The Mirror

Ange Postecoglou launched a furious rant at his shell-shocked Tottenham stars after watching them throw away a two goal lead to lose at Brighton.

Goals from Brennan Johnson and James Maddison ensured Spurs held a commanding lead at the half-time break. But the visitors fell apart in the second-half, conceding three unanswered goals to fall to their third defeat of the season.

It has been a disappointing campaign for Postecoglou's men, who sit four points adrift of the top four. And the Australian was in no mood to hide his anger following his side's shocking defeat at the AMEX Stadium.

Instead, he branded it the 'worst defeat' of his reign at Tottenham, insisting the second-half performance was 'unacceptable'. Postecoglou also admitted that his side had got carried away after claiming a two-goal lead.

"Disappointing. Frustrated and absolutely gutted with that. Worst defeat since I've been here. Unacceptable second half. Nowhere near where we should be. We got carried away with how were were going," he told Sky Sports.

"We kind of accepted our fate and it is hard to understand as we've not done that while I've been here. We paid the price. The problem is we are travelling along too smoothly, football and life will trip you up if you get too far ahead of yourself.

"There is no message. It is a terrible loss for us - as bad as it gets. Only one way to fix it and that's my responsibility. We lost all our duels and if you're not competitive it is not going to work. They will process it individually and I will process it when everyone gets back."

HAVE YOUR SAY! Who was man of the match as Brighton beat Tottenham? Comment below.

He added to Match of the Day: "We probably should have put it to bed in the first half. What we did in that second half is unacceptable and we got what we deserved. It’s a bad day for us and when it’s a bad day the responsibility falls at my feet."

Goalscorer Maddison was at a loss to pinpoint what had gone wrong for his side in that second period. The Englishman admitted that Sunday's performance felt like his side had gone backwards.

"Not 100 percent sure [what went wrong]. We couldn't deal with the momentum shift. We lost control of the game when the first goal went in. We dealt with momentum poorly and couldn't get any control of the game," Maddison told Sky Sports.

"It felt like attack after attack. They are a good side and have good players. Adversity in the Premier League - you have got to stay strong and weather the storm - we definitely didn't do that.

"We have been on a good run, but it feels like a couple of steps back today. We were saying all the right things to not get complacent, but words mean nothing if you don't go out and show it."

The managers and the players change at Tottenham but the North London club’s ability to self-destruct remains the same.

Brennan Johnson became the first player to score in six consecutive games in all competitions since Harry Kane in January 2019 as Ange Postecoglou’s dominant side took a two-goal half-time lead. The game looked all over.

But Brighton responded by scoring three goals in 18 minutes after the break through Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck for a ridiculous win to leapfrog Tottenham in the table. Spurs centre-back Micky van de Ven, one of the heroes of the Old Trafford victory the previous Sunday, was at fault for two of the goals. It was all so Spursy.

Fabian Hurzeler, the youngest boss in the Premier League who visited Tottenham last season to watch the oldest boss in action, gave Postecoglou’s side a second-half lesson in piercing a high defensive line.

Yet the problem for Tottenham is that they never learn. In March 2023 along the South Coast at Southampton, Antonio Conte launched a rant where he slammed his “selfish” players and the culture of the club when they threw away a two-goal lead to draw 3-3-.

The Italian was soon gone but Tottenham’s frustrating inconsistency remains the same even in 90 minutes. From a super first half when they could have scored six, the second 45 minutes was as horrible as their second away kit.

Tottenham had been bidding for a sixth consecutive win in all competitions since losing the North London derby to climb into the top six. And Postecoglou was seeking a third away victory in a week after beating Manchester United and then Ferencvaros in the Europa League with four teenagers in the team.

He sent out the same team as Old Trafford and the first goal had been coming even before Johnson’s 23rd-minute opener.

Werner’s cross failed to find Johnson in the opening 20 seconds and Kulusevski and Maddison had shots blocked in the first five minutes.

And Werner was denied a goal when Verbruggen fumbled his header after Porro was ruled offside on a VAR check.

A minute later, Spurs took the lead in classic Ange-ball style. Maddison won the ball off Brighton’s record signing Georginio Rutter and fed Solanke. And the record Tottenham transfer celebrated his England recall by slipping a perfect pass for Wales’ Johnson to sweep home. He has now scored more for Spurs this season than in the whole of the last campaign.

Maddison was again left out of Lee Carsley’s Three Lions squad last week but the Spurs playmaker enjoyed better luck when his low shot went through the hands of Bart Verbruggen.

It took Albion’s tally to 10 goals conceded in the last four games. They were terrible in the first 45 minutes of a classic game of two halves.

Brighton came out after the break with a new left-back - Pervis Estupinan replaced Ferdi Kadioglu - and a more aggressive attitude as Tottenham’s old defensive frailties returned. Three minutes into the second half, both Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie failed to clear a Mitoma cross and Yankuba Minteh was free sweep home at the post

After 48 minutes, Rutter took a short pass from the excellent Mitoma to shoot home the equaliser. The third goal summed up the difference between the two sides. Rutter wanted a loose ball in the box more than any Tottenham player and the Frenchman slid in to cross for Welbeck to head home.

Jamie O'Hara claims you never know which Tottenham will turn up - suggesting they could win 3-0 at Brighton or alternatively, draw 6-6.

The ex-Spurs midfielder believes Ange Postecoglou's side remain incredibly unpredictable despite winning five matches on the spin in all competitions.

O'Hara has also scrutinised "ridiculous" forward Timo Werner for his lack of cutting edge in the final third after Brennan Johnson made it five goals in as many matches in the 2-1 midweek Europa League win at Ferencvaros.

He told Grosvenor Sport ahead of Sunday's trip to the Amex: "I can see Spurs coming out and trying to dominate possession and create chances, but will they convert?

"Timo Werner, if he plays, needs five chances before scoring – it’s ridiculous at times. Meanwhile, Brennan Johnson suddenly looks like he’ll score in every game, but he’s due a quiet one and that could easily happen here.

"That’s the nature of watching Spurs now, you really don’t know who’s going to turn up! They’re an exciting team to watch and they’ll play good football, it could be 3-0, 4-3 or 6-6!"

Tottenham were beaten 4-2 at the Amex last December and O'Hara is concerned his former employers seem to blow hot and cold against Albion ahead of today's top-flight showdown on the South Coast.

He added: "This is a tough one to call, Brighton are a good side despite their recent result against Chelsea – that was purely one of the best players in the world in Cole Palmer just doing what he does.

"Spurs never play well against Brighton, they’re a bit of a bogey team for Spurs in all honesty. The Amex Stadium is no easy place to go, and Brighton can hurt you."

Tottenham are set to be without captain Son Heung-min after he missed Thursday's Europa League win in Hungary against Ferencvaros through injury but left-back Destiny Udogie is expected to prove his fitness in time to face the Seagulls.

Postecoglou issued an update on Son after he was injured in last week's 3-0 triumph over Qarabag, stating when asked if the player is unlikely to return until after the international break: "Well yeah, if he doesn’t play for us it's not like he’s close then it makes sense. But then again we have to be mindful, that international duty, national teams take over, they are the custodians of their players but we’ve given them all of the medical information, they understand and they are understanding of the situation."

Brighton & Hove Albion are gearing up to face Tottenham Hotspur at the Amex Stadium in a Premier League clash that promises both excitement and strategic depth. As both teams have their sights set on securing European football next season, this match is crucial for maintaining momentum and gaining valuable points.

Under the guidance of manager Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton has made an impressive start to the campaign. Known for their eye-catching style of play, the Seagulls have captured attention with their fluid passing and cohesive team dynamics. Despite potentially missing key players like Joao Pedro and Jan Paul van Hecke, the return of Solly March and Brajan Gruda is a welcome boost that could bolster their performance against a challenging Spurs side.

Tottenham Hotspur, led by Ange Postecoglou, are determined to establish themselves as top contenders this season. Spurs have displayed a mix of resilience and flair, with standout performances from stars such as Son Heung-min and James Maddison. Their strategy hinges on quick transitions and precise finishing, aiming to capitalise on any defensive lapses from Brighton.

Brighton vs Tottenham Team News

Spurs captain Son Heung-min and left-back Destiny Udogie missed the recent victory over Ferencvaros due to knocks. While Udogie is expected to return, Son's participation remains doubtful, leaving fans eager for manager Ange Postecoglou to perhaps give young Mikey Moore a chance over Timo Werner, whose recent performances have been lacklustre. However, it's likely that Postecoglou will stick to his guns.

Tottenham's attacking options are further limited with injuries to Wilson Odobert and Richarlison. Dominic Solanke will lead the line, fresh from his first England call-up in seven years, hoping to make an impact. In defence, Radu Dragusin is back from a European suspension, but the partnership of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven—who impressed with a solo assist at Old Trafford—remains solid.

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler provided a mixed update on his squad's fitness. There's hope that James Milner, Brajan Gruda, Joel Veltman, and Solly March could be available for selection. However, Joao Pedro and Matt O'Riley are confirmed absentees with ankle issues, while Jan Paul van Hecke's status is uncertain. Simon Adingra might make the bench if fit.

The Seagulls have reasons for optimism despite these setbacks. Last weekend at Stamford Bridge saw 20-year-old Carlos Baleba make history as the youngest Cameroonian to score and assist in a Premier League match. He will once again partner with fellow youngster Jack Hinshelwood in midfield, bringing youthful energy and potential to Brighton's engine room.

Brighton & Hove Albion: Verbruggen; Veltman, Dunk, Igor, Estupinan; Enciso, Baleba, Hinshelwood; Rutter, Welbeck, Mitoma

Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bentancur, Maddison; Johnson, Solanke, Werner

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Brennan Johnson’s decision to unplug from social media is getting a big like from Craig Bellamy.

The Wales boss reckons the Tottenham striker is already worth a cool £80million – that's almost twice the £47.5m figure Spurs paid Nottingham Forest for the 23-year-old just over a year ago. Johnson has scored in five successive matches for Spurs since he left the trolls behind following abuse over his previous five-game barren streak.

Now, as he aims to make it six-in-six at Brighton on Sunday, Johnson is being compared to former Brazilian superstar Ronaldo by Spurs, who stuck Johnson’s face on Ronaldo’s body on their channels following his midweek goal against Hungarians Ferencvaros in the Europa League.

“He has ridiculous talent,” said Bellamy, who hopes Johnson’s hot scoring streak can continue when Wales resume their Nations League campaign next week. His high intensity is through the roof and he is now elite, showing why Spurs paid that money for him.

“He could yet have a bad couple of years, but if I was in another job and he was worth £80m, I’d go and buy him for that. Trust me, he’s got every part of a footballer that makes him an elite player. That’s the player I see.”

Johnson’s turnaround came after Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou suggested the striker stopped scrolling through a cesspit of vile abuse. Bellamy insists he leaves it up to his players whether they choose to be on social media but reckons Johnson made the right call in bailing out.

“I completely believe in what works for you, works for you. I don’t get involved in any other part of it," he said. “I believe that what you do as an individual is okay with me, regarding social media. I choose not to use it. But for my players, you do what you feel is best for you – feel free. Whatever makes you play better.”

Although Johnson is making headlines as a goalscorer this season, it is his all-round contribution under Spurs manager Postecoglou that has impressed Bellamy. He said: “Spurs invested very heavily in that, but what really impresses me with him is that the team comes first. It is his work rate for the team – I love that. It’s so important. “

Nor can Bellamy – who took plenty of fan abuse himself during his days at Newcastle, Liverpool and Manchester City – understand why Johnson was subject to so much flak. “He’s a great character who is so easy to coach. He loves the group and the group loves him. He has all the traits of a really top class player," he said.

“Brennan is still young, but I see a humble kid with good morals who was brought up by good parents in a brilliant family structure. We are now seeing what a talent he really is.”

Former Tottenham attacking midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has hinted Spurs may live to regret their decision to sell Troy Parrott on the cheap following an exciting start to his AZ Alkmaar career.

Ange Postecoglou's side flogged the 22-year-old Republic of Ireland international to the Dutch outfit for £6.7million in the summer transfer window and also negotiated a 20 per cent sell-on clause. And Parrott, who hit 17 goals in Holland last season while on loan at Excelsior, has needed no time to settle in at his new club after recently netting four in the brutal 9-1 demolition of Robin van Persie's Heerenveen.

Van der Vaart has since said of the forward, once dubbed the next Harry Kane: “I think he’s going to be a really big player. I don’t know what it is. I saw him at Excelsior, but then he was more on the counter. Now he is a good, footballing striker, who actually has everything. He just needs to develop his killer instinct a bit.

“He can perhaps play football a bit too well to be a killer. Then you start wandering a bit and that costs strength. In the final phase you lack some strength to score. I really think he is a gem.” While Parrott was rated very highly by Spurs, he failed to force his way into the first-team picture following multiple loan spells with Millwall, Ipswich Town, MK Dons and Preston North End, respectively.

But he now appears to have found a home in the Netherlands and if he continues to score at will, it might not be long before he seals a return to English football where he undeniably has unfinished business. Speaking to De Telegraaf in the summer, Parrott admitted he felt the time was right to leave Spurs, stating: "It was important for me to go to the Netherlands. I was used to playing football in Ireland and England. It was time for a new environment, a new culture.

Speaking to De Telegraaf in the summer, Parrott admitted he felt the time was right to leave Spurs, stating: "It was important for me to go to the Netherlands. I was used to playing football in Ireland and England. It was time for a new environment, a new culture.

"I think AZ is a good place where players get the chance to develop. I have been at Tottenham for a long time, but it was time to move on.” And when asked if he could ever see himself returning to north London, the young attacker replied: “You never know how things are going to go in football.”

Ange Postecoglou has jumped to the defence of Timo Werner amid criticism over his form in front of goal.

The ex-Chelsea man is spending another season on loan in north London but is yet to show the prolific qualities he did previously in Germany. Werner didn't last long in Blue before they sent him back to RB Leipzig, but the Tottenham boss is confident he has a quality player on his hands.

Werner missed two golden opportunities during Tottenham's 3-0 success over Manchester United last weekend and was again denied in a one-on-one scenario when Tottenham played Ferencvaros in the Europa League on Thursday. Postecoglou though has likened the German to Brennan Johnson before he began enjoying his purple patch. The Welshman deleted his social media several weeks ago in light of constant criticism and has since scored in five successive games.

The Australian said: "It was 14 days ago those questions were asked of Brennan. It's where we're at in this world. We just think, 'he's missed two chances, so he's hopeless'. No, he's not hopeless. All footballers at this level are very, very good footballers. In terms of his general play, I think his last two games have been really good for us. He's been taking on his players, getting in the right areas.

He also added: "Yes, goals help. We've seen that with Brennan. But that doesn't mean he's not a good player and that's where I get really annoyed when they put everything on that moment to say he's not a good player. Of course he's a good player. He's a fantastic player. Scoring goals would help him, would help us, yes. But we'll persevere with him because I still think he's contributing to the team."

Dominic Solanke, as well as Johnson, was questioned in the opening weeks but the new frontman at Tottenham has since found his goalscoring touch and has just been named in the England squad with Postecoglou keen to underline how quickly it can all change.

Werner remains very much in the first-team picture and could get the opportunity to silence his doubters when the north Londoners take on Brighton this weekend. Since returning to English football with Tottenham the German has scored just twice - both of those strikes coming last year.

His best season when he was on Chelsea's books saw him score on 12 occasions. Those numbers though are a far cry from the kind of figures he posted whilst in the Bundesliga. His most impressive year at Leipzig saw Werner hit a career high 34 in 2019/20.

Ange Postecoglou says captain Son Heung-min is "unlikely" to be available for Spurs' trip to Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday.

The South Korea international, substituted with a hamstring injury during Tottenham's Europa League clash with Qarabag last week, missed out on their victories over Manchester United and Ferencvaros. Timo Werner could be in line for another start in place of the injured Son for Postecoglou's team, who have won five successive matches in all competitions.

The Spurs boss revealed last week that it is not sustainable for 32-year-old Son to play every match across a full season.

Postecoglou, who managed his 50th match as Spurs manager on Thursday in the Europa League, said: "Destiny (Udogie), we think will be OK. We train today and tomorrow, so he has to get through that. Sonny is unlikely, he's pushing hard, but the turnaround might be too quick for him to be available at this stage."

James Maddison scored during Spurs' win over Brentford last month and is showing signs of getting back to his best after much of last season was hampered by injury. However, the midfielder was not selected in England's squad for the upcoming matches against Greece and Finland by interim boss Lee Carsley and Postecoglou had words of encouragement to the former Leicester midfielder.

The 59-year-old said: "I'm sure he's disappointed but he's playing well, that's all you can do. These things come along at times, it's not always perfect in your career, you can't always get what you want.

"He's playing well for us, he's been outstanding all year and has made an impact in every game he plays. I'm sure he'll be selected again but you can't put everything in one basket or be disappointed or let it affect the way he's playing because he's been brilliant for us."

Dejan Kulusevski has been moved inside to a more central role this season, with Maddison dropping deeper next to Rodrigo Bentancur. Postecoglou talked up the impact of the 24-year-old Swede, adding: "Deki is doing great. He's been out of this world in many respects as to what he's able to do in a central role.

"We used him wide last year because we didn't have too many options out there and that's where he was comfortable in. We started using him inside and I felt he felt that it unshackled him a little bit. He has an unbelievable capacity to run on and off the ball, his physical numbers are ridiculous and he has the quality to hurt teams with that."

Tottenham have insisted they are committed to becoming more sustainable as a club, despite chartering a private jet to avoid a coach journey back from Manchester.

Spurs produced their best performance of the season to thrash Manchester United 3-0 on Sunday. Goals from Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke saw the away side run riot at Old Trafford to make it a jubilant journey back to north London.

Most football supporters would expect their team to jump on the team coach and head down the motorway. But instead Tottenham were transported to a nearby airport to board a private flight – all in aid of saving their players a few hours.

The journey from Old Trafford to Tottenham’s training ground is 194 miles and, depending on traffic conditions, should take around three and a half hours. Including the journey to the two airports at either end of the flight, Spurs cannot have reduced that by much by flying – and their decision hasn’t gone down well on social media.

A video from James Maddison’s Instagram account, showing Micky van de Ven re-watching his assist for Johnson's early goal while sat on the plane, was reposted on Twitter by the official Premier League account, where it has been viewed over three million times. Yet a quote-tweet by a disgruntled fan has attracted 2.8m views and simply asks: “Why the f*** are they flying from Manchester to London?”

It’s a question which Mirror Football has asked time and again over the past few years, albeit in a not so blunt fashion. Last year we revealed the shocking prevalence of such short-haul domestic flights while BBC research has revealed that 81 flights were taken by Premier League sides in a two-month period which contained just 100 matches.

Asked to explain the decision to fly – which is around 40 times worse for the environment than taking the coach – a Tottenham spokesperson said: “Tottenham Hotspur is committed to minimising its environmental impact across all club operations, which will take time and effort. As part of this commitment, and as a signatory of the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, the club has a policy in place to ensure all its playing teams – comprising of the men’s first team, women’s first team and academy age groups – travel to and from matches as sustainably as possible.

HAVE YOUR SAY! What do you make of Spurs flying back from Manchester? Comment below.

“This includes minimising air travel where possible, with team officials and delegates travelling on the team plane. During the season, the team will travel by coach for all distances under 2.5 hours, whereby player physical optimisation and performance is not compromised as a result.

“The club works with its official travel partner, Destination Sport Travel, to measure, manage and report on travel emissions, with the objective to reduce emissions where possible and identify sustainable team travel options. Destination Sport Travel is also working with the club to offset emissions where possible via the purchase of carbon credits verified by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.”

Recent analysis by campaign group Possible shows that 84 per cent of Premier League away games could be reached by coach in less than four and a half hours. Tottenham are far from the only club guilty of making short-sighted decisions and of putting performance above all other considerations, but this backlash compounds another jaw-dropping call from earlier this year, when they flew 21,000 miles to Melbourne to play a friendly against Newcastle.

James Maddison says he has been left pinching himself with Tottenham's new wave of teenage talent.

But Ange Postecoglou is unlikely to throw a quartet of academy stars in at the deep end away to Ferencvaros on Thursday evening because Spurs are on a mission to seal their progress to the knockout stages with minimal fuss.

Out of favour Sergio Reguilon is also in Budapest despite not being part of the squad submitted to UEFA alongside young hopefuls Alfie Dorrington, Dante Cassanova, Damola Ajayi and Will Lankshear.

Yet Postecoglou is expected to name a strong team against the Hungarian league leaders, managed by London-born Pascal Jansen.

And Big Ange downplayed the chances of an experimental line-up by admitting the kids have mostly travelled to make up the numbers in training.

“It’s a balance that we need 20 players for training,“ Postecoglou said. “But we brought a couple of young guys and Reguilon to make sure our training is really good.”

However winger Mikey Moore, 17, is an exception. He could feature off the bench having made three cameos in the past fortnight. And Maddison has been blown away by both the teenager’s potential and maturity, saying: “He's a man already.

“When I watch him play, he's very powerful and only going to get stronger as his body grows. He's a great kid. A really well-mannered, polite young man and that's a credit to his parents.

“That's the first thing you look to as a senior player. And then there's that ability which we see in training all the time and the Spurs fans want to see more of. I try to think of what the 17-year-old James Maddison would want to hear from a senior player and it's to be treated like a man but also give advice whenever possible.”

Maddison, meanwhile, admits he still has a point to prove after being omitted from England’s Euros squad. Postecoglou has described his chief creator’s recent form as “outstanding” and Maddison is putting it down to have a summer break that allowed him to return fully fit.

“I always want to prove doubters wrong and that's where I get my hunger from,” he said. “I feel really fit, maybe the fittest I've ever been. I feel confident and alive. I can only take care of what I do at a club level.”

Cristian Romero is likely to start having been banned for last Thursday’s 3-0 win against Qarabag, where Radu Dragusin was sent off and handed a suspension that he will serve tonight.

Captain Heung-min Son has stayed in London to continue his recovery from a hamstring strain.

And full back Destiny Udogie is ruled out with an issue sustained on Sunday that Postecoglou described as “nothing significant.”