Pochettino looking ahead to City

– Manager Mauricio Pochettino reflected with satisfaction on Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion despite the slightly fortunate nature of his side’s first goal.

Serge Aurier’s freakish first goal for Tottenham after 40 minutes broke the deadlock at Wembley on Wednesday, his cross going straight into the net to break Brighton’s dogged resistance.

A deflected header by Son Heung-min three minutes from time sealed three points that took the London club into fourth place in the Premier League at the expense of Liverpool, who drew 0-0 at home to West Bromwich Albion.

Pochettino will head to Premier League leaders Manchester City in an optimistic mood, saying: “I am a positive person. I am happy we won and the three points are so important for us.

“What is going to happen on Saturday? Who knows? I am going to Manchester to try to win and thinking that we can win.

“You start to lose when you start to think in a negative way. We are going to enjoy it because it’s a fantastic challenge to play against Manchester City.”

Pochettino welcomed the performance of Erik Lamela on his first start since October 2016 following two operations on a troublesome hip, but admitted fortune had been with his side in Aurier’s goal.

“Yes, of course, (the luck) helped a lot,” said the Argentinian, whose side trail third-place Chelsea by four points.

“When the opponent is so deep and plays only to defend, it’s not easy. The team created a lot of chances and deserved to score before (Aurier’s goal), but that’s football.” – AFP