Spurs Odyssey

NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 533

Submitted by Norman Giller

Frankly, Thomas deserves that transfer window

Norman is suffering technical problems this week, so here's an image of him with Steve Perryman last season

Many Spurs supporters turned their anger for the defeat by Fulham on manager Thomas Frank, and the body language of his players suggests he has lost the dressing-room. If Dan "the axeman" Levy was still in power I believe Frank would have been counting his compensation by now, but I am hoping the Joe Lewis family have more patience and understanding.

In my view, Thomas deserves at least until the January transfer window to turn things around. First and foremost he must win the confidence and full support of his players. The way they gathered together at half-time after that bleak first-half clearly indicated they were looking for each others instructions and support rather than the guidance of their manager.

If ever there was a moment for Thomas Frank to steady the ship, it comes tomorrow night on Tyneside. St James' Park is not the place you would choose for a crisis-control mission, not with the Geordie crowd roaring like a jet engine and Newcastle rediscovering some of their swagger with that resounding victory at Everton.

But football has a funny habit of offering redemption in the most unlikely arenas.

For Frank, this is less about formations and more about foundations. The players need clarity, purpose and belief - and he needs to convince them he is the man to provide it.

As our Spurs Odyssey guru Paul H. Smith reports HERE, the second half against Fulham flickered with signs of self-help among the squad, but Tottenham cannot rely on huddles and hope. They need leadership, conviction and a clear plan that everybody buys into. As my Quiz regulars know, they need the spirit of Dave Mackay but that is like looking for a bonus in a Budget...or the purpose and passion of my old mate Steve Perryman, who never knew the meaning of the word surrender. Those were the days, my friends.

Newcastle will come at us hard and fast, particularly down the flanks, and our defensive concentration must be unrecognisably sharper than it was at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday. If Spurs allow the same space and confusion as they did in that dire first half, Eddie Howe's side will punish them without mercy.

But - and here is the eternal fascination of football - Tottenham have the talent to hurt Newcastle if they can only rediscover their front-foot identity. Perform with bravery and positivity and the tide can turn. Shrink into caution, and the night could feel very long indeed, particularly for Thomas Frank.

Tomorrow is not a season-defining match, but it is character-defining. A spirited, unified display would buy under-fire Thomas breathing space and rebuild trust with supporters who are rapidly losing faith. A limp repeat of Saturday, however, would deepen the fault lines and make that January deadline a date with destiny for Frank and his players.

I was in total agreement with Frank when he described the crowd booing Vicario as "unacceptable". I (patting myself on the back) have never jeered or booed a player in my life. They are just humans like the rest of us and deserve our full support and backing, even when an error is beyond stupid. How on earth does booing help anybody?

We now go into tomorrow's challenge with trepidation. Let's cheer and encourage all players wearing the Spurs shirt. They need every one of us behind them, not in their way.

Thomas Frank would call that as "acceptable."

COYS

Spurs select - A book to read and play

Just 24 shopping days to Christmas and another gentle reminder that my 122nd book has gone off to the Printer: Spurs Select, in which you are challenged to pick a Tottenham Team to Play for Your Life.

A donation for every book sold will be made to the Tottenham Tribute Trust, who help our old heroes that missed the gravy train.

Spurs Odyssey readers can save a fiver by ordering the book NOW. normangiller@gmail.com.

If you prefer, you can mention you'd like purchasing details when entering the Spurs Odyssey Quiz below. It's a book that you play as well as read and is guaranteed to revive memories of your most memorable matches. Please join me in playing the Selecting Game.

Here we go with the 14th week of our quiz that tests your knowledge of Tottenham players and the club's history ...

Who was born in Udine, has won five caps for his country and from which club did he join Spurs in 2023?

Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 14. Deadline: midnight this Saturday. I will do my best to respond to all who take part.

The rules are the same as in the previous 11 seasons. I ask a two-pronged question with three points at stake - two for identifying the player and one for the supplementary question. In the closing weeks of the competition I break the logjam of all-knowing Spurs-history experts with a real stinker of a tie-breaking poser that is based on opinion rather than fact. This is when I lose what few friends I have.

This season's main prize will be a framed certificate announcing the winner as SOQL champion 2026, plus three signed books to be revealed at a later date.

Last week I asked: Who won 22 caps for his country, wore the No 6 Tottenham shirt and against which team did he captain Spurs to victory in an FA Cup final at Wembley?

Answer: Dave Mackay/Chelsea

See you back here on Monday.

Follow @spursodyssey

PREMIER LEAGUE

SATURDAY 29TH NOVEMBER, 2025

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1(0) FULHAM 2(2)

Spurs scorer:-

Kudus, 59

Fulham scorers:-

Tete, 4

Wilson, 6

Attendance:- 60,546

Referee:- Stuart Attwell

Assistants:- Constantine Hatzidakis, Nick Hopton

Fourth official:- Michael Salisbury

VAR:- Andy Madley

Assistant VAR:- Sian Massey-Ellis

Teams:-

Spurs (4-2-2-2):- 1. Vicario; 23. Pedro Porro, 37. Van de Ven (Capt.), 13. Udogie (sub 11. Tel, 85); 14. Gray (sub 28. Odobert, 60), 6. Palhinha (sub 30. Bentancur, 60);20. Kudus, 15. Bergvall (sub 29. Sarr, 77); 39. Kolo-Muani, 9. Richarlison (sub 7. Xavi, 60)

Subs not used:- 31. Kinsky; 24. Spence, 33. Davies; 22. Johnson

Booked:- Van de Ven (dissent after foul on Anderson), Udogie (persistent fouling), Muani (foul on Tete)

Fulham (4-2-3-1):- 1. Leno; 2. Tete, 5. Andersen (Capt.), 3. Bassey, 30. Sessegnon; 17. Iwobi (sub 21. Castagne, 87), 16. Berge; 8. Wilson (sub 20. Lukic, 68), 24. King (sub 32. Smith-Rowe, 68), 19. Chukwueze (sub 22. Kevin, 81); 7. Jimenez

Subs not used:- 23. Lecomte; 15. Cuenca; 10. Cairney, 11. Traore;18. Kusi-Asare

Booked:- Jimenez (deliberate handball), Leno (time)

Spurs have the losing habit

In a league where just about any team (barring Wolves at the bottom) can beat any opponent, Spurs have lost for the third time in a week and have also lost their third consecutive London Derby. Thomas Frank's team have certainly got the losing habit and will probably slip into the bottom half of the table later today (Sunday).

If they are not careful, Spurs will become one of those teams incapable of beating anyone. They certainly can't win a home Premier League game at the moment.

Most fans will have had optimism about the game after a good performance in Paris on Wednesday. The formation was similar with three twos in front of the back four. Clearly that style is far too open and Fulham cracked the code within six minutes, scoring twice. It's a long time since Spurs have gone two down in such a short space of time, and I believe the first time in the Premier League era. There have been plenty of single early goals against us.

Vicario was sorely culpable for Fulham's second goal and was booed by his own fans when he next touched the ball. That's something I cannot recall happening before.

A good crowd turned out on a cold night for this anti-social kick-off time. They fans' patience is wearing very thin, as might that of the executive with regard to their recently appointed coach.

Fulham kicked off and played towards the South stand. They had the lead within two minutes when Chukwueze's ball from the left reached Kenny Tete in too much space. Tete scored his first goal in two years with a low driven shot which took a deflection and beat Vicario to his left.

Spurs woes increased dramatically. Vicario came way out of his area to the left touchline and instead of kicking into Row Z, he tried a short pass down the line and gifted the ball to Harry Wilson. Wilson accepted the offer and temptation of an unguarded goal and hit a left-footed shot from distance into the net. The stadium was in shock, but angry with Vicario, who was roundly booed when he next came outside his area to clear.

There was to be no way back for Spurs, especially as they were outplayed on the first half with Fulham finding space and energy, coupled with good passing to feet. Spurs' style was hit and hope and full of inaccuracy and incapability.

If Spurs had played in the first half as energetically as they did the second, they might have done better, but it was too little, too late.

Things so nearly got worse for Spurs when Vicario punched out an Iwobi cross to the feet of Chukwueze, whose shot hit the outside of the keeper's right post.

Richarlison had a weak header picked up by Leno after a long ball from the right. Anderson went down dramatically when fouled by Bergvall in the Fulham area, but referee Stuart Attwell was happy to just have words with the Spurs man. Richarlison did win a corner on the right after a move which started with a good tackle by Danso in his own half. A cross by Kudus caused some confusion in the Fulham defence and Spurs had another corner.

Kudus hit a short pass to Archie Gray who tried a shot from distance, but that passed wide across goal.

Micky van de Ven came to our rescue after Chukwueze had bettered both Pedro Porro and our keeper before Captain Micky recovered with a brilliant tackle. Micky wasn't happy later with more histrionics from his opposite number and was booked for perhaps his reaction, rather than the foul.

David Pleat was the half-time guest, plugging his new book, and joined by Clive Allen, reflecting on events of nearly forty years ago when goals did come easily to Clive, and Spurs.

Spurs kicked off and looked far more lively in the second half. In particular, Muani impressed with his efforts. Kudus was now getting the better of former Spur Ryan Sessegnon.

Udogie took an early booking. Leno punched a Kudus cross away from under his crossbar. Muani nearly scored with a near post header after a Pedro Porro cross but hit the side netting.

It was Kudus who reduced the deficit with an excellent left-footed shot high into Leno's top left corner after Bergvall's pass from the middle. Leno might have got a touch, but it was not enough.

Frank made a triple substitution of Gray, Richarlison and Palhinha with Odobert, Xavi Simons and Bentancur.

Muani had another effort go close after a Kudus cross, and Xavi had a shot blocked after a successful Kudus-Pedro Porro combination. From the corner Bergvall's header was cleared off the line. Odobert headed over after good play by Kudu and Bentancur.

Fulham started to get forward again and Jimenez was booked for a diving effort at the back post where he pushed the attempt wide with his hand. Danso took a long throw and after Udogie's pass, Muani went close with a clever back-heeled attempt.

That was as close as we came, and Fulham celebrated their first away win of the season.

Our next game is another midweek trip to Newcastle on Tuesday. I don't fancy our chances.

Follow @spursodyssey

. Spurs record in London Derby League matches since 1997

. Squad numbers,appearances,bookings & goalscorers

. Read the preview for this game.

. All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here!

. Last season's game - Spurs 1 Fulham 1, 01.12.24

. Premier League Matchday 13 - last year

. See the current injury list for all Premier League Teams

. All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here!

Full Record of Spurs -v- Fulham Premier Pl W D L For-Ag Pts Home 18 11 5 2 30 -11 38 Away 18 8 3 7 24 -23 27 =========================================== Total(Prem) 36 19 8 9 54 -33 65 1.8 Pts per game =========================================== Football Lge Home(Div 1) 11 8 3 0 28 - 13 19 Away(Div 1) 11 6 4 1 17 - 12 16 =========================================== Total(Div 1) 22 14 7 1 45 - 25 35 =========================================== Football Lge Home(Div 2) 11 4 6 1 13 - 8 14 Away(Div 2) 11 4 5 2 20 - 16 13 =========================================== Total(Div 2) 22 8 11 3 33 - 24 27 =========================================== Total(Prem) 36 19 8 9 54 -33 65 Total(Div 1) 22 14 7 1 45 - 25 35 Total(Div 2) 22 8 11 3 33 - 24 27 =========================================== Grand Total 80 41 26 13 132 - 83 127 =========================================== Last Six Premier League results:- Spurs - WLWLDL Leeds 1-2 Spurs Spurs 1-2 A. Villa Everton 0-3 Spurs Spurs 0-1 Chelsea Spurs 2-2 Man Utd Arsenal 4-1 Spurs Fulham - LLLWLW B'mouth 3-1 Fulham Fulham 0-1 Arsenal Newcastle 2-1 Fulham Fulham 3-0 Wolves Everton 2-0 Fulham Fulham 1-0 S'derland Pos P W D L F-A GD Pts 9. Spurs 12 5 3 4 20-14 6 18 15. Fulham 12 4 2 6 13-16 -3 14

Time to stop the rot!

Despite the arrival of Thomas Frank, last week's disgraceful defeat at the other end of Seven Sisters Road means that Spurs have now taken 37 points from their last 38 games in the Premier League (won ten, lost 21). The trend to show relegation form despite the change of coach continues. It's time to stop the rot!

We fans so desperately need to see a home win, not experienced in the league since the opening day of the season. Our form in London derbies is also awful having now lost 14 of our last 23 such games in the Premier League. Our last win over Fulham was over two years ago in October 2023. Marco Silva's team won't make it easy, and despite their lowly league position, a win would put them among the gathering of teams with similar point totals.

Fulham's recent league form has not been good, but they only lost 1-0 to Arsenal. Silva was frustrated at his team's lack of transfer activity in summer and their one major signing was that of Kevin, a forward from Shakhtar Donetsk. Kevin cost £34.5 million and was described as "a young and versatile talent with exceptional pace and we believe he can be an important addition". He's made three league starts and three substitute appearances so far.

Fulham have made it to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals by beating lower league opposition, but now, like us, they face a trip to Newcastle. We'll be back at St. James' Park on Tuesday night in a busy pre-Christmas schedule.

Marco Silva confirmed last week that forward Rodrigo Muniz will be out until around February with a thigh injury. The Brazilian underwent surgery two weeks ago. Muniz has been a regular goalscorer over the last two years. Fulham have also been missing their attack-minded left back Antonee Robinson since late September.

Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham have shared 24 different players over the 33 years of the Premier League since its inaugural season in 1992-93.

Of those 24, only one made over 100 Premier League appearance for both Spurs and Fulham: former Wales winger Simon Davies joined Spurs from Peterborough United, making his debut in the top flight for them in April 2000. After 121 top-flight games for Spurs, he joined Everton before spending six seasons at Fulham to finish off his career, making 137 appearances for the Cottagers.

Joao Palhinha made the most tackles in each of the two seasons he was with Fulham. He won more than anyone else in the first and came second on the list in season two. Before last weekend's games, Palhinha was again the No 1 ranked player for tackles made and won.

Ryan Sessegnon is another player who has recently played for both sides and last week made his 100th Premier League appearance. 38 of those were for Spurs for whom he scored two league goals, plus his first Spurs goal in the Champions League away to Bayern Munich in 2019.

Ryan has scored 2 league goals this season to add to the four he scored last season. One of those goals was against us in the 2-0 defeat at Craven Cottage in March. That was Marco Silva's 200th Premier League match, becoming the second Portuguese coach to reach this milestone after Jose Mourinho.

Last year's home game was played on the same Matchday 13 weekend, and was described by Spurs Odyssey reporter Declan Mulcahy as "A dull draw on a dreary day". That game followed a 2-2 home draw in the Europa League against Roma, and an exciting 4-0 away win against Manchester City. Brennan Johnson scored in all three games and will be hoping for a chance tomorrow night (8pm - SKY). Johnson had opened the scoring after 54 minutes, but Tom Cairney levelled the scores 13 minutes later. Cairney was sent off late in the game for a dangerous tackle on the much-missed Deki Kulusevski. 34-year-old Cairney has made just one league start this season and 6 substitute appearances.

We certainly do not want a draw off any nature in this game. Home fans are desperate to see us win a home league game and for the team to climb back into the top four reckoning.

Romero is suspended following his fifth booking last Sunday. Kevin Danso will no doubt step in. Radu Dragusin is not yet match fit. With the addition of Matthys Tel, who as not registered for Champions League football, the squad will otherwise be the same as for Wednesday night in Paris. Thomas Frank has said that Kolo Muani is fit, as he demonstrated against his home club, scoring his first two Spurs goals.

It's difficult to predict any Thomas Frank Spurs team, with so many changes from match to match. As for tomorrow's score, I'll go for a 3-1 home win. Fingers crossed!

Did you know? (1) - Both Terry Dyson and Cliff Jones, who were part of the Spurs 1960-61 Double squad, subsequently had short spells with Fulham after leaving Spurs.

Did you know? (2) - Luka Modric's last competitive game for Spurs was in the final game of the 2011-12 season when we won 2-0 and finished fourth. Unfortunately, we missed out on what should have been a second Champions League season because Chelsea beat Bayern Munich on penalties and took our place. Luka went to Real Madrid for 13 trophy-winning seasons, and at the age of 40 is currently playing for Milan!

Stuart Attwell is our match referee this week. This is his 24th Spurs game, but he first refereed us in January 2010. Last season the only time we saw him in the middle was for our league cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool, which we won. Mr Attwell has had charge of 8 Premier League games this season, plus a Europa Conference League game in Slovakia.

. Spurs record in London Derby League matches since 1997

Follow @spursodyssey

NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 530

Submitted by Norman Giller

Perhaps it was something to do with my meds, but while watching Spurs steamrollered yet again by the Chelsea juggernaut my mind kept turning to a song Billy Eckstine and Sarah Vaughan used to sing together: "Passing Strangers." You would have thought the players had never met before.

And what made it all more painful, unforgivable even, is that Tottenham accepted their defeat - as they had at Newcastle - with barely a whimper.

It was when the final whistle blew that things became almost like a traditional Christmas pantomime. This is when the more vociferous of our fans would have turned on the dethroned Daniel Levy as their panto villain, but instead aimed their higher and higher ire at the players.

I quite understood VdV and Spence's reluctance to obey Thomas Frank's instructions to applaud a lynch mob who were in the mood to string them up from the nearest crossbar.

But can you imagine them ignoring Bill Nicholson like that? The brief snippet suggested that our Thomas is not yet in full command, which is a worry.

Those of us of a certain age will be wondering whatever happened to the spirit of Mackay? Can you imagine Dave surrendering the points to that lot from Stamford Bridge without a roll up of the sleeves and a touch of the Battle of Bannockburn defiance? Bravehearts we weren't.

Everybody is wondering what sort of players Spurs can bring in during the January transfer window to turn things around. What nobody is mentioning is that what they need is a LEADER, a Mackay, a Mullery, a Perryman, somebody who can brandish a fist, bark a command and make eleven men feel like twelve. Somebody who cares.

Micky van de Ven could yet be that man, but he went into his shell on Saturday after being the player mainly responsible for gifting Chelsea a lead they never looked like losing. In fact 4-0 would have been a more realistic scoreline, which would really have given my 'flu bug the Blues.

Our Spurs Odyssey guru Paul H. Smith gives an eyewitness account of the sorry surrender HERE, and provides the stats that tell the sad story of Chelsea's humiliating hold over Spurs.

Like me, Paul was perplexed by Tottenham's lack of bite and fight, and there were huge question marks over the anonymous performances of Randal Kolo Muani and Xavi Simons. But it's pointless picking out individuals. Our home form is the problem and only the rekindling of the spirit of Mackay can solve it. We need a team of Bravehearts. Home, sour home.

It would take a Guy Fawkes bonfire to rid us of the Chelsea curse ... but first there's another vital Champions League date tomorrow against Copenhagen followed by two 'easy' Premier League encounters with Man United and then at Ars-cough-enal, oh, yes, and then a little date with PSG in Europe.

I'm going back to bed.

COYS!

Spurs select - A book to read and play

Just 52 days to Christmas and a reminder that my 122nd book has gone off to the Printer: Spurs Select, in which you are challenged to pick a Tottenham Team to Play for Your Life. A donation for every book sold will be made to the Tottenham Tribute Trust, who help our old heroes who missed the gravy train.

Spurs Odyssey readers can save a fiver by ordering the book NOW. If you are interested please contact me at normangiller@gmail.com ... or mention you would like details when entering the Spurs Odyssey Quiz below. It's a book that you play as well as read and is guaranteed to revive memories of your most memorable matches. Please join me in playing the Selecting Game.

Here we go with the 11th week of our quiz that tests your knowledge of Tottenham players and the club's history ...

Who has won 46 caps for his country, came to London from Ajax and against which club did he score his first goal for Spurs after signing from West Ham?

Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 11. Deadline: midnight this Saturday. I will do my best to respond to all who take part.

The rules are the same as in the previous 11 seasons. I ask a two-pronged question with three points at stake - two for identifying the player and one for the supplementary question. In the closing weeks of the competition I break the logjam of all-knowing Spurs-history experts with a real stinker of a tie-breaking poser that is based on opinion rather than fact. This is when I lose what few friends I have.

This season's main prize will be a framed certificate announcing the winner as SOQL champion 2026, plus three signed books to be revealed at a later date.

Last week I asked: Which player won nine England caps before becoming a renowned coach at Tottenham after winning Second and First Division medals with them, and against which team was he twice on the losing Spurs side in FA Cup semi-finals?

Answer: Eddie Baily/Blackpool

See you back here on Monday.

COYS!

Follow @spursodyssey

NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 529

Submitted by Norman Giller

I was in my sick bed watching Tottenham dismantle Everton at their sparkling new home, and I celebrated stand-in skipper Micky van de Ven's second goal so enthusiastically that my wife thought I was having a fit.

Medical bulletin: I will survive a condition brought on by a change of statin. Spurs bulletin: Just what the doctor ordered in nailing third place but it has to be mentioned that it's that team in red powerfully leading the table.

So much to cheer in this performance, particularly Micky's goals, a Rolls Royce display from Bentancur and another untouchable goalkeeping exhibition from Vicario. There are a lot of Spurs fans out there who owe the Italian an apology after rubbing it in that 'Vic' is not the right man for the No 1 Tottenham jersey.

I leave the match details HERE to our Spurs Odyssey man Declan Mulcahy, but - spoiler alert - it was hardly a classic, mainly because of the atrocious, rain-swept conditions.

Tottenham, defiantly led by VdV, were sharper than Everton at the set-pieces and the defence remained unbowed, thanks mainly to three superb saves by Vicario to add to his gallery of greatness in Monaco.

It is quite obvious that Thomas Frank has cut the risk factor since taking over from the positive but sometimes naive Postecoglou. This more mature approach from Spurs has made them formidable opponents, as poster boy Jack Grealish discovered as he kept being forced into blind alleys. All they have to do is play as well at home as on their journeys!

This was not a vintage performance from Spurs, but they became the first team to win at Everton's new headquarters by playing with their heads as well as their hearts, which was not always the case under Ange when they often gave an impersonation of headless chickens.

Next it's Newcastle in the League Cup on Wednesday. The Geordies are never an easy nut to crack at the fortress that is St James' Park, but there's no question that Tottenham have been playing with more bite and belief away from home.

The likeable, modest Frank has introduced extra discipline and determination that has resulted in the best away record in the Premier League - so we live in hope up there in Geordieland.

Now I must get myself fit to give Spurs my full support. Carry On Nurse.

COYS!

Spurs select - A book to read and play

Just a reminder that my 122nd book is about to go off to the Printer: Spurs Select, in which you are challenged to pick a Tottenham Team to Play for Your Life. A donation for every book sold will be made to the Tottenham Tribute Trust, who help our old heroes who missed the gravy train.

Spurs Odyssey readers can save a fiver by ordering the book NOW. If you are interested please contact me at normangiller@gmail.com ... or mention you would like details when entering the Spurs Odyssey Quiz below. It's a book that you play as well as read and is guaranteed to revive memories of your most memorable matches. Please join me in playing the Selecting Game.

Here we go with the tenth week of our quiz that tests your knowledge of Tottenham players and the club's history ...

Which player won nine England caps before becoming a reenowned coach at Tottenham after winning Second and First Division medals with them, and against which team was he twice on the losing Spurs side in FA Cup semi-finals?

Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 10. Deadline: midnight this Saturday. I will do my best to respond to all who take part.

The rles are the same as in the previous 11 seasons. I ask a two-pronged question with three points at stake - two for identifying the player and one for the supplementary question. In the closing weeks of the competition I break the logjam of all-knowing Spurs-history experts with a real stinker of a tie-breaking poser that is based on opinion rather than fact. This is when I lose what few friends I have.

This season's main prize will be a framed certificate announcing the winner as SOQL champion 2026, plus three signed books to be revealed at a later date.

Last week I asked: Who appeared in FA Cup final teams in 1967, 1978, 1979 and 1980, and with which club did he start his Football League career before joining Spurs in 1964?

Answer: Pat Jennings/Watford

See you back here on Monday. COYS!

Follow @spursodyssey

PREMIER LEAGUE

SUNDAY 19TH OCTOBER, 2025

(2pm)

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1(1) ASTON VILLA 2(1)

Spurs scorer:-

Bentancur, 5

Villa scorers:-

Rogers, 37

Buendia, 77

Attendance:- 61,291

Referee:- Simon Hooper

Assistants:- Adrian Holmes, Simon Long

Fourth official:- Anthony Taylor

VAR:- Paul Tierney

Assistant VAR:- Lee Betts

Teams:-

Spurs (4-2-3-1):- 1. Vicario; 23. Pedro Porro, 4. Danso, 37. Van de Ven (Capt.), 24. Spence (sub 22. Johnson, 86); 6. Palhinha, 30. Bentancur (sub 29. Sarr, 86); 20. Kudus , 7. Xavi Simons (sub 15. Bergvall, 79), 28. Odobert (sub 39. Kolo Muani, 79); 11. Tel (sub 9. Richarlison, 60)

Subs not used:- 31. Kinsky; 67. Byfield; 14. Gray

Booked:- Van de Ven (foul on Rogers), Danso (foul on Digne)

Aston Villa (4-2-3-1):- 23. Martinez; 2. Cash, 4. Konsa, 14. Pau Torres, 12. Digne (sub 22. Maatsen, 82); 24. Onana (sub 6. Barkley, 82); 29. Guessand (sub 10. Buendia, 61), 27. Rogers, 7. McGinn (Capt.); 17. Malen (sub 11. Watkins, 61)

Subs not used:- 40. Bizot; 3. Lindelof, 26. Bogarde; 9. Elliott, 19. Sancho

No bookings

Frank and Spurs setting new worrying trends

Before the international break, Spurs finally ended the depressing run of losing their games preceding such occasions when beating Leeds at Elland Road. Perhaps they are now starting a new run of defeats after the international break.

Maybe that Leeds result influenced Frank in his original team selection, as it featured just one change (Spence for Udogie). Sadly "Cuti" Romero was injured in the warm-up and had to be replaced by Kevin Danso. He did a pretty good job of covering, but his persistent long throw tactic became more and more wearing throughout the game. They brought no reward and the time taken in preparation (use of a towel in the pouring rain) led to Spurs wasting their own time.

Thomas Frank has now faced Unai Emery's Villa side six times (five of those were as Brentford coach) and failed to win. Villa have now won five of their last seven Premier League games against Spurs and nine of their last eleven games after the international break.

Perhaps the most worrying statistic for Spurs home fans is our home record in recent Premier League games. We won our first against Burnley this season, then lost at home to Bournemouth (a match also refereed by today's official Simon Hooper), before being thankful for Palhinha's late equaliser against Wolves.

Since beating Villa 4-1 here last November, Spurs have won just three of eighteen home league games since. No wonder Spurs were booed off the pitch. Our next visitors will be Chelsea in two weeks' time. We all know the difficulty of beating that opposition.

It had all started so well today. After the pre-match ritual of "Can't Smile" and the trumpet-led "Oh when the Spurs," centre-forward Matthys Tel won a corner through high pressing and determination. Following that corner, Kudus crossed deep from the left, Palhinha headed the ball back into the middle from beyond the far post, and Bentancur finished off with a powerful right-footed strike that was deflected past Martinez.

Thereafter, there was little goalmouth action of note. Spurs were being marked tightly in the middle. Kudus excited with his runs, but was more often than not double marked, as Digne struggled on his own. Spurs favoured attacking down the flanks and Odobert got one or two decent crosses into the middle.

Villa seemed to have more control on the ball, and too often too much space. Their equaliser came out of the blue, but Spurs had been threatened more often than they worried Martinez.

Spurs desperately miss their creative players. Xavi did not see enough of the ball. We missed Bergvall, whose flowing running play can be so influential. When he did get on in, late in the second half, it came after about ten minutes of hesitation and late briefing on the touchline. Football is too technical sometimes. I remember when Harry Redknapp told Pavlyuchenko to "...run about a bit!"

It looked as if Kudus had given us an early 2-0 lead after he challenged and won the ball before beating Martinez, but he had been flagged offside.

Inevitably, Matty Cash was booed with every touch and jeered when anything went wrong for him.

Odobert tried to reach a curving cross by Pedro Porro, but the ball went out of play for a goal kick. Spence won a corner in a battle with Digne, but Martinez claimed Kudus's ball with ease.

Micky van de Ven was shown one of two yellow cards for his foul on England international Morgan Rogers. Danso showed he has the pace and defensive ability of his partner at the back when Villa broke out. Odobert received a good ball from Pedro Porro, but his cross/shot was not held by Martinez but cleared with Tel threatening. Vicario parried a Villa cross in similar fashion and Spurs cleared.

However, Spurs conceded an equaliser when Guessand passed inside from the right. Xavi was on Rogers, but after getting a rebound the Villa player beat Vicario with a dipping shot from 25 yards. Spurs had been trying to play out, and I feel perhaps Vicario had been expecting Spurs to clear, and perhaps lost concentration.

My neighbour in the stadium suggested that there had been widespread newspaper publicity suggesting that Spurs would be looking for a new keeper in January. I see a lot of newspaper reports plus other sources and have heard nothing of the sort.

The closest we came to scoring before the break was after a free kick on the right and a ball to Odobert, who crossed into the area where Van de Ven headed over.

Spurs kicked off the second half, playing towards the south wall. Danso made a great tackle on Digne in the box and Digne went down screaming, receiving lengthy treatment before moaning when the referee insisted he went off behind the goal-line and was made to walk all the way around the pitch. He was able to run back his position.

Pedro Porro threaded a good ball inside Digne for Kudus to race forward and cross, after which Palhinha's shot from the edge of the box was tipped wide by Martinez. After a short corner and a cross, Bentancur's downward header was saved, but ultimately Spurs were flagged offside.

Donyell Malen, who scored both Villa's goals in their win over Burnley two weeks ago, hit the side netting with a left footed shot after taking McGinn's pass. Palhinha hit a poor shot wide after taking a pass from Xavi. Spurs had been threatening a little but lacked the end product. Richarlison replaced Tel but fared no better.

Danso was shown the only other yellow card of the day after a foul on Digne. Spurs fell behind to another sucker punch goal, which was only Villa's second shot on target. Villa had had a corner on the right, taken by Digne who was still on that side when the ball came back to him in too much space. He passed inside to substitute Buendia, who hit a low shot through the area beating Vicario to his right. Buendia - once of Norwich - missed the entire 23/24 season with an ACL injury and has scored in three of his last four games.

Pedro Porro threaded a good ball down the right channel for Bergvall, who got to the bye-line before crossing. This led to excitement in the box, but Bergvall had been offside.

There were seven minutes of added time. Spurs' best chances came after another good ball by Pedro Porro and a cross by Kudus. Palhinha fed Kolo Muani, but he missed his kick. Another chance fell to another substitute Johnson after Kudus crossed again, but Brennan's shot was high and wide.

This game had been the "hors d'oeuvre" to Liverpool's home game against Manchester United. Nobody expected a United win and Liverpool have now lost four consecutive games for the first time in eleven years and are only one point ahead of us. What is depressing is that the team from the other end of Seven Sisters Road are three points clear at the top.

Next up for Spurs is a midweek Champions League trip to Monaco.

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U.E.F.A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

MATCHDAY 2

TUESDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER, 2025

(8PM - BST)

BODO/GLIMT 2(0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2(0)

Bodo/Glimt scorer:-

Hauge 53, 66

Spurs scorer(s):-

Van de Ven, 68

Gundersen (o.g.), 89

Attendance:- 7,988

Referee:- Ivan Kruzliak SVK

Assistants:- Branislav Hancko & Jan Pozor SVK

Fourth official:- Peter Kralovic SVK

VAR:- Bram Van Driessche BEL

Assistant VAR: Bert Put BEL

Teams:-

Bodo/Glimt (4-3-3):- 12. Haikin; 20. Sjovold, 4. Bjortuft, 5. Aleesami (sub 22. Klynge, 90+7, 15. Bjorkan; 26. Evjen (sub 6. Gundersen, 87), 7. Berg (Capt.), 19. Brunstad Fet; 8. Auklend (sub 11. Blomberg, 80), 9. Hogh (sub 21. Helmersen, 80), 10. Hauge

Subs not used:- 1. Fave Lund, 45. Sjong; 2. Nielsen, 25. Maatta; 23. Riisnaes; 30. Jorgensen, 77. Hansen

Booked:- Berg (foul on Pedro Porro), Auklend (foul on Spence)

Spurs (4-3-3):- 1. Vicario; 23. Pedro Porro, 4. Danso, 37. Van de Ven (Capt.), 24. Spence (sub 13. Udogie, 82); 15. Bergvall (sub 20. Kudus, 60), 30. Bentancur (sub 14. Gray, 82), 29. Sarr (sub 6. Palhinha, 69); 22. Johnson (sub 7. Simons, 60), 9. Richarlison, 28. Odobert

Subs not used:- 31. Kinsky, 40. Austin; 33. Davies, 66. Hardy; 52. Olusesi; 44. Scarlett

Booked:- Van de Ven (foul on Auklend), Pedro Porro (dissent after foul)

Spurs on the rack, but make another comeback

Thanks to Eugene Gasper for this picture

For the third time in four games, Spurs came back to clutch draw from the jaws of defeat. Until last night, Spurs had been the only team to stop the home team from scoring in 17 games in their Aspmyra stadium in this calendar year, but not this time.

Jens Hauge scored two cracking goals to give Bodo/Glimt a seemingly unassailable lead, but Spurs made a fighting comeback to grab a vital (and respectable) Champions League point.

Most fans would have been exhilarated by an entertaining game in which Bodo/Glimt's ace striker Kasper Hogh failed from the penalty spot in his team's second Champions League game. He had also missed in Prague two weeks ago in another 2-2 draw.

VAR denied Spurs an early second half goal, which would have been an equaliser to Hauge's first goal, and both sides hit the woodwork. Spurs had to endure an agonisingly long VAR review before their 89th minute leveller was finally confirmed.

This was Bodo/Glimt's very first Champions League (group/league phase) game in their own stadium, so history was made with their first such goals at home and most of the near 8,000 fans will consider themselves royally entertained in the Arctic north.

Thomas Frank had chosen not to train on the artificial surface, and also not to take club captain Cristian Romero, who was one of those who did play in our 2-0 second leg Europa League semi-final here in May. The head coach also chose to start with Johnson and Odobert rather than Kudus and Simons, both of whom were influential when they did join the second half action. Micky van de Ven captained Spurs for the first time.

No doubt the surface had something to do with Spurs' lack-lustre performance over the first hour, but they also lacked the energy and movement of the home side, struggling to string two or three passes together. Richarlison made his 100th Spurs appearance but had few touches. The absences through injury of Solanke and Kolo-Muani meant a lack of options for Frank, who left Tel out of the Champions League squad completely.

Thanks to Eugene Gasper for this picture

Thanks to Stuart Gibson for this picture

A fireworks display preceded the game and the home side kicked off. Spurs were playing away from their hardy band of loyal supporters. Richarlison was fouled early on, but Pedro Porro's free kick was too deep. Even Slovakian referee Ivan Kruzliak slipped over on the strange surface!

Bodo/Glimt responded well after a free kick and their captain Patrick Berg (a third generation member of his family to play here) forced Vicario to push over his 25-yard shot for a corner.

Bergvall made a good run after winning the ball at the halfway line, hitting a good cross into the 6-yard zone where Richarlison just could not get his feet right to shoot effectively. It was a golden chance to score.

Spurs were now on the back foot for too much of the game. Evjen flicked on a ball that had been crossed from the right, but Hogh's shot was blocked. Spurs were failing with their midfield passes and Evjen had a shot blocked. Kevin Danso blocked another Hogh effort. Vicario held Bjortuft's header following a corner.

Odobert won a corner on the left which was taken by Pedro Porro. Brennan Johnson skied his shot when the ball fell to his feet. Bergvall put pressure on the goalkeeper after another Pedro Porro cross, but the ball was cleared.

After 32 minutes Rodrigo Bentancur was over-eager when tackling Bjorkan just inside the right edge of our penalty area. The referee pointed to the spot. Rodri protested his innocence, supported by his captain, but VAR confirmed the decision. Hogh took his time over the spot-kick, perhaps put off by Vicario's antics, and skied his kick. That was a lucky escape for Spurs.

Hauge had one shot blocked after a Berg cross and hit another shot into the side netting soon afterwards. Fet skied another effort after another Berg cross. Pape Sarr's long distance effort just before the break did not trouble goalkeeper Haikin. Spurs had done well to go in with a 0-0 scoreline.

That didn't last long after we kicked off the second half. Hauge beat Vicario with a super right-footed shot from the left of the area. He took Evjen's pass and cut back inside before hitting his shot beyond the goalkeeper's left hand.

Spurs thought they had made an immediate response when Pedro Porro's cross hit the back post and went out to Johnson who returned the ball into the danger zone. Bentancur flicked in, but VAR called the referee to the monitor, and the "goal" was disallowed because of Van de Ven tugging on a defender's shirt before Bentancur's flick. In his frustration, Van de Ven was soon booked for a foul on Auklend in the Spurs half.

Spurs were put under more pressure and a shot by Auklend was blocked by his own player. It was time for Frank to insert both Simons and Kudus. Simons was soon fouled, but Pedro Porro's free kick was cleared.

Kudus won a corner on the right, which came to nought. Bodo/Glimt got forward and Spurs lost the ball on their left side. There had been errors by Simons, Vicario, and Spence in this play. Evjen got the assist again before Hauge scored, this time with a strong left-footed shot.

Spurs quickly reduced the deficit when Van de Ven headed in from an excellent cross by Pedro Porro. Fet shot wide on the stretch after Hauge's pass.

Spurs fans were getting behind the team as they pressed for an equaliser. Udogie and Gray added energy to our efforts. Udogie crossed from the right and Odobert's header hit the bar. Helmersen, who had replaced Hogh, hit the top of the bar with a shot after Hauge crossed from the left.

Finally, Spurs did get an equaliser, although VAR took an age to ratify the goal. Archie Gray got deep into the box on the right and crossed. The goalkeeper parried the ball, and it looked as if "Richie" had scored with an involuntary touch, but it turned out to be an own goal. VAR's considerations were to ascertain whether or not Richarlison had been offside. We were able to celebrate twice.

Seven minutes of added time had been indicated and that turned into about ten. Blomberg had a shot go wide, but Spurs were the ones pressing for a winner, which, in the scheme of things, would hardly have been deserved.

Despite their early deficiencies, most pundits gave Spurs credit for another comeback and the character shown in making such an achievement. Even Liverpool lost away (to Galatasaray), so Spurs are ahead of them in the early league standings.

. Champions League standings

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Spurs' record in Europe:- U.E.F.A Champions League P W D L F - A 54 23 12 19 91 - 75 (Finalists 2019) European Super Cup Finalists 2025 European Cup P W D L F - A 8 4 1 3 21 - 13 (Semi-Finalists 1962) European Cup Winners Cup P W D L F - A 33 20 5 8 65 - 34 (Winners 1963) UEFA Cup/Europa League P W D L F - A 168 98 40 30 343-147 (Winners 1972, 1984, 2025 Finalists 1974) Europa Conference League P W D L F - A 7 3 1 3 14 - 9 + Forfeited one game due to Covid - 09/12/21) Total P W D L F - A 270 148 59 63 532-278 . Champions League standings

Off to The Arctic again!

Thanks to Eugene Gasper for this picture

Less than five months after our first visit to Bodo/Glimt's Aspmyra Stadion, Spurs are off to the Arctic to play this Norwegian side for the third time this year, having never met them previously. They were our semi-final opponents on our winning path to the Europa League Final.

When we met Bodo/Glimt in May, they had already qualified for this season's Champions League play-off round by virtue of being their domestic league's 2024 champions. The Norwegian "Eliteserien" is completed between March and November in the same calendar year, so our opponents are still competing in the same league season as they were in May. They are currently one point behind table leaders Viking with a game in hand and 8 games to play, so they are well placed to compete for Champions League football again next season.

In May, Bodo/Glimt did not have a domestic game between our two meetings, and they haven't played since 21st September, and will be fresh to meet Spurs.

Last year the Norwegians lost to Crvena Zvedza (Red Star Belgrade) in the Champions League play-off. This year they beat Austrian side Sturm Graz 6-2 on aggregate, having won 5-0 on their artificial pitch at home.

Thus Bodo/Glimt are making their debut in the group/league phase of the Champions League. They became the northernmost team to play in the competition.

Readers may find the following items of interest:-

Bodo/Glimt drew their first league phase game 2-2 away to Slavia Prague (who we will host in December) with goals scored by midfielder Daniel Bassi and forward Sondre Fet. Their top league scorer is Danish striker Kasper Hogh, who has 16 league goals to his name, but hasn't scored since August in those games against Sturm Graz.

Since our win in May Bodo/Glimt have lost two of ten home games played, both to domestic opponents. Their last home defeat was in June.

In a poll on the Champions League site 76% of voters say Spurs will win. Despite the potential trickiness of the artificial surface, I see no reason to argue and will go for a 2-0 win. Dominic Solanke scored at home and away in our Europa League semi-final, but is not likely to be ready, or indeed to be risked in this game. There are plenty in our squad who did play in the away game in May, and will therefore be equipped to play on the surface. The game kicks off at 8pm (BST) and will be televised here by TNT/DISCOVERY.

Match referee Ivan Kruzliak and his on-field officials are from Slovakia. Mr Kruzliak is refereeing Spurs for the third time. In October 2014, Mr Kruzliak sent off Hugo Lloris late in our home game against Asteras Tripolis and Harry Kane, who had already scored his first Spurs hat-trick, stepped up to wear the goalkeeper's shirt. We won that Europa League game 5-1.

In November 2018, the same referee was in charge of a 2-1 win over PSV Eindhoven. Kane scored both our goals in that game too. We were of course on our way to the 2019 Champions League final.

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NORMAN GILLER'S SPURS ODYSSEY BLOG No 525

Submitted by Norman Giller

Wednesday's Carabao Cup assignment with Doncaster Rovers reminds me of something dear Bill Nicholson said to me years ago: "Winning one trophy is the spark that can ignite another. Get one cup in the cabinet, and suddenly the squad believes."

Thomas Frank should take these words on board as he prepares for the visit from a Doncaster side that, on paper, has no chance. But on the pitch we all know it could be another story that does not bear contemplating.

This is why Thomas Frank should take this competition and Wednesday's match seriously. We want our Spurs squad to be hungry for trophies. Last season's Europa Cup triumph has whetted Tottenham appetites, and EVERY COMPETITION MATTERS.

No more Ange-style eggs-all-in-one-basket approach, even though it finally proved successful for him at the cost of failure in other trophy hunts. And, let's be honest, this one-eyed approach cost him his job.

Of course, balance is key. Frank will want to rotate, to give minutes to the eager understudies and perhaps a glimpse of the academy's next hopefuls. Doncaster will treat the game as a cup final; they will fly into tackles and chase lost causes. Tottenham cannot afford to be half-hearted. Victory must be the unashamed aim.

Let's not prevaricate: This is the classic banana skin. A League Two side with nothing to lose, a big travelling contingent determined to make a racket, and Spurs expected to swat them aside. These are the evenings when complacency lurks like a thief in the shadows.

The Carabao Cup - or League Cup, for those of us of a certain vintage - is not always taken seriously by Premier League managers. Fixture congestion, fitness concerns, rotation policies: all get cited as reasons to field half-strength sides. But we have a good history with the League Cup and must decide to go all out to win it again.

Saturday's 2-2 draw at the Amex - recorded HERE by my Spurs Odyssey team-mate Declan Mulcahy - showed us that this Thomas Frank squad has character, but it also underlined areas where reinforcements are needed. Spurs must defend more securely, must eradicate the sloppy concessions. A clean sheet along with a victory against Doncaster would be worth more than the scoreline alone; it would restore belief in the basics.

Beyond tactics and line-ups, there is also the message Frank sends to his players. If he dismisses the League Cup as a distraction, the hunger diminishes. If he embraces it, insists that every game is an opportunity to build momentum, then Spurs can ride that wave into sterner challenges. We supporters, with the taste of the Europa trophy still on our lips, will settle for nothing less.

With the Champions League to lift us to the heavens this season, we MUST be on our toes in all our matches. Complacency must have no place in the Thomas Frank vocabulary.

So Wednesday evening at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is not just a routine fixture against lower-league opposition. It is a chance to reaffirm ambition, to remind everybody that Tottenham Hotspur Football Club is about competing, about winning, about chasing glory rather than making excuses.

Since Daniel Levy's surprise retreat from the trenches, the moaners and the groaners have no obvious target for their hatred. That means they are looking around for their next victim. I would hate that to become Thomas or any of his players. Tottenham need the killer instinct.

I think back to Tottenham's great sides under Bill Nick, and while they were all easy on the eye they also had a will to win that was drummed into them by their quietly ambitious manager.

We all know that Doncaster will arrive with dreams of a giant-killing, to give a black eye to we Southern softies. Spurs must go into the game with a statement: no more slip-ups, no more softness, no more shrugging shoulders. Saturday's fightback at Brighton showed resilience. Now, against Doncaster, Spurs must show ruthlessness.

The League Cup might not shimmer like the Premier League or Champions League, but for Tottenham it could be another step back to the glory-glory days. Remember those wise words of Bill Nick: Winning one trophy is the spark that can ignite another.

Tottenham Hotspur supporters will still be feeling the mixed emotions from Saturday's breathless 2-2 draw down at Brighton. It was the sort of contest that tests the blood pressure, threatens the fingernails, and leaves you muttering "same old Spurs" one minute and "this might just be different" the next.

Two goals down inside half an hour at the Amex, Spurs were staring down the barrel. Errors, hesitations, and a certain lack of defensive authority had handed the Seagulls a platform. We've seen that movie before, too many times: Tottenham concede early, heads drop, the game drifts away. But this time, something remarkable happened.

Rather than collapse, Spurs regrouped. Richarlison bundled in a goal before the break, his finish less about grace and more about guts. And in the second half, wave after wave of pressure eventually forced Jan Paul van Hecke into steering a cross past his own goalkeeper. Suddenly it was 2-2, and - trying hard not to be biased - by the final whistle it was Tottenham that looked the team more likely to win it.

Spurs, long accused of fragility during last season's miserable League form under Ange, showed some steel. Now (as Trump haters might say) Time to dump Donny!

COYS

Still time to submit your dream Spurs team for publication in my SPURS SELECT book. Send your selection to me by email to normangiller@gmail.com, plus a maximum 50 words. Two things to remember, you must have seen the players you pick in live action, plus they need to be British or Northern Ireland born. I look forward to seeing YOUR line-up.

Here we go with the sixth week of our quiz that tests your knowledge of Tottenham players and the club's history...

Who won 23 caps for England, collected a League championship, two FA Cup and a European Cup Winners' Cup medals with Tottenham, and from which League club did he join Spurs?

Please email your answer to me at soqleague@gmail.com and make the subject heading Quiz Week 6. Deadline: midnight this Friday. I will do my best to respond to all who take part.

The rules are the same as in the previous 11 seasons. I ask a two-pronged question with three points at stake - two for identifying the player and one for the supplementary question. In the closing weeks of the competition I break the logjam of all-knowing Spurs-history experts with a real stinker of a tie-breaking poser that is based on opinion rather than fact. This is when I lose what few friends I have.

This season's main prize will be a framed certificate announcing the winner as SOQL champion 2026, plus three signed books to be revealed at a later date.

Last week I asked: Who has won 12 caps for his country, played v. England at Wembley in 2023 and against which club did he score his first Premier League goal for Tottenham in a 4-1 victory?

Answer: Destiny Udogie/Newcastle United

See you back here on Monday.

COYS!

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Many thanks to Declan Mulcahy for this report:-

Saturday 20 September 2025, 3:00pm

Premier League

Brighton and Hove Albion (2) 2 Tottenham Hotspur (1) 2

Brighton scorers:-

Minteh, 8

Ayari, 31

Spurs scorers:-

Richarlison, 43 van Hecke, 82 (o.g.)

Brighton & Hove Albion (4-2-3-1): Fabian Hurzeler

Subs not used: 23 J Steele (gk), 21 O Boscagli, 9 S Tzimas, 14 T Watson

Booked: D Gomez (73 foul on Bergvall)

Tottenham Hotspur (4-3-3):

Subs not used: 31 A. Kinsky (gk), 4 K Danso, 29 P Sarr, 11 M Tel, 44 D Scarlett

Booked: Kudus (46 foul on Gomez), Romero (88 foul on Mitoma)

American Express Stadium, Attendance: 31,488

Referee:- Chris Kavanagh Assistants:- Dan Cook, Ian Hussin Fourth Official:- Tom Nield VAR:- Neil Davies Assistant VAR:- Robert Jones

Spurs overturn two-goal deficit to gain a well-earned point.

Thanks to Eugene Gasper for the picture.

An entertaining match at the American Express Stadium saw Brighton take a 2-0 lead after half an hour. Importantly for Spurs they reduced the deficit to one before the interval. The equalising goal came in the last ten minutes when Brighton under pressure conceded an own goal. Spurs showed character and determination in recovering from two goals behind. The last time that Spurs recovered from a 2-0 deficit in an away Premier League game to take any points was on Boxing Day in December 2022 away to Brentford when they came back to draw 2-2 (ironically against Thomas Frank). Since then there have been fifteen occasions when they were two down and lost all of these games. Two occurred under Conte, three in the post Conte interim period and ten matches under Postecoglou.

There were three changes from the Spurs team which beat Villareal on Wednesday night in the Champions league with Destiny Udogie, Joao Palhinha and Wilson Odobert replacing Djed Spence, Pape Sarr and Xavi Simons. Udogie and Odobert were making their first starts of the season. It had been expected that Randal Kolo-Muani would play a part in this game but he was absent due to a dead leg. So Dane Scarlett was among the substitutes for a Premier League game for the first time this season.

Brighton made four changes after losing lost 2-1 to Bournemouth last weekend. Maxim De Cuyper and Jack Hinshelwood were injured and replaced by Ferdi Kadioglu and Yasin Ayari. Carlos Baleba and Brajan Gruda came in for James Milner and Danny Welbeck. Hinshelwood was responsible for three goals that Brighton scored against Spurs during the last two seasons and so was a significant absentee.

Spurs applied some early pressure. They won an early corner. As the corner was being taken Bergvall cheekily left the pitch at the right post and ran behind the Brighton goal returning on the left side to try and gain an advantage. Referee Chris Kavanagh immediately stopped the game and warned him not do it again.

Udogie then got into the Brighton box but his effort came to nothing.

Against the run of play Brighton scored from a turn-over. Rutter in his own half passed the ball to Minteh who was just across the half-way line level with Romero. He broke down the right wing pursued by Romero. He ran into the box, rounded Vicario and scored into the empty net. It was a fine individual goal. Semi-automated VAR indicated that he was just on-side by millimetres, truly a goal of fine margins.

Bergvall was very prominent for Spurs making himself available in various positions and trying to create chances.

Both sides created opportunities during the next twenty minutes. Odobert sent a couple of crosses into the box and had a shot that went wide. Porro had a cross blocked and from his own half set up Richarlison whose shot hit the side netting.

Udogie stopped a run by Minteh. A long range shot by Ayari hit Vicario and rebounded. An effort by Gruda went over the bar.

Spurs had possession of the ball just outside their box on the right. Bergvall attempted to move the ball further up the pitch but his pass was intercepted by Ayari. He hit a powerful shot from outside the box towards the top right corner of the goal. Vicario did manage to touch the ball but couldn't keep it out. He should have done better.

With two minutes of normal time remaining before the interval Richarlison scored with a shot after some good work by Kudus. It was a timely effort as Spurs went in at the interval just a goal down - a smaller mountain to climb.

The only change for the second half saw Diego Gomez replace Carlos Baleba, the second time this season that Fabian Hurzeler has replaced him at this point. Within a minute Kudus received a yellow card for a foul on Gomez.

The early pattern of the second half saw Spurs applying pressure while Brighton withdrew most of their players to their own half to soak up the pressure.

A Spurs free kick caught Verbruggen off his line but van Hecke rescued the situation by conceding a corner. Odobert crossed the ball for Bergvall in the box but Dunk intercepted.

Ten minutes into the half Brighton were awarded a free-kick on the half way line. Dunk noticed that Vicario was quite far out of his goal. He launched a high ball towards the Spurs goal. Vicario went scurrying back and fortunately the ball landed on the top of the net. If the effort had been on target, it could have been a close-run thing.

Frank made the first change after an hour with Simons replacing Bentancur.

Soon afterward James Milner came on for Brighton. This is his 24th season in the Premier League and it was his 642th appearance. He needs twelve more appearances to overtake Gareth Barry as the player who has played in the most Premier League matches. He is 39 years old and seven years older than his manager Fabian Hurzeler. Fifteen players in the Brighton squad hadn't been born when he made his Premier League debut.

Simons was getting into the game. A ball broke to him on the edge of the box but his effort was wide. Kudus created a chance for him from the right but he shot wide of the far post when it would have been easier to score.

Brighton had a few chances. A long-range effort from Gomez was wide. A dangerous situation arose when Mitoma ran into the box but Romero dispossessed him with a great challenge. Mitoma also set up Kadioglu but his shot was off target.

Richarlison had a shot saved by Verbruggen. Kudus then crossed from the right and van Hecke under pressure from Palhinha headed the ball into his own net. Given the amount of pressure Spurs had applied in the second half it was a deserved goal.

Brighton had more possession in the final minutes but couldn't come close to a winning goal.

Spurs showed character today after going two goals down and were worthy of a share of the points. Overall Spurs were slightly the better team but Brighton threatened on a number of occasions when they counter-attacked. Bergvall was the best Spurs player covering lots of ground, making good passes and making himself available to receive the ball. Udogie on his first start of the season was prominent in both defending and attacking situations. Kudus and Romero also played well.

The last two seasons saw Brighton gain ascendancy over Spurs. Two seasons ago at the Amex Spurs were 4-0 down before coming back to 4-2. Last season Spurs were 2-0 up the interval before being totally outplayed in the second half and losing 2-3. The last game of last season saw a horrible 4-1 defeat at home for Spurs. In coming back today from 2-0 down Spurs served notice that they will no longer be easy opponents for Brighton.

The Spurs starting XI today contained no British players. Two seasons ago Spurs fielded a team with no English players on occasion but it did have a Welsh component in Johnson or Davies. This is the first occasion I'm aware of where there were no British players.

The team is still a work in progress. Notwithstanding today's two goals, the team is generally defensively solid. The attacking players need time to gel. Kudus did a have pre-season but Simons and Kolo-Muani joined since the start of the season. Kulusevski, Solanke and Maddison are yet to play a competitive game between them. Given time to integrate the different options Spurs should become a productive attacking team.

There are grounds for optimism. Spurs sit second in the table tonight but may drop a couple of positions lower depending on the outcome of Sunday's matches. Ten points from five games represents a satisfactory start to the Premier League campaign.

Follow @spursodyssey

. Squad numbers,appearances,bookings & goalscorers

. Read the preview for this game.

. All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here!