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Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi believes his side can win all five of their remaining games to stay in the Premier League.

Spurs suffered stoppage-time heartbreak to draw 2-2 at home to Brighton to keep them in the bottom three.

Georginio Rutter's 95th-minute leveller denied Spurs a first league win of 2026 as well as a first victory for De Zerbi.

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The draw, which ex-Spurs defender Michael Dawson told Sky Sports "felt like a defeat", leaves Tottenham a point from safety with five games left.

But despite a daunting run-in that includes trips to London rivals Chelsea and Champions League-chasing Aston Villa, De Zerbi feels his side can string together five consecutive wins to preserve their ever-present Premier League status.

He said at his post-match press conference: "I always believe in the qualities of the players. They played a good game. I think we can play better than today, with more quality, more calm, especially when we are in ball possession, but in this moment we need this spirit, this attitude, this mentality, and it's not finished yet.

"We have another five games - it's tough, every one of us knows it's a tough moment, it's a difficult situation - but we have another five games, 15 points, and this team is able to win five games in a row.

"Now it's difficult to hear my words, but if you watch the players, if you analyse the level of the players, I think we can win five games in a row.

"Not to be arrogant, because I'm not arrogant, especially now, but we have enough qualities to fight and to win games in a row."

De Zerbi: Anyone with negative attitude will be sent home immediately

Spurs' next game at all-but-relegated Wolves is a must-win for De Zerbi as Tottenham go to the Premier League's bottom side next Saturday.

But the Italian has no time for negativity ahead of the trip to Molineux, insisting that those turning up to training with the wrong attitude will "go home immediately".

Asked how he must lift the players ahead of next weekend, the Italian said: "No, they have to follow me, they have not to think, they have to follow me and to listen to me.

"I'm proud for their performance - they have to be stronger and to be focused just on the Wolverhampton game, and to come to the training ground on Monday afternoon with a smile, because otherwise they go home immediately. I have no time to see the negative people, to see the sad players or sad assistants. No.

"We are lucky because we are working in a big club, a big stadium, we are working in the Premier League. We have the right qualities to win the game, so we have to be positive, because I don't like the people who cry, who think in a negative way."

De Zerbi points to positives - but time and hope running out for Spurs

Sky Sports' Peter Smith:

This is not the moment for small steps of progress and signs of encouragement.

Tottenham are desperate for a huge, transformative boost. And time is running out.

This could have been it. Xavi Simons' brilliant, curling goal felt like the turning point. His wild celebrations which took him into the jubilant Spurs fans seemed to be a launchpad.

But Georginio Rutter's last-gasp leveller crushed that hope. Spurs were floored, with players laid out on the pitch. This will take some getting over. Perhaps this was it, for Spurs' Premier League survival.

Roberto De Zerbi can justifiably pick out positives from Spurs' performance in his first home game. He can praise the fans for the support they gave. It is natural he demands the players don't wallow in a draw which felt like a loss.

But the reality is Spurs' survival prospects have worsened.

A point gained? Yes - but there is now one less game to win to substantially shift their situation.

They've failed to win each of their last five Premier League games when they've taken the lead. They haven't tasted victory in 2026. This is a team which just can't get over the line right now, no matter what they try.

So how do they go into a run-in which features Champions League qualification-chasing Aston Villa away, and in-form Leeds at home, and a potential Stamford Bridge nightmare with big rivals Chelsea with confidence?

Spurs will spend another week in the relegation zone and their gap to safety could yet extend before they go to Wolves next Saturday, with Forest having two games to play before then and West Ham in action on Monday Night Football.

De Zerbi has made improvements. As he says, there is quality in these ranks. But there are deep-rooted problems within this squad that have held them down for so long. Changing that in time to salvage this club's Premier League status after this latest hammer blow is now a huge task

Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi believes his side can win all five of their remaining games to stay in the Premier League.

Spurs suffered stoppage-time heartbreak to draw 2-2 at home to Brighton to keep them in the bottom three.

Georginio Rutter's 95th-minute leveller denied Spurs a first league win of 2026 as well as a first victory for De Zerbi.

Spurs news & transfers⚪ | Spurs fixtures & scores

Tottenham 2-2 Brighton - Match report & highlights

Live Premier League table | Watch FREE PL highlights

Got Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱

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The draw, which ex-Spurs defender Michael Dawson told Sky Sports "felt like a defeat", leaves Tottenham a point from safety with five games left.

But despite a daunting run-in that includes trips to London rivals Chelsea and Champions League-chasing Aston Villa, De Zerbi feels his side can string together five consecutive wins to preserve their ever-present Premier League status.

He said at his post-match press conference: "I always believe in the qualities of the players. They played a good game. I think we can play better than today, with more quality, more calm, especially when we are in ball possession, but in this moment we need this spirit, this attitude, this mentality, and it's not finished yet.

"We have another five games - it's tough, every one of us knows it's a tough moment, it's a difficult situation - but we have another five games, 15 points, and this team is able to win five games in a row.

"Now it's difficult to hear my words, but if you watch the players, if you analyse the level of the players, I think we can win five games in a row.

"Not to be arrogant, because I'm not arrogant, especially now, but we have enough qualities to fight and to win games in a row."

De Zerbi: Anyone with negative attitude will be sent home immediately

Spurs' next game at all-but-relegated Wolves is a must-win for De Zerbi as Tottenham go to the Premier League's bottom side next Saturday.

But the Italian has no time for negativity ahead of the trip to Molineux, insisting that those turning up to training with the wrong attitude will "go home immediately".

Asked how he must lift the players ahead of next weekend, the Italian said: "No, they have to follow me, they have not to think, they have to follow me and to listen to me.

"I'm proud for their performance - they have to be stronger and to be focused just on the Wolverhampton game, and to come to the training ground on Monday afternoon with a smile, because otherwise they go home immediately. I have no time to see the negative people, to see the sad players or sad assistants. No.

"We are lucky because we are working in a big club, a big stadium, we are working in the Premier League. We have the right qualities to win the game, so we have to be positive, because I don't like the people who cry, who think in a negative way."

De Zerbi points to positives - but time and hope running out for Spurs

Sky Sports' Peter Smith:

This is not the moment for small steps of progress and signs of encouragement.

Tottenham are desperate for a huge, transformative boost. And time is running out.

This could have been it. Xavi Simons' brilliant, curling goal felt like the turning point. His wild celebrations which took him into the jubilant Spurs fans seemed to be a launchpad.

But Georginio Rutter's last-gasp leveller crushed that hope. Spurs were floored, with players laid out on the pitch. This will take some getting over. Perhaps this was it, for Spurs' Premier League survival.

Roberto De Zerbi can justifiably pick out positives from Spurs' performance in his first home game. He can praise the fans for the support they gave. It is natural he demands the players don't wallow in a draw which felt like a loss.

But the reality is Spurs' survival prospects have worsened.

A point gained? Yes - but there is now one less game to win to substantially shift their situation.

They've failed to win each of their last five Premier League games when they've taken the lead. They haven't tasted victory in 2026. This is a team which just can't get over the line right now, no matter what they try.

So how do they go into a run-in which features Champions League qualification-chasing Aston Villa away, and in-form Leeds at home, and a potential Stamford Bridge nightmare with big rivals Chelsea with confidence?

Spurs will spend another week in the relegation zone and their gap to safety could yet extend before they go to Wolves next Saturday, with Forest having two games to play before then and West Ham in action on Monday Night Football.

De Zerbi has made improvements. As he says, there is quality in these ranks. But there are deep-rooted problems within this squad that have held them down for so long. Changing that in time to salvage this club's Premier League status after this latest hammer blow is now a huge task

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Tottenham’s Premier League survival hopes were hit by a crushing 95th-minute Georginio Rutter equaliser as in-form Brighton left Spurs languishing in the relegation zone by grabbing a 2-2 draw in north London.

Roberto De Zerbi was primed to celebrate a first win as Spurs boss which would have launched his side above the dotted line courtesy of a sweet Xavi Simons curler.

But instead, Kevin Danso was mugged in his own box by Jan Paul van Hecke who teed up Rutter to blast in a leveller which floored Spurs players and silenced the home fans just as they were about to revel in a first Premier League win of 2026.

Spurs will now spend another week in the bottom three, with the prospect of a demotion into the Championship scrutinised by their critics and agonised over by their supporters.

They are a point behind West Ham and are vulnerable to their local rivals extending their advantage with a win at Crystal Palace on Monday Night Football, while Nottingham Forest can push their gap to Spurs to five points if they see off Burnley at home live on Sky Sports on Sunday.

Simons' goal had looked like it would be the turning point in Spurs' battle for Premier League survival. A moment of wild celebration to launch from. Instead, their failure to get over the line and win has amplified the feeling this team is only going one way. A win at Premier League bottom club Wolves next weekend is now essential.

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After a calamitous moment which saw Micky van de Ven kick the ball against his own post under pressure from Danny Welbeck, Spurs took the lead on 39 minutes, with Pedro Porro the unlikely scorer of the first Tottenham goal of De Zerbi's reign.

The right-back hadn't hit the net in his past 49 Premier League appearances but produced a huge leap to nod in Simons' brilliant chipped pass against De Zerbi's former club.

Simons should have made it 2-0 moments later, shooting against the post before Bart Verbruggen produced a lightning-reflex save to tip over Porro's thunderous follow-up. And Spurs - as has become a regular occurrence - paid for their failure to capitalise on those big openings.

Simons gave Pascal Gross too much space to cross and Kaoru Mitoma connected with a volley beautifully to level it up in first-half stoppage time.

The nervousness and frustration ratcheted up in the second half for Spurs, with Conor Gallagher's charge at Verbruggen sending the ball spinning wide of goal and a Joao Palhinha shot not quite deflecting off Danny Welbeck enough to beat the Seagulls' keeper. It just wasn't going Spurs' way. Until Simons' magic moment.

The release was emphatic. Simons was in with the fans. Shirt off. And then he was up on the advertising hoardings, arms stretched wide in jubilation.

But the highest high Spurs have had in so long would become one of their lowest lows. Danso erred. Van Hecke, Rutter and Brighton seized on the uncertainty. Their European chase is still strong. Spurs' race could almost be done.

De Zerbi: We deserved to win - I'm proud of players

Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi on Sky Sports:

"I am sorry for the result and players because they are suffering too much and we deserved to win the game against a great Brighton - a big congratulation for their style and level of players. But we could not concede that goal from Rutter at that point of the game.

"I am positive, but I am proud of my players because they played a fantastic game full of character, spirit, what I asked of them to play in this stadium, for this club.

"We have to be stronger than this result, we have to move on and prepare the next game against Wolverhampton and to try to win the game."

Dawson: Brighton's goals were so avoidable for Spurs

Sky Sports' Michael Dawson:

"It is a massive disappointment, not just because they did not win the game - the way they played there were plenty of positives - but to take the lead twice and then gift Brighton the two goals.. from Spurs' point of view, devastated at how they conceded those goals.

"I thought when they went 2-1 up, 'this is a chance to turn your fortunes around and climb out of the bottom three. Go ahead of West Ham, put the pressure on them.'

"And then one mistake from Danso, who switches off in the final moment of the game, you are a centre-half, you clear your lines, you do everything to make sure we get out of here with a win this football match.

"And this will feel like a huge two points dropped..."

Story of the match in stats

What's coming up in the Premier League?

Tottenham go to the Premier League's bottom club Wolves next Saturday for a 3pm kick-off, while Brighton host Chelsea on Tuesday at 8pm.

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