Tottenham Hotspur player ratings against Brighton with one 6/10 and a split of 4/10s and 5/10s

Spurs held on to defeat Brighton 2-1 in a messy and feisty match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The stage was set with the managers exchanging words before a ball had been kicked and a tech malfunction in the referee’s pocket delaying the start.

The Conte playbook remains. The first half was characterised by Brighton possession but Spurs back to looking dangerous on the break.

And the liveliest of the strikeforce was Son, who broke the deadlock with a superb curling strike from outside the box.

Brighton kept coming though, and it was only a handball decision, the woodwork and Hugo Lloris that kept them out for so long.

But it wasn’t to last. Poor defending from a corner allowed Lewis Dunk a free header at the back post.

The second half saw another Brighton goal disallowed for handball, followed by both managers being sent off after a mass shoving match between the benches.

The game was chaotic throughout, with challenges flying in, arguments breaking out and loose passing.

Kane’s winner came from Son playing in Hojbjerg, who pulled back nicely for the Englishman, whose strike took a deflection.

There was a wild and sometimes desperate feeling to the way Spurs held on for the win - but it showed a team spirit that has been sometimes lacking this season.

Hugo Lloris (5)

Lloris made a good save of the kind he should make from a long-range effort in the first half and couldn’t have done anything to keep Dunk’s header out.

He got lucky with the second goal disallowed goal. The handled deflection changed the flight of the ball considerably but he would still have hoped not to let it through.

Cristian Romero (4)

Brighton’s equaliser was entirely down to poor defensive organisation. Lewis Dunk should never have had such an easy time heading for the goal. He was unmarked on the edge of the box and ghosted to the back post.

Romero was the nearest and could have sensed the danger. The Argentinian, as much as anyone, needs a coach to get him to the level he’s capable of.

Until then his frustration is going to continue to put opponents’ ankles in peril.

Eric Dier (4)

Dier is pehaps the most experienced of the three centre-backs but there is no sign he’s taking responsibility and errors are creeping in.

A mistake in the first half nearly led to an equaliser, only for it to be disallowed for handball.

Clement Lenglet (4)

Decisions about the Frenchman’s future are soon to become due, and although he has put in some steady performances, there is nothing to suggest he will be part of the club’s next settled defence.

Ivan Perisic (5)

When he gets the delivery right, he is one of the best around. A cross found Porro in the first half and then a shot early in the second drew a save.

Oliver Skipp (4)

There is still a lot of progress for Skipp to make at the club. It must be frustrating playing in a crowded midfield out of possession for long periods.

Always a willing runner, there were sloppy moments - as well as entertaining runs down dead ends.

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (5)

Usually so steady, he seemed to be drawn into the chaotic nature of the game. Some of his passing was sloppy and he spurned a good goalscoring opportunity, allowing the defender time to block.

He gave away an unnecessary corner ahead of the Brighton goal, and in the second half could easily have seen a penalty given against him for a clumsy challenge.

But he redeemed himself somewhat with the pull-back for Kane’s goal.

Pedro Porro (4)

You cannot doubt his work rate, but there remains a lot of bluster and a shortage of end product for the new wing-back, who is still finding his feet.

Dejan Kulusevski (5)

It wasn’t only Son looking lively. Kulusevski caused problems down the right, after 15 minutes feeding Kane through, only for a brave last-ditch challenge to spoil the fun.

A second half effort after good work down the line could not match Son’s strike and sailed wide.

Heung-Min Son (6)

There was a moment five minutes in when he put the afterburners on - something Spurs haven’t seen enough of this season. But it was a reminder of the world-class player in there and when he cut in outside the box his curled strike was inch perfect.

He didn’t keep this level of performance up for the whole game but he did play Hojbjerg in for Kane’s goal.

Harry Kane (5)

It wasn’t the striker’s finest game for Spurs but he still found opportunities for trademark long balls around the corner and good work to feed Kulusevski down the line in the second half.

Oh, and he scored, of course.

Subs:

Arnaut Danjuma

Came on for Kulusevski. With Richarlison still on his way back from injury, there was a rare ten-minute outing for the thus-far ignored Netherlands winger.

Pape Matar Sarr

Made a brief appearance, coming on for a tiring Skipp.

Japhet Tanganga

Came on for Ivan Perisic to help see out injury time.