Tottenham Hotspur

We climbed up to third in the Barclays Women's Super League on Sunday thanks to a narrow 1-0 win over Brighton on Sunday afternoon.

Claiming our fourth win from our opening five games as Martin Ho's impressive start as Head Coach continues, Cathinka Tandberg was once again on the scoresheet, netting her third goal in four games, as her equally as fine start to life in England's top flight continues.

An arrival from Hammarby IF in the summer, 'Tinka, who was nominated for the WSL's Player of the Month award for September on Friday, slotted home on 26 minutes to finish off an excellent team move at Brisbane Road.

And that goal proved to be the match winner as another resolute and disciplined defensive performance saw us claim our third clean sheet in five games - bettering our tally of two in the 2024/25 campaign.

Despite an early scare inside the opening two minutes, Toko Koga recovering well to deny Jelena Cankovic after an unfortunate slip inside the box by our Japan international, we were on the front foot in the opening stages of the contest – a regular theme in Martin Ho’s early days of his tenure. Jess Naz was a constant threat down the right as she sent a curling left-footed effort at Chiamaka Nnadozie while Tandberg was denied by Caitlin Hayes after connecting with Bethany England’s cross from the right but, on 26 minutes, the Norway international was on hand to cap off a lovely move.

With Olivia Holdt sliding the ball to Jess Naz on the left, our number seven sent a inch-perfect low cross to the back post and Tandberg was there to calmly slot away for her third goal in the WSL in five games. And we continued with our tempo after the opener, Tandberg providing a nuisance across the Seagulls’ backline while Naz and Holdt always eager to get on the ball and advance down each flank. The away side carved out their first real opportunity of the game on the stroke of half time following a scramble inside our box from a corner, but Rachel McLauchlan’s flick from close range was straight into the hands of Kop.

We picked up where we left off after the restart as Eveliina Summanen’s fierce free-kick, from around 30 yards out, was pushed away by the diving Nnadozie and shortly after, Bethany England was denied at the front post by the Seagulls’ shot stopper. Brighton started to gain momentum as we progressed in the second period as Nadine Noordam saw her effort from the edge of the box blocked by Clare Hunt before Rosa Kafaji curled over the bar.

Koga was impressive once again in our backline and produced another fantastic block on 75 minutes to deny Kafaji after the Arsenal loanee advanced into the box following a swift counterattack by the away side. Despite the pressure from Brighton at our end, we arguably carved out the best opportunity of the second half with just 10 minutes left of proceedings when substitute Matilda Vinberg’s free-kick fell nicely to Koga just outside out the six-yard box, but her poked effort was saved low to her right by by Nnadonzie. We remained resilient at the back in the final minutes of the contest to earn our fourth victory of the WSL campaign – and our fourth clean sheet in six games across all competitions.

In term of team news, Ashleigh Neville made her first start of the season as she replaced Josefine Rybrink in the starting XI, while captain England made her 50th appearance for us in the WSL.

This afternoon marks the first game in the Barclays Women's Super League during Black History Month, and Clubs have been offered the option to take the knee ahead of kick-off.

Please see the following statement from our captain Bethany England:

“As players, we have chosen to not take the knee before kick-off this afternoon. Instead, we will stand up against racism.

"I have spoken to my team-mates at length, and we agree that taking the knee no longer feels meaningful. We are still seeing prejudice and racism, and there is so much more that everyone should be doing. This is not a tick box – this is people’s lives, people’s feelings. It needs to change.

We can confirm the starting line-ups and substitutes for today's Barclays Women’s Super League clash with Brighton & Hove Albion. (11.55am UK).

Martin Ho makes one changes to the team that started against Leicester City last time out in the WSL.

Defender Ashleigh Neville makes her first start of the campaign after marking her return from injury last weekend at King Power Stadium. She replaces Josefine Rybrink in the full-back position, who is named amongst the substitutes.

Forward Bethany England is set to make her 50th WSL appearance for us, with our captain named in the starting XI.

Forward Matilda Vinberg is back in the matchday squad after recovering from an illness that saw her miss our fixture against the Foxes and the Sweden international will start on the substitute’s bench.

Our full team news can be found below…

Starting XI: Kop, Nilden, Naz, England (c), Holdt, Hunt, Tandberg, Spence, Summanen, Neville, Koga.

Substitutes: Heeps, Grant, Oroz, Rybrink, Vinberg, Graham, Thomas, Gunning-Williams, Ahtinen.

Thomas Frank spoke to the media at Elland Road after our 2-1 win against Leeds United in the Premier League on Saturday.

Here's what he had to say...

What are you thoughts on the win?

Thomas: "I'm extremely happy with the win. I think if you want to build any successful team, you need mentality and character and cohesion and togetherness, no matter if you play like Inter or Barcelona or whatever style of play, you need that willingness to do everything to win. I think we are building that more and more in the team. You could say in the last 10, 15, where they pushed us back and we also dropped a little back... but throughout the game, I actually think that until the 80th minute, I'm very happy with those 80 minutes, give or take. We looked very solid defensively. I think we gave the goal away, which is like a cross, deflected shot. I know they hit the post, but it looks more dangerous than it is. That's what we gave away until the 80th minute. We created two goals and other very good and dangerous situations and chances. So, very happy with that. Then we need a little bit of surviving and a couple of good saves from Vicario."

You must be delighted with your overall start...

Thomas: "Yes, of course I am. I think 14 points in seven is two on average. That's very good. That overall start I'm happy with. I'm extremely happy that we now on the road have won three and a draw, which is part of that - if you want to achieve anything, you need to do that. So, overall start, a good start, but we need to continue, of course."

Thoughts on Mathys Tel's goal?

Thomas: "I'm almost emotional about him, so happy for him. I think the character he's shown for a young man just really impressed me from day one, but of course after a setback, not coming in the Champions League squad, not being an established player, maybe playing a good position where I really can see him play and I think he's taking steps. Also been picked a little bit for the left. So, just keep training well, which he does. He trains well every day. Stayed at home when we went the Bodo the whole team, trained well. Just ready today. Big praise to Cameron and Justin to work with Mathys and the way we worked with him - a fine game against West Ham as a striker, to a better game against Doncaster, where he arrives more in the right areas. I know he could have scored two goals but as I say he arrives there, because we trained and we showed clips. To the next level today, where I think he worked hard, he scored a good goal. I know there was a little deflection, but the connection was good. He has a header, other good situations. So, very, very pleased."

Did you see strands of attacking play starting to gel today?

Thomas: "I think it looked promising today at times. I liked Xavi as a 10. I think that was his best game for us. There's still more to come, but I think he had some really good actions in there. Mo, again, getting his goal, which I'm pleased with. It was about time he scored that goal! But no, I'm so pleased for him. So, you just see he looked a little bit more fluid."

Two big saves from Guglielmo Vicario at the end...

Thomas: "Yeah, I agree. Two big saves. I think the one with the left hand was the biggest one, a very, very good and big save. The goal, I looked at it back. I think I need to look a little bit more calmly in it, but of course you can say, can we put the ball in another place, parry it out? And Destiny could be more aware. I also think it drops, deflection, there's a few bits we could have done better there. So I don't think it's a massive mistake, if that makes sense. I would rather want to praise two big saves."

It's hard to think of a more impressive centre-back partnership than yours in the Premier League...

Thomas: "Thank you. I think the two there are very important. Of course the whole team is always important, the back four and all that. But I agree with you. You have the right pairing in the middle. It brings you a long way. It's a big credit to the two of them. I think it's a big credit to the performance of the medical staff. They've done a very good job there and they are in a very good place, both of them right now, in terms of fitness. And especially, I'll say, I'll praise the medical and performance staff for a short turn around (with Cuti). He got a big bruised foot from Wolves to this, but he got around and he managed to play through the pain in the end. So, it also showed character and mentality."

Your teams seems a little more street wise...

Thomas: "Football is such a competitive sport, and there'll be lots of small setbacks in a game, where you concede a corner that was maybe not a corner, or you lose the ball and you need to sprint back, or you need to defend for a long period. It's not going as well. You concede a goal after we were actually on top of the game. We had a big chance for Mo to score 2-0. Boom, out of nothing. Leeds score, but stay in the game, keep doing the right things. I'm speaking a lot about it, showing clips what to do, and the players are really, really doing well."

You seem to be able to get over those road blocks...

Thomas: "Yes, the players definitely have it in them, they showed very good character."

You have a number of attacking absentees - maybe the fans weren't expecting such an impressive start - is that something you've had to address with the players, not feeling sorry for themselves or using that as an excuse?

Thomas: "That Dom and Kolo Muani are out? I actually never speak about that. I never speak about to the players that we have injured players. I've never done that. I just look at the next one in line and do everything I can to prepare that player or those players and boost them. I said from day one, and I more or less say once a week, that we're going to need everyone. Everyone needs to be ready, they need to help the team."

We know Djed Spence's qualities, but does Destiny Udogie give you more natural width on the left?

Thomas: "Yeah, maybe. I think actually Djed is very good at running forward with the ball as well, but there's something in the natural with the left footer. So, there's something in that. I guess there's a reason that across the globe most coaches tend to play a left-footed as a left-back. I'm just happy that I have three very good full-backs. I think actually Dest also showed some good bits today. He maybe should have scored himself instead of passing it to Mo."

You're the first team to win the league at Elland Road in more than a year - were there a weakness you looked to exploit?

Thomas: "By the way, I've been in the Championship for many years, so I know how difficult a league it is and I always respect it. So, any weaknesses? I think before this game, and I think it's the same today, they concede very little chances on the XG. So, if you look at the XG today, also in that sense they concede very little. I think the one that maybe is hidden a little bit from the performance today is the thing that we had five or six top situations where we flashed the ball across the box, where we need to be there. Then it's maybe two goals and an XG of two. I think I rather want to praise Leeds. I think they were good today. I think they were difficult to play against. I think they defended well and I felt they were very brave also on the ball."

Richarlison notched up his 250th appearance in the Premier League on Saturday.

The forward reached the milestone when he stepped off the bench in the second half of our 2-1 win at Leeds United.

In doing so, the 28-year-old became only the fifth Brazilian in history to reach the 250-game mark in the Premier League.

The others are Roberto Firmino (256, Liverpool), Fernandinho (264, Manchester City), Ederson (276, Manchester City) and Willian (327, Chelsea, Arsenal and Fulham).

Richy’s appearances have come across his spells at Watford, Everton and here at Spurs.

He spent his first season in the English top flight at Vicarage Road in 2017/18 – making his debut in the division in a 3-3 home draw with Liverpool in August, 2017 – before spending the next four campaigns at Goodison Park.

He’s currently in the midst of his fourth season with us and his ninth consecutive campaign in the Premier League overall.

In midweek, the front man notched up his 100th appearance in our colours across all competitions when he featured in our 2-2 draw with Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League.

Congratulations, Richy!

Highlights | Leeds United 1-2 Spurs

It's quiz time! Mohammed Kudus has extended our Premier League record for the most different scorers in the competition for a single club as he became our 179th different goalscorer in the league with his match-winning strike at Leeds on Saturday. But, can you name all 179 of our goalscorers?

Since the inception of the Premier League in 1992, an incredible 179 different players have found the back of the net for us in the top flight. How many can you name?

Well that is the challenge we're proposing to you!

To take on the challenge, click the green 'Play Quiz' button below to get started before inputting your answers in the box titled 'enter player'.

You will have 20 minutes to name as many of the 179 players as you can. To help, the amount of goals they scored for the Club in the Premier League plus the country they are from are listed either side of their relevant answer box.

Helpful tip: If the player you are guessing has a multiple word surname, such as 'Giovani dos Santos', just type in the final word, ie. Santos, to score the point. For players with double-barrelled surnames, such as 'Cameron Carter-Vickers', you need to write the full surname, ie. Carter-Vickers.

Best of luck!

Name our 179 Premier League goalscorers

Our Under-21s make the long trip up to the north east to take on Newcastle United in the Premier League 2 on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 4pm UK).

The hosts are yet to pick up a win in the division and battled out a 1-1 draw at Reading last Friday, where both teams had a player sent off.

The Magpies are currently 26th in the 29-team table after five games, while we’re up in fifth, having played the same amount of matches, winning four of those.

Our most recent victory at this level was at West Bromwich Albion’s expense – a 1-0 triumph at the Lamex Stadium, also last Friday.

Both clubs were in UEFA Youth League action on the continent in midweek, with a handful of players expected to feature again this weekend.

We secured a comprehensive 6-0 win at Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday, but the Magpies suffered a 2-0 away defeat against Union Saint-Gilloise of Belgium 24 hours later.

Sunday’s match takes place at Whitley Park, the Northumberland FA county ground.

Due to Premier League rules, the match will not be streamed live anywhere, although supporters can keep up to date with live minute-by-minute text updates on our Match Centre here on tottenhamhotspur.com and the Spurs Official app, with updates also available on our official Academy social media channels.

A full report and photographs will be published on club channels after the game.

Last match highlights | Spurs U21s 1-0 West Brom U21s

Speaking to our Review Show in the rain at Elland Road, Thomas said: “It’s a massive win, honestly, a massive win. I just felt it before the game. Every game we want to win. Every game is a big three points, but before today, I just felt, three draws (Bodo/Glimt, Wolves, Brighton), plus the game before the international break, where we haven’t been able to win for a couple of years, for whatever reason.

“Then it’s Leeds away – they hadn’t lost here for over a year. It’s a difficult, difficult away ground, fantastic fans – and our fans, by the way, how good were they? Wow. Thanks so much for that.

“I must admit, for the first 80 minutes, I think it was a very strong performance. I think we gave almost nothing away. I know we gave the goal away, but it wasn’t like we were played through. They also hit the post, but that looked more dangerous than it was. In that period as well, I think we created quite a few chances.

“We scored two great goals and we created a lot of good chances, opportunities that could have got us a little bit more. Then the last 10… that's where we, I don't know if we struggled, but they just bombarded those long balls, so, how do we defend that? We did that well, with two good saves.”

Thomas said beforehand how important it was to react to the moments that go against you in games like this, and venues like Elland Road – that came to fruition as Leeds levelled when we were on top in the first half, but we responded to take the game back to the home side in the second half.

“I think that resilience mentality is… you lose the ball, sprint back, you lose the ball, counter press, lose the ball, you need to sprint, you know, all that. Then, we conceded the goal when I think we were completely on top, Mo had a big chance for 2-0, it’s not game over, but it’s a big step, then suddenly it’s 1-1. But to keep going, to keep doing the right things, to keep staying in the game, to keep solid, I think it's important.”

Mohammed Kudus scored his first goal in our colours to give us a hard-fought win in an entertaining game at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon.

The forward struck an excellent goal shortly before the hour mark to put us into a 2-1 lead against a Leeds United side who pegged us back through Noah Okafor after Mathys Tel had fired us ahead.

The hosts applied some late pressure but we held out for the win to remain unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions, inflicting Leeds’ first home defeat since September, 2024, and giving us a third consecutive win at Elland Road for the first time ever in the league. The victory also moved us up to second in the Premier League before the rest of the weekend’s matches as we head into the next international break.

There was plenty of action throughout the contest in west Yorkshire, with the home side enjoying a couple of early chances. After former Spur Joe Rodon had skewed wide with a volley, he then went close on seven minutes when Sean Longstaff delivered a free-kick from the left and Rodon hit the upright with a back-post header.

Joao Palhinha fired over from 20 yards after great build up play three minutes later and had a similar effort blocked before we took the lead in the 23rd minute. Rodrigo Bentancur touched the ball off to Kudus, he moved it on to Tel who advanced into the area down the right and hit a shot which flicked off Pascal Struijk and flew past Karl Darlow.

Both sides then had glorious chances to add to the scoresheet. The first fell to the hosts, Bentancur caught in possession inside our area but Dominic Calvert-Lewin was high and wide with his finish, before a breakaway at the other end saw Destiny Udogie set up Kudus, however he curled well wide from a good position.

It was an open game played at a good tempo and the visitors drew level on 34 minutes when Guglielmo Vicario saved Brenden Aaronson’s shot only for ball to fall perfectly for Okafor to roll home from close range. That lifted the home fans and we had to ride out a bit of a storm as the game got a bit feisty, although we did that well and almost took a lead into the interval when Tel crashed a header against the crossbar from Wilson Odobert’s cross in stoppage time.

We were indebted to Vicario for preventing us from going behind two minutes into the second half as he stuck out a leg to keep out Calvert-Lewin’s shot on the turn having been set up by Okafor, while Kudus struck a 25-yard free-kick straight at Darlow on 55 minutes. Just two minutes later though came the Ghanaian’s big moment – picking up the ball after Pedro Porro’s pass down the line hit Gabriel Gudmundsson and moving infield before striking a shot towards the near post, wrong-footing Darlow as the ball nestled in the bottom corner. He became the 179th different goalscorer for us in the Premier League and the first for us from Ghana.

Longstaff went close for Leeds in the 71st minute, hitting a shot-on-the-turn from the edge of the box which flew just past the post. The final quarter of the game saw us move into a more defensive formation, dropping deep and making it difficult for Leeds to get through. They did get in on one occasion late on, but again Vicario was there again to dent them. Darlow lofted a long ball forward, Calvert-Lewin flicked on to Joel Piroe and his shot was heading into the bottom corner before our Italian goalkeeper stuck out a hand to deny him, with Destiny Udogie clearing the loose ball. The home side threw in a couple more corners in stoppage time but we defended superbly to see out the game – becoming the only team in the Premier League this season yet to concede a goal in the final 15 minutes of a game. One note from the game saw Richarlison come on as a substitute to make the 250th Premier League appearance of his career, only the fifth Brazilian to reach that milestone.

Spurs vs Brighton (WSL) | The history Bethany England could make on Sunday

@SpursOfficial

Sat 04 October 2025, 09:30| Tottenham Hotspur

All eyes on Bethany England as we welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to Brisbane Road in the Barclays Women’s Super League on Sunday (11.55am UK).

Our captain has been a constant threat against the Seagulls throughout her career, netting eight goals in total against this weekend’s opponent – and four of those have come while wearing Lilywhite.

In fact, those four strikes have come in our last five meetings with the south coast side, and she will be looking to add that tally this weekend as we search for our first home win over Brighton since February, 2022 - drawing twice and losing in the previous three outings.

Despite the winless run at home, we pose a good record in the WSL against Brighton, having only lost once in our last seven clashes – winning three and drawing three.

Bethany also has an opportunity to create WSL history if she manages to score on Sunday as she can become the first WSL player to score 50 goals in home games – netting 49 in 92 games to date.

Watch | Last seven strikes against Brighton

Match stats

We have lost only one of our last seven league meetings with Brighton and Hove Albion (W3 D3), though it was this fixture last season (0-1). Our biggest ever WSL win came against the Seagulls in October 2022, winning 8-0 away.

Brighton and Hove Albion lost each of their first three WSL away games against us but are unbeaten on three trips to face Spurs in the league since (W1 D2).

We have won three of our four matches in the WSL this season (L1), as many victories as across their previous 16 (D4 L9). In fact, we have only ever won four of our opening five games of a WSL campaign on one previous occasion (W4 L1 in 2021-22).

Brighton have won both of their last two games in the Women’s Super League and are looking to win three in a row in the competition for the first time since October/November 2021 – a run which included a 2-1 victory over us.

We have lost six of our last seven home games in the WSL (W1), while our six home defeats are the most of any side in the competition this calendar year. We also suffered our joint-heaviest defeat on home soil in the top-flight last time out, losing 1-5 to Manchester City.

Only Manchester United (3) have kept more clean sheets than both Brighton and us in the WSL this season (2 each). Meanwhile, following their 1-0 win over Everton last time out, the Seagulls are looking to record back-to-back shutouts in the competition for the first time since November 2021.

Bethany England could become the first player in Women’s Super League history to score 50 home goals, netting 49 in 92 to date. 10 of her 16 home goals for us have come at Brisbane Road, at least seven more than any other player.

Brighton's Michelle Agyemang scored her fourth goal in the Women's Super League on MD4 against Everton and the 19-year-old could now become the first teenager to score five times in the competition since Ebony Salmon for Bristol City in February 2020.

Olivia Holdt has scored in both of her last two matches in the WSL (two goals), more than she managed in her first 12 in the competition (1). Holdt could become just the third player to net in three in a row for us in the WSL, after Bethany England (twice) and Martha Thomas.

Rosa Kafaji has been directly involved in more goals than any other Brighton player in the WSL this season (3). Indeed, Kafaji’s three involvements have come across her last two league games (one goal, two assists), this after managing just one contribution in her first 11 in the competition (one goal).