Premier League 2, Division 1, 2018-19
     Lamex Stadium, Broadhall Way, Stevenage
           Friday 24th August 2018, 7pm

             SPURS      v   BRIGHTON & H.A.
         (White/Blue)        (Green/White)
            4-1-4-1             4-4-1-1

              1(0)                1(1)

        Alfie Whiteman  1  Hugo Keto
         Timothy Eyoma  2  Owen Moore
           Jaden Brown  3  Alex Cochrane
             Luke Amos  4  Will Collar
        George Marsh(C) 5  Josh Kerr
        Connor Ogilvie  6  Hayden Roberts
        Marcus Edwards  7  Andres Dreyer
          Oliver Skipp  8  Mathias Normann
          Troy Parrott  9  Aaron Connolly
         Joshua Onomah 10  Viktor Gyokeres
       Shayon Harrison 11  James Tilley(C)

            Jack Roles 12  Joe Tomlinson
             (9)83Mins
       Jonathan De Bie 13  Billy Collings
          Dylan Duncan 14  Archie Davies
                           (2)37Mins
      Jonathan Dinzeyi 15  Jordan Davies
                           (11)71Mins
  Tashan Oakley-Boothe 16  Stefan Ljubicic
             (7)80Mins     (9)90+2Mins

Scorers:-
           Harrison 58     Gyokeres 41

Booked:-
                           A. Davies 48(Foul)

Coach:-
         Wayne Burrett     Simon Rusk

Attendance:– 391

Referee:– Martin Woods
Assistants:– Louis Marks & Christopher Myatt
Fourth Official:– Jack Bloxham

This re-arranged game against the"Seagulls" was played at Stevenage because of the problems at White Hart Lane preventing it being a "test event". Spurs picked up their first point last week at Anfield while the visitors had drawn both their opening games against Liverpool and Arsenal. This is the first time Spurs have played Brighton at this level as they had won promotion from Division 2.

Spurs lined up with Whiteman in goal behind Marsh and Ogilvie with Eyoma at right back and Brown on the left. Amos anchored the midfield with Onomah and Skipp ahead of him. They were flanked by Edwards on the right and Harrison on the left in support of Parrott up front. Dinzeyi, Spurs only centre-back, was again on the bench along with Oakley-Boothe. We had a strong midfield on and off the pitch to compensate for no centre-backs and a young striker.

Spurs defended the North end in the first half which began in torrential rain. In the first half our midfield dominated the game with the visitors dropping into defensive mode. Parrott set up Edwards for an early chance that was saved. Edwards returned the favour by hitting a deep cross which Parrott hit wide with an overhead effort.

Onomah won a corner from which Harrison headed over. Onomah drove wide from Harrison's pass and was on hand when Edwards' effort was blocked to fire over. Skipp's cross from the left came out to Onomah but his attempt was blocked. The ball was cleared to Connolly who stayed upfield and he curled wide of Whiteman's goal.

A short corner was played by Skipp to Amos whose low drive was saved. Brighton had to make an early change as Moore went down with an injury. Skipp drew a save and then Edwards played the ball inside for Brown but his effort was blocked. The ball was cleared upfield and Connolly held the ball up on the left long enough for Gyokeres to make a run on the right to fire past an unprotected Whiteman.

Spurs had been so on top that only Marsh and Ogilvie had stayed back and they both moved to the ball when Connolly got it. It was very similar to the goal Edwards scored against Liverpool. The visitors went in at half-time with a valuable goal lead.

There were no changes for the start of the second half which saw the "Seagulls" closing down Spurs in midfield and winning more ball. Edwards fired over and Connolly shot wide before A. Davies was booked for a foul on Skipp. Onomah took the free kick and hit it over the wall and onto the crossbar.

Brown played in Edwards for a chance that was over the bar before Connolly fired into the side netting. A long diagonal ball to Brown was turned first time inside for Harrison who took the ball along the edge of the area before curling it into the far side of the net for the equaliser.

Spurs failed to capitalise on the goal as Brighton pressed the ball to win it high up the pitch and create chances for themselves. Whiteman saved from Gyokeres before Onomah drew a save when Harrison played him in and again when set up by Parrott.

Brighton made their second change with J. Davies firing over soon after coming on when he got to Connolly's blocked effort. Gyokeres drew a save and Connolly fired wide as the Brighton pressing was turning over more of the ball.

Spurs made their first change with Oakley-Boothe replacing Edwards. Dreyer fired wide from a cut back by J. Davies and Collar had a long range effort saved. Spurs' second change saw Roles come on for Parrott with Harrison going up front. J. Davies fired wide and Roles had the last chance when played in by Eyoma but his low drive was wide of the far post.

Spurs failed to score in the first half when they were well on top. With the dominance that saw both full backs joining Amos, Skipp and Onomah in the last third they were caught out by a counter attack that could have been defended better with more experienced centre-backs. In the second half Brighton pushed up more pressing the ball which eased the pressure on their goal and they won the ball so often that they could have scored a winner. Lets hope Spurs learn from this and become sharper themselves because the next game will be at the Emirates.

Ray

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