EMIRATES FA CUP FOURTH ROUND
SATURDAY 5TH FEBRUARY, 2021
(8pm)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3(2) BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1(0)

Spurs scorers:
Kane, 13, 66
March (o.g.), 24

Brighton scorer:-
Bissouma, 63

Attendance:- 54,697

Referee:- Stuart Attwell
Assistants:- Dan Cook & Daniel Robathan
Fourth Official:- Robert Jones
VAR:- Darren England
AVAR:- Sian Massey-Ellis

Teams:-
Spurs (3-4-3):- Lloris (Capt.); Romero (sub Rodon, 77), Sanchez, Davies; Emerson Royal (sub Doherty, 87), Winks (sub Bentancur, 77), Hojbjerg, Reguilon; Lucas Moura (sub Kulusevski, 68), Kane, Son (sub Bergwijn, 69)

Subs not used:- Gollini; Sessegnon; White; Scarlett

Booked:- Bentancur (foul on Bissouma)

Brighton (3-5-2):- Sanchez; Webster, Dunk (Capt.), Cucurella; Lamptey (sub Welbeck, 70), Gross, Lallana (sub Veltman, 46), Bissouma, March (sub Caicedo, 61); Moder (sub Ferguson, 79), Maupay

Subs not used:- Steele; Duffy; Alzate, McGill, Offiah

Booked:- Veltman (foul on Son)

The Seagulls have had their chips

Two goals by Harry Kane and what had looked like a quite sensational if fortuitous goal by Emerson Royal (this turned out to be an own goal) were enough to ensure Spurs’ passage to the fifth round in this late Saturday night tie. It was a competitive game throughout and if Brighton had a genuine goalscorer they might well have scored more than Bissouma’s goal. As it was, Hugo Lloris was required to make at least two very good saves.

There was a decent crowd bearing in mind the ordinary travel difficulties associated with late Saturday nights, acerbated by various cancelled services. Brighton did not appear to have taken their full allocation, but their supporters were occupying two tiers in the North-Eastern corner of the ground. Spurs fielded a strong side with Cristian Romero returning for the first time since November. New boys Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur did see action but started on the bench.

Brighton kicked off playing towards the South Stand and had a couple of early chances, including an easy catch for Hugo from Lallana. Harry Kane sent a good ball down the left flank for Reguilon, but Webster won the challenge. Ben Davies entered the Brighton box after a one-two with Winks, but Brighton cleared before he could get a shot on goal. A Brighton free kick taken by Gross was held by Lloris. Both Emerson and Reguilon had failures with attempted passes, but both were active and generally successful. Emerson in particular was getting everywhere. He turned up on the left in attack and also in the opposition area.

Lamptey was playing an attacking role for Brighton, but after one of his moves broke down, Reguilon and Son broke forward. It looked as if Son had got into a good position, but play was pulled back for an infringement spotted by the referee’s assistant. Sanchez and his defence were having more problems playing out than did Spurs, and after one poor clearance by the keeper. Kane hit a reactive header, but Sanchez recovered and held the ball. Spurs took the lead after another poor Brighton play-out. Hojbjerg intercepted and quickly passed forward to Kane who hit a brilliant right footed curler into the net inside Sanchez’s left post.

More good play by Lucas Moura and Son out of defence led to a dipping shot by Winks, but this was held by Sanchez. Spurs were playing fast snappy football at times with good passing and movement. Conte has been using the international break to his advantage regarding training sessions, I think.

Our second goal followed a long ball down the right wing where Emerson’s determined running took him close to the bye-line. I am sure his intention was to cross, but his cross/shot took enough of a deflection off March for the ball to loop off the defender, beat the keeper and hit the net inside the far post. The goal was announced as Emerson’s and his celebrations were great!

Winks had another shot go well over the target after a Reguilon cross. Lloris saved a shot by March before Hojbjerg led a break forward where Kane tried to chip the keeper. “Sonny” headed wide at the back post and there might have been an offside anyway. Emerson was the receiver in the middle after passes by Kane and Son, but Emerson’s attempt passed wide. Brighton countered and Maupay had a shot, but this was well off target.

After good work by Lucas Moura and Kane the ball so nearly ran to Son in a shooting position, but that didn’t succeed. Moder took a pass from Maupay inside the box, but this shot was also off target. I wanted a third Spurs goal to make me comfortable.

Graham Potter replaced Lallana with Veltman at half-time and Lamptey was pushed further forward. Moder had an early shot over the bar. Hugo then made a great save diving to his left when a Bissouma shot took a heavy deflection.

Veltman was booked for a heavy challenge on Son near the half-way line. I felt that referee Stuart Attwell was generally letting a lot go, but this probably balanced out for both sides. After 58 minutes, Lucas passed to Kane who pushed the ball out to Son. His shot was saved by Sanchez.

The play was generally end to end and I always felt Brighton were a threat. My fears were justified. Romero tried to shepherd Bissouma away from the area, in which he succeeded, but he could not prevent Bissouma hitting a shot (heavily deflected) which beat Hugo’s dive. Spurs nearly responded immediately through Son and Reguilon, whose shot was saved, but they did restore their two-goal lead very quickly after a great lung-busting run by Son, whose effort on goal took a couple of interceptions by defenders before Harry Kane finished off at the back post.

Maupay was clear for Brighton, but he hit the ball straight at Hugo. Bissouma had another effort from 25 yards, but this was over. By this time Kulusevski had replaced Lucas Moura, but he seemed to lack confidence in potential shooting positions and didn’t make the best of another passing opportunity. Bentancur took over from Harry Winks and he had his first booking towards the end of the game unfairly halting another Bissouma run.

Kulusevski had a shot off target after a Spurs corner, and after a poor defensive ball could have shot himself but passed to Bergwijn who was off target. Kane and Bergwijn broke out from a defensive position, but between them never found a shot. Reguilon had a shot saved as added time approached and after receiving from Kulusevski, Kane fired over. There was still time for Hugo to make a good save from a header by Welbeck.

The fifth round draw was made today (Sunday), and we have been drawn away to Middlesbrough. Ties will be played midweek around 2nd March. COME ON YOU SPURS!

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