PREMIER LEAGUE
SUNDAY 25TH MAY, 2025
(4PM)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1(1) BRIGHTON& HOVE ALBION 4(0)
Spurs scorer:-
Solanke (pen), 17
Brighton scorers:-
Hinshelwood, 51,64
O'Riley (pen), 88
Gomez, 90+3
Attendance:- 61,449
Referee:- Rob Jones
Assistants:- Adrian Holmes, Simon Long
Fourth official:- James Linnington
VAR:- Michael Oliver
Assistant VAR:- Richard West
Teams:-
Spurs (4-3-3):- 1. Vicario (Capt.); 23. Pedro Porro, 4. Danso, 37. Van de Ven (sub 33. Davies, 66), 13. Udogie; 14. Gray, 30. Bentancur (sub 8. Bissouma, 66), 29. Sarr (sub 28. Odobert, 46); 22. Johnson, 19. Solanke (sub 9. Richarlison, 66), 11. Tel (sub 24. Spence, 83)
Subs not used:- 31. Kinsky; 47. Moore, 64. Olusesi; 63. Ajayi
Booked:- Bentancur (foul on Gruda), Pedro Porro (foul on Mitoma), Davies (foul on Minteh)
Brighton (4-4-2):- 1. Verbruggen; 27. Wieffer, 29. Van Hecke, 4. Webster (Capt.), 3. Igor Julio (sub 34. Veltman, 59); 11. Adingra (sub 22. Mitoma, 46), 20. Baleba, 26. Ayari (sub 25. Gomez, 46), 17. Minteh (sub 6. Milner, 90+3); 8. Gruda (sub 33. O'Riley, 76), 41. Hinshelwood
Subs not used:- 39. Rushworth; 5. Dunk, 16. Cashin; 72. Howell
Booked:- Veltman (unsporting conduct)
I guess partying and playing football don't mix
Let's face it, to coin a phrase, Spurs had been "partying like it's 1999" since Wednesday night. It was a surprise that Spurs started with such a strong team. The partying was continuing around the ground in the pubs and on the streets before kick-off and in the ground where there was a terrific flag-waving anthemic celebration pre-match. The injured Son and Maddison were on the touchline to see those celebrations. Spurs were, after all, Europa League Champions 2025!
Brighton were our last day guests, and perhaps their players were overwhelmed a little by that atmosphere. Spurs need to create something like that noise pre-match next season.
Apparently, Brighton's Joao Pedro was absent because he had been involved in a spat with a fellow player in training this week. Pedro (signed from Watford two years ago) had been one of "The Seagulls" star players this season, scoring 10 league goals. 34-year-old Danny Welbeck, who has also scored 10 league goals, was absent. Ace left winger Kaoro Mitoma was not seen till the second half, when he had an immediate impact.
For Spurs, this was a dead rubber game, and as it happens, winning would not have helped us, as we finished 17th, in our worst ever Premier League position, with 22 defeats, our worse since 1934-35 in a 42-game season.
As in our away game in October, Spurs had a first half lead, which they surrendered. Brighton have achieved their first ever league "double" over Spurs in 13 seasons of league meetings since 1977.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, five teams were seeking to claim the remaining three Champions League places available. Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle succeeded. Spurs had already claimed their place through beating Manchester United on Wednesday in Bilbao. In theory, Brighton needed something from this game to claim eighth place and a European slot had Chelsea failed to finish in the top five and assuming they win the Europa Conference League on Wednesday. As it happens, eighth was not good enough.
Spurs kicked off and played towards the North Stand. The players and officials took the knee before kick-off. There were flashes of skill by Spurs such as when Archie Gray broke forward and took a return pass from Pedro Porro before making it almost to the Brighton area before having his advance blocked. Bentancur intercepted in midfield and passed to Tel, who won a corner on the left. That kick passed wide across the 6-yard zone. Gray won another midfield ball and fed Tel, but his shot was blocked.
Brighton responded through right back Weiffer, whose first effort was blocked. He got a second chance, but this one flew over the target. At the other end, Weiffer brought down Tel inside the area with a tackle from behind. Solanke stepped up; sent the keeper the wrong way and planted the ball to his left. "1-0 to the Champions" chanted the South Stand.
During a hiatus in the game, home fans chanted "Stand up for the champions!"
There was a flash of midfield skill by Sarr before Brighton went on the offensive. After a corner, Vicario saved well from Hinshelwood's header. Hinshelwood is the fourth generation footballing member of his family and scored against us in December 2023. He added two more goals today.
After another Brighton corner and good advantage played by referee Rob Jones, Spurs broke forward through Pedro Porro who gave Mathys Tel a great run at goal. He should have scored, but his shot was held by Verbruggen.
Picture courtesy of Gary Smith
At half-time Paul Coyte interviewed Steve Perryman at pitchside.
Brighton coach Fabian Hurzeler made a double substitution at half-time with Gomez and Mitoma coming on for Ayari and Adingra. Both would have an impact. Spurs seemed to revert to Bilbao tactics, rarely managing to get out of their half. They had little success with their play-out tactics. Their tired legs and bodies became telling.
Hinshelwood equalised in the 51st minute. Webster climbed to head down Gruda's corner and Hinshelwood fired the ball into the roof of the net. Vicario saved a rising shot by Gomez.
Spurs did have a very good chance from which they should have scored. Tel advanced down the left wing and Johnson was in the middle to receive his cross, sadly putting it wide.
Minteh was next to threaten for the visitors and Vicario made another good save. A shot by Baleba was deflected and rebounded of the post before Hinshelwood scored again. It followed another corner. This time Weiffer headed down and a Spurs foot pushed the ball into the scorer's direction when he made no mistake.
Spurs now made a triple substitution with Davies, Richarlison and Bissouma replacing Van de Ven, Solanke and Bentancur, all of whom were cheered off by the home fans.
Pedro Porro showed skill in his half to bring the ball forward before sending a diagonal pass to Bissouma who opted to try and feed Johnson. Nothing came of that move.
There was a bit of needle between Richarlison and Veltman after which the Brighton man was booked. Vicario held well from a Gomez header from a Brighton corner. Mr Jones awarded Brighton a penalty when Bissouma tackled Gomez from behind. Matt O'Riley scored from the spot and our positive goal difference disappeared. Matters were made worse in added time when Gomez scored a great solo goal beating Vicario to his left with a great right-footed 25 yard shot from the left side of the Spurs area.
39-year-old James Milner made a cameo appearance, which might be his Premier League farewell.
No matter - Spurs could get back to partying, with a post-match parade of the trophy around the stadium.
After Wednesday, my personal "Angeometer" had swung back towards "in." It has moved back towards "out" now. Whatever happens, Spurs need a couple of genuine quality players (playmaker and defensive midfielder) in my opinion to be competitive in both the Champions League and Premier League.
In the meantime, let's gloat in the glory of a major trophy winning season.
Enjoy the summer!
. Squad numbers,appearances,bookings & goalscorers
. Read the preview for this game.
. All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats
