Champions League-chasers Tottenham has put their frustrating Monday night draw at Goodison Park behind them after a 2-1 win in the capital against European dark horse Brighton.
Goals from Son Heung-min and Harry Kane on either side of a Lewis Dunk equalizer were enough to see Spurs remain on the hunt for a return to the top four as they look to track down 3rd-sitting Newcastle United and 4th-place Manchester United, but all the post-match discussion will surround a cadre of dubious decisions that many will rightly feel stripped the Seagulls of a chance to take points back south this evening.
Japanese international winger Kaoru Mitoma’s lovely taken goal was pulled back for handball despite replays showing that the ball struck the winger’s shoulder, which should have seen the goal stand. Even more frustrating was the moment that the budding wide man had his foot stamped on in the box by Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, and despite going down in the box and VAR having a chance to look at the decision, no penalty was awarded.
“That is a disgrace!”
Should Brighton have got a penalty for Højbjerg’s tackle on Mitoma? 🤔
Peter Walton explains…#BTSportScore pic.twitter.com/txxnAF7NBx
— BT Sport Score (@btsportscore) April 8, 2023
The significance of the non-calls during the final push to the end of the 2022-23 Premier League season that mathematically could see Roberto De Zerbi’s men finish in the top four speak for themselves, and many will still look at the officiating across the top flight of English football as questionable at best, with Brighton now in-line for a conciliatory yet useless apology from PMGOL.
Both Cristian Stellini and the aforementioned De Zerbi were also given their marching orders on the day for ongoing scraps on the touchline, but the Spurs caretaker manager was the subject of another poor decision from match officials, after having not been involved in the scrum that led to De Zerbi’s red card. It was hardly a red-letter date for the league and its well-documented issues with officiating.
Still, Spurs will not complain about taking all three points off a very difficult opponent who had crafted more chances from greater possession across another very good 90-minute performance.
Tottenham Player Ratings
- GK: Hugo Lloris – 6.5
- RCB: Cristian Romero – 6.5
- CB: Eric Dier – 6.5
- LCB: Clément Lenglet – 7
- RWB: Pedro Porro – 6.5
- LWB: Ivan Perišić – 7.5
- RCM: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 7
- LCM: Oliver Skipp – 6
- RAM: Dejan Kulusevski -7
- LAM: Son Heung-min – 7
- CF: Harry Kane – 7.5
- Sub: Arnaut Danjuma – 6
- Sub: Pape Matar Sarr – 6
- Sub: Japhet Tanganga – 6
Brighton Player Ratings
- GK: Jason Steele – 6
- RB: Joël Veltman – 6.5
- RCB: Lewis Dunk – 7.5
- LCB: Levi Colwill – 6
- LB: Pervis Estupiñán – 6.5
- RCM: Pascal Groß – 6.5
- LCM: Moisés Caicedo – 7
- CAM: Alexis Mac Allister – 7
- RW: Solly March – 7.5
- LW: Kaoru Mitoma – 6.5
- CF: Danny Welbeck – 6.5
- Sub: Evan Ferguson – 6
- Sub: Adam Webster – 6.5
- Sub: Julio Enciso – 6
