BRIGHTON: It was a day to forget for Tottenham Hotspur as they suffered a staggering 3-2 defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League, with manager Ange Postecoglou describing the second-half collapse as "as bad as it gets" on Sunday.
Spurs appeared to be in control, racing to a 2-0 lead thanks to first-half strikes from Brennan Johnson and James Maddison, which put them on course for what would have been a sixth consecutive victory across all competitions.
However, the tables turned dramatically after the interval, as Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter, and Danny Welbeck scored in quick succession to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, leaving Tottenham shell-shocked.
In a candid interview with Sky Sports, Postecoglou lamented his team’s lack of focus and a sense of complacency that crept in during the second half. "It’s disappointing. I’m frustrated and absolutely gutted with that. This is the worst defeat we’ve faced since I took charge," the Australian tactician expressed.
"That second-half performance is unacceptable. We weren’t close to where we need to be. We got carried away with our first half and accepted our fate too early. It’s difficult to comprehend, especially given we hadn’t done that under my management. We paid a heavy price for our mistakes.
"We’ve been cruising for too long. Football, like life, will remind you to stay grounded if you start to think you’re invincible. This is an awful loss for us - one of the worst I can recall."
Had Spurs claimed victory, they would have moved up to the periphery of the top four. Instead, they find themselves languishing in ninth place with just 10 points from seven matches as they head into the international break.
In contrast, Brighton’s remarkable comeback sees them leap into sixth, now sitting two points above Spurs.
"Many of the players will head off on international duty; they will each process this defeat individually, and I will reflect on it when they return," Postecoglou added.
Brighton’s performance in the second half brought jubilant scenes among their supporters, a stark contrast to their earlier five league games without a win.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler praised his side’s resilience, stating, "My team deserved this win; they toiled hard and concentrated on the elements within their control. Tottenham always start strong, and we weren’t quite ready for that. We also created chances, but we need to tighten things up defensively. We focused on the positives today, and winning those crucial duels was essential for building self-confidence. The players worked tirelessly to find their rhythm, and they succeeded."