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Patched-up Spurs' best 45 minutes of the season relieved some of the mounting pressure on Thomas Frank with a 2-0 win over 10-man Borussia Dortmund.
Despite having only 11 outfield players available and with ongoing questions over their head coach's future, Tottenham produced 45 minutes of the most free-flowing football they have managed since Frank's appointment - and now look set to secure a top-eight finish in the Champions League league phase.
"I'll have two big glasses of red, that'll be necessary," a clearly relieved Frank - whose side were booed in a toxic atmosphere following defeat to West Ham last time out - joked after the game.
"The players are giving everything, that is a good sign about the coach. An extremely good sign that they want to do everything. We were down to the bare bones with available players.
"It was extremely nice to experience the way the fans pushed us forward. That energy between the fans and the players was magic."
Spurs have reserved many of their best performances for European competition this season but this still represented the pick of the bunch and came against the most high-profile opposition they have hosted in this tournament under Frank.
In a perfect example of necessity being the mother of invention, makeshift left winger Djed Spence was their best player in that opening period but saw the headlines go to the goalscoring duo of captain Cristian Romero and the returning Dominic Solanke.
As it happened | Teams | Stats
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Spence did at least win the corner leading to Romero's opener, recycled by Wilson Odobert and fired home by the centre-back 14 minutes in, which gave Spurs a lead that even by then they richly deserved.
After watching five months of insipid football, the home fans were regularly off their seats as Spurs cut apart their visitors at will, taking full advantage of their clear physical edge, threatening with every attack and lacking only an all-important second goal.
Their task was given a boost with less than half an hour played when Daniel Svensson was sent off for a high challenge on Odobert following a VAR review, and 11 minutes later Spurs finally had their cushion as the French winger's cross was bundled home - though not without ricocheting off his own calf first - by Solanke on his Champions League debut.
Spurs went in at the break without giving away a single shot though there was still a worry there could be another sting in the tail their fans have become accustomed to witnessing. A half-time double change did improve Dortmund, but Julian Ryerson's free-kick minutes after the interval was as close as they came to inspiring a collapse from the hosts.
Instead, the one frustration for Frank on an otherwise hugely encouraging night was an injury suffered by Lucas Bergvall, which did at least herald the arrival of 17-year-old debutant Jun'Ai Byfield to become Spurs' youngest ever Champions League player.
The teenager slotted in comfortably at right-back as Spurs celebrated an unfamiliarly comfortable victory to give Frank a few days out of the spotlight - at least until the weekend trip to Burnley.
Frank: We must build on this result
Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank:
"The big thing is to build on this with a performance and a win against Burnley on Saturday. It's a big skill to be able to produce in the Premier League and Champions League every week from the players.
"We're working very hard on that. I keep saying it but this is the eighth game in a row where we have consistently performed quite well, but haven't been able to get the margins with us.
"Today you can say the margins may have been the red card, instead of the one against Liverpool which went the other way. Of course, the triple contact of Dom's goal going in, whereas we didn't get that against Sunderland, Bournemouth and West Ham where we could have won all three.
"We've got to keep doing the same things, keep believing and we know things will turn."
Analysis: Sterner tests to come - but a near-perfect night
Sky Sports' Ron Walker at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:
"That result was about everything Tottenham and Thomas Frank needed this evening.
"A win, first and foremost, but also a performance of quality and excitement. Something hugely lacking this season.
"Despite the cold and rain most of the South Stand remained to applaud the players off - and even Frank, this time.
"There are of course caveats about the physicality of Dortmund and that Burnley will offer a very different challenge to break down on Saturday.
"But those are problems for another day. For a welcome change, it was smiles all round on the pitch from Frank and his players."
Solanke: Hopefully this can be a turning point
Goalscorer Dominic Solanke to TNT Sport:
"I hope [this can be a turning point]. We've done quite well in the Champions League and if you look back to last season and how well we did in the Europa League, it definitely gave the team confidence.
"We know we haven't been good enough in Premier League this year, so hopefully this gives us the extra boost, we can improve in the league and continue in the Champions League.
"When we're all together - players, staff, fans - that's key. We're all one club, we all want the same thing. We need to put the performances in on the pitch like we did tonight and hopefully we can carry on the momentum."
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Thomas Frank insists he feels the support of the Tottenham board despite mounting pressure on his job as head coach.
Frank revealed he had lunch with the most important elements of the Spurs leadership on Monday in the wake of Saturday's toxic 2-1 home defeat to relegation-threatened West Ham.
Sky Sports News revealed on Monday that Frank would be given Tuesday's Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund after meetings were held at board level over his future.
Frank defiant despite Spurs fans singing 'you're getting sacked'
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The Spurs hierarchy are believed to be looking at all options after fans booed Frank and sung chants of 'sacked in the morning' at him, but the Dane is adamant that he is on the same page as his employers.
"I've just been feeling the trust along the way. I've said that every press meeting, that there's backing and support," he said.
"I had lunch with Nick [Beucher] and Vinai [Venkatesham, CEO] and Johan [Lange, sporting director] today, so all good.
"I know it's part of the media circus and the only focus I have is to do everything I can for us to win against Dortmund.
"I've said many times and I'll say it again, as long as we win football matches and make sure we win enough of them, then everyone will support us.
"It's not about me, it's about supporting the team, supporting the players."
Spurs down to 11 senior players vs Dortmund
Frank admits he will not be able to win over every Spurs fan after he was booed and subject to chants of 'sacked in the morning' after losing to rivals West Ham.
Pressure is mounting on Frank and he takes a depleted side into the game against Dortmund with only 11 senior players available for selection for their penultimate Champions League league phase fixture.
Spurs then travel to 19th-placed Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday, but there has been no final decision made over Frank's future.
"I think you can say, in this game, you always need to show resilience," Frank said.
"I listened to something the other day where the three biggest things in showing resilience is one, you have good values. I see myself as a guy that has pretty good values.
"Two, you know reality - and reality is that one in five normally don't like you, no matter what you do. One in five love you, no matter what you do. Then there's the three in five that, if you behave well, are respectful, show integrity, do your best, normally they are swayed.
"So, no matter what you do, the reality is someone will not like you.
"The last bit, have perspective in life, which I have in abundance. I keep doing what I do, what I believe in.
"If your back is against the wall, you fight and that's what I do. I'm energetic, I fight.
"It's about keeping the noise out, staying calm, carrying on. Look at the performances, look if the players are still running, running hard.
"In the last three games where we are down at half-time, how they come out and respond is a massive thing. They responded fantastic and we should've got more out of it.
"Sometimes, it's just football. That happens when you are in that spell.
"Are you still working hard? Are you still trying hard? Are you still believing? I see signs of that very clearly in every game.
"Then, of course, even the best coach in the world - Pep Guardiola - says I'm nothing without my players. I'm nothing without the best players available - and I think it's fair to say, they haven't been available enough at the same time.
"That makes it a little bit more tricky, but no problem. I'm happy to take the blame, as long as everyone supports the players."
Solanke to replace Tel in Champions League squad
One player who Frank will be hoping helps turn things around against Dortmund is Dominic Solanke, who he confirmed has returned to the Spurs Champions League squad in place of Mathys Tel.
Article 31.14 c of UEFA's rules and regulations state that a team can bring in a squad substitute if a player has been ill or injured for 60 days.
Tel replaced Solanke in the squad for the game against Slavia Prague in December, but per UEFA rules, Solanke can now return to the squad in place of Tel, but no other Spurs player.
Speaking about the situation on Monday afternoon, Frank said: "I made the decision. That was not a nice decision to have to make. Unfortunately, that's football, so you have to make the decision.
"The way the rules are, the only option was it was either Dom or Mathys in the squad and I chose Dom.
"I think Mathys has done very well in the last couple of games and that's the crazy thing; if I could pick from all the players that are fit, he would start tomorrow.
"But I could only chose between the two of them and now he is out of the squad, so that's a tough one to take for Mathys.
"When it rains, it pours."
Fans have turned on Frank but he believes he can win them back
Sky Sports News' Jamie Weir:
"Frank seems confident that he still has the full backing of the hierarchy.
"He was pressed on the lunch and whether he was given reassurances that he would still be in a job beyond tomorrow night against Borussia Dortmund and he didn't really say yes.
"He does seem incredibly confident that they have an aligned vision and he will be given time to turn it around at Tottenham. He is a man under pressure at the moment.
"History would tell you it is very difficult to come back from that [boos after full-time]. In the past, when the fans turn at any club, it is very difficult to win the fans back around.
"It is becoming a regular occurrence that players are getting booed off at half-time and full-time. He seems confident they can turn things around. It is clear that the fans, many of them have turned on Thomas Frank.
"He is still optimistic that if results turn around, the fans will too."
Brighton 0-0 Bournemouth
Brighton 0-0 Bournemouth
Sky Sports' Patrick Rowe:
"Heaps of space for Kadioglu to work with on the left there. One to watch if Bournemouth give him that kind of room throughout the game."
Brighton 0-0 Bournemouth
The fullback brings it under his spell before cutting in and letting fly from the edge of the area.
It's not one of his best efforts, unfortunately and Petrovic makes a comfortable stop.
Brighton 0-0 Bournemouth
Brighton 0-0 Bournemouth
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The PL table ahead of kick off
Three points for Brighton will send them into the top half if the Premier League table and two points off sixth-place Chelsea.
While for Bournemouth, a win will see Andoni Iraola's side move level on points with Brighton.
Team news reminder
Brighton: Verbruggen, Veltman, Dunk, Van Hecke, Kadioglu, Hinshelwood , Gross, Gruda, Gomez, Mitoma, Welbeck.
Subs: Steele, Ruter, Minteh, Baleba, Kostoulas, Milner, Boscagli, Ayari, Coppola.
Bournemouth: Petrovic, Jimenez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert, Cook, Scott, Adli, Tavernier, Kroupi Jr, Evanilson.
Subs: Forster, Christie, Smith, Diakite, Milosavljevic, Gonzales, Rees-Dottin, Smith, Sadi, Stevens.
Tonights match officials
REFEREE – PAUL TIERNEY
No red card since October 2023 – last 36 games officiated (21 PL).
Assistants: Richard West, Mark Scholes.
Fourth official: David Webb.
VAR: Jarred Gillett.
Assistant VAR: Eddie Smart.
Welbeck ageing like a fine wine...
Bournemouth: Mitoma's favourite opponent
Kaoru Mitoma has five Premier League goals v Bournemouth – three more than against any other opponent.
Those have come in six appearances for the club and he's been involved in six of Brighton’s 11 PL goals v Bournemouth since Feb 2023.
He'll be eyeing back-to-back goals after netting against Man City last time out, for the first time since April 2025.
How do these two fare on a Monday
Brighton have won just two of their 16 Premier League games played on a Monday (D10 L4), although they did win their most recent such game, beating Liverpool 3-2 back in May last year.
Having lost each of their first four Premier League games played on a Monday, Bournemouth have since lost just one of their seven games played on this day (W3 D3), a run begun with a 2-2 draw at Brighton in January 2018. The Cherries' only Monday game so far this term saw them draw 4-4 at Old Trafford last month.
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Replacing Semenyo's output
Sky Sports' William Bitibiri:
"One of Andoni Iraola's immediate tasks at Bournemouth, alongside improving their current sour patch, will be replacing Antoine Semenyo's output.
"He's contributed to 38% of Bournemouth's goals this season with 10 goals and three assists. The answer to their obvious goal gap may be Eli Junior Kroupi.
"The 19-year-old has scored seven Premier League goals for Bournemouth this season.
"Only four non-British teenagers have netted more in a single campaign – Nicolas Anelka in 1998-99 (13), Robbie Keane in 1999-00 (12), Romelu Lukaku in 2012-13 (14) and Kelechi Iheanacho in 2015-16 (8). So he'll be well up for adding to his return this evening."
Carra: Hurzeler is underappreciated
Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher:
"I think they're doing really well. I am a fan of the manager, but there is a feeling of indifference towards him.
"Think about his age, you're six points off fifth and have a game in hand.
"There is a lot to be pleased about. There are two reasons why there is not enough love for the manager. He has come after [Robert] De Zerbi and also the big thing is when a manager comes in and does well, it is expected because the structure is so good.
"When we talk about Brighton, we always talk about the owner.
"We should not forget what Hurzeler has done at such a young age in the Premier League."
Iraola: We knew Semenyo was going, it will be hard to replace him
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola speaking to Sky Sports:
"You know it is coming, we tried to play as many games as we could.
"We have to adapt. We lost a big player, it is going to be difficult to replace him but other players have to take their chances, hopefully they start that today."
Last time out in the PL: Man City 1-1 Brighton
Last time out in the PL: Bournemouth 3-2 Spurs
Hurzeler on versatility and Gross' return
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler speaking to Sky Sports:
"It is always great to have players who can play in different positions. We had to deal with a lot of illnesses for the players so we were limited.
On Pascal Gross' return: "Two perspectives. The first thing is how good he is in possession, he has an unbelievably good understanding of the game.
"The second is he is a great connector. That is very important regarding our squad."
Four Brighton changes - Mitoma starts, Baleba on the bench
Fabian Hurzeler has made four changes to the side that beat Manchester United last time out in the FA Cup.
Bart Verbruggen returns between the sticks while Lewis Dunk and Jan Paul Van Hecke replace Diego Coppola and Olivier Boscagli at the back.
Pascal Gross keeps his place alongside Hinshelwood in midfield but Rutter misses out with Kaoru Mitoma in the starting XI.
Carlos Baleba is back from AFCON duty with Cameroon and has a spot on the bench.
Adli tasked with filling Semenyo void
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has made one change to the side that beat Tottenham 3-2 in their last Premier League game, as Amine Adli comes in for Antoine Semenyo following his move to Manchester City.
Adli will be tasked with filling the void Semenyo's exit, has left on the right wing, in the first league outing without him at the club, with the likes of Evanilson, Marcus Tavernier and Eli Kroupi Jr also looking to step up.
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has admitted that he won't be able to win over every Spurs fan after being booed during the home defeat to West Ham on Saturday.
Spurs are without a win in 2026, and pressure is beginning to mount on Frank as the Tottenham board held talks over his future following the 2-1 loss against relegation-threatened Hammers and supporters have continued to make their feelings clear in recent weeks.
Frank is set to lead a depleted team out to face Borussia Dortmund in the penultimate league phase fixture of the Champions League campaign on Tuesday night, with only 11 senior players available for selection.
Regardless, another defeat could prove to be costly for the Danish head coach, but he has backed himself to win over fans who are undecided on him.
Frank defiant despite Spurs fans singing 'you're getting sacked'
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"I think you can say, in this game, you always need to show resilience," Frank said in his pre-match press conference.
"I listened to something the other day where the three biggest things in showing resilience is one, you have good values. I see myself as a guy that has pretty good values.
"Two, you know reality - and reality is that one in five normally don't like you, no matter what you do. One in five love you, no matter what you do. Then there's the three in five that, if you behave well, are respectful, show integrity, do your best, normally they are swayed.
"So, no matter what you do, the reality is someone will not like you.
"The last bit, have perspective in life, which I have in abundance.
"I keep doing what I do, what I believe in.
"If your back is against the wall, you fight and that's what I do. I'm energetic, I fight.
"It's about keeping the noise out, staying calm, carrying on. Look at the performances, look if the players are still running, running hard.
"In the last three games where we are down at half-time, how they come out and respond is a massive thing. They responded fantastic and we should've got more out of it.
"Sometimes, it's just football. That happens when you are in that spell.
"Are you still working hard? Are you still trying hard? Are you still believing? I see signs of that very clearly in every game.
"Then, of course, even the best coach in the world - Pep Guardiola - says I'm nothing without my players. I'm nothing without the best players available - and I think it's fair to say, they haven't been available enough at the same time.
"That makes it a little bit more tricky, but no problem. I'm happy to take the blame, as long as everyone supports the players."
Frank 'feeling the trust' from Spurs hierarchy
Despite the increased speculation surrounding his future, Frank is adamant that he retains backing from the powers that be, claiming to have felt 'the trust' in recent conversations with those at the club.
"I've just been feeling the trust along the way. I've said that every press meeting, that there's backing and support," he said.
"I had lunch with Nick [Beucher] and Vinai [Venkatesham] and Johan [Lange] today, so all good.
"I know it's part of the media circus and the only focus I have is to do everything I can for us to win tomorrow against Dortmund.
"I've said many times and I'll say it again, as long as we win football matches and make sure we win enough of them, then everyone will support us.
"It's not about me, it's about supporting the team, supporting the players."
Solanke to replace Tel in Champions League squad
One player who Frank will be hoping helps turn things around against Dortmund is Dominic Solanke, who he confirmed has returned to the Spurs Champions League squad in place of Mathys Tel.
Article 31.14 c of UEFA's rules and regulations state that a team can bring in a squad substitute if a player has been ill or injured for 60 days.
Tel replaced Solanke in the squad for the game against Slavia Prague in December, but per UEFA rules, Solanke can now return to the squad in place of Tel, but no other Spurs player.
Speaking about the situation on Monday afternoon, Frank said: "I made the decision. That was not a nice decision to have to make. Unfortunately, that's football, so you have to make the decision.
"The way the rules are, the only option was it was either Dom or Mathys in the squad and I chose Dom.
"I think Mathys has done very well in the last couple of games and that's the crazy thing; if I could pick from all the players that are fit, he would start tomorrow.
"But I could only chose between the two of them and now he is out of the squad, so that's a tough one to take for Mathys.
"When it rains, it pours."
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Thomas Frank is expected to remain in charge for Tottenham's Champions League game at home to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.
But the Spurs boss is under increasing pressure to keep his job in north London after Saturday's dismal 2-1 home defeat to West Ham.
Frank will face the media at 3.30pm on Monday ahead of the visit of Dortmund - and you can stream his press conference right here.
And remember, you can follow the latest transfer news every day with the dedicated Sky Sports Transfer Centre, and Spurs news in our dedicated club blog.
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