alejo Veliz scored his first goal for the club. Son Heung-min picked him out after a Kulusevski tackle and the young Argentine bounced home a shot. Then Ben Davies added another, heading in Pedro Porro's cross. spurs had late chances, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg hitting the post late on but they could
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