Fundamental shift in mentality is encouraging for Spurs as they continue impressive start under Thomas Frank
Spurs showed resilience to fight back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Brighton Saturday
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Matt Verri
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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri
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It is not an in-house media interview from chief executive Vinai Venkatesham that will convince Tottenham fans this could be a new era at the club.
Nor is the more visible presence of members of the Lewis family, or suggestions of a more ambitious, more engaged ownership.
Instead, it will be performances like Thomas Frank's side produced against Brighton at the Amex Stadium. On face value that appears strange to say after Spurs had to come from two-goals down just to earn a point.
This, though, felt like a very different Spurs team. In recent seasons, the Amex has proved to be an unhappy hunting ground, with Ange Postecoglou suffering two painful defeats on the south coast in contrasting manners.
Thomas Frank hailed ‘our best performance of the season’ after Jan Paul van Hecke’s own goal earned Spurs a point
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There was the 4-2 defeat in which Brighton were 4-0 up with ten minutes to play before Spurs scored a couple of late consolation goals that did little to save face. Last season, Spurs went two goals up but collapsed in the second half to leave empty-handed after a 3-2 defeat.
It all felt very familiar, then, when Spurs found themselves 2-0 down on Saturday with barely half an hour on the clock. The visitors had started well but were caught on the counter by Yankuba Minteh and Guglielmo Vicario then allowed Yasin Ayari's strike from distance to beat him.
When only a last-ditch covering challenge from Destiny Udogie stopped Brighton breaking away again with Spurs exposed at the back, the smart money was on another heavy defeat. It was not hard to imagine Spurs collapsing in the manner previous sides probably would have.
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Instead, Frank strolled in for his post-match press conference and was full of pride as he discussed his side's display.
“I think maybe this was our most complete performance so far in the season,” Frank said.
“You can say we conceded two goals, but I think actually there were so many positives overall in the game. The high pressure, the man-to-man, very aggressive. That resilience in the group, that mentality, is good."
He added: "So the mentality, the physical aspect, I thought was key. And coming here, where last year we came here and were 2-0 up, lost 3-2. Now we’re 2-0 down and come back 2-2. I think it's good.
Thomas Frank’s Spurs have 10 points after five Premier League games
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“And if there should have been a winner in my eyes, and maybe I'm slightly biased, I think it should have been us.”
The 2-0 win away at Manchester City was certainly better defensively and Spurs were ruthless in attack that day, but Frank's assessment does make sense, despite the dropped points against Brighton.
After a run of fairly stodgy performances going forward, this was much better from Spurs. Particularly when Xavi Simons come on at No10, there was a threat in the final third that had been lacking.
Mohammed Kudus provided his individual moments of inspiration out wide, Simons controlled things from the middle of the pitch and Lucas Bergvall made dangerous runs from deep. Unlike in many recent matches, it was easy to see how Spurs could hurt the opposition.
That, along with the resilience to come from behind on a ground where they have struggled so much, bodes well for Frank and his players. In many ways, this was more encouraging than the wins over West Ham and Villarreal.
Spurs now have the platform to kick on and next up in the Premier League it is a home match against Wolves, who are yet to pick up a Premier League point. Frank will hope his side do not need to show quite so much resilience again, but the attacking intent must remain.
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