Alli stunner has Brighton rocking
TOUCH OF CLASS: ERIKSEN INTRODUCTION THE CATALYST
Dele Alli got Tottenham back on track as the England midfielder capped a gritty escape act with the late winner in yesterday’s 2-1 victory against Brighton.
Jose Mourinho’s side were in danger of a second successive Premier League defeat when Adam Webster headed Brighton into a shock lead at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
But Harry Kane equalised after the interval and Alli finished off a flowing Tottenham move in the closing stages.
Avenging their defeat at Brighton in October, Tottenham, unbeaten in Boxing Day fixtures since 2003, have won three of their last four league games as they try to climb into the top four.
Initially, there were worrying signs for Mourinho on the field however as Steven Alzate escaped Moussa Sissoko, making space for a low strike that drifted just wide.
Kane has a knack of scoring on Boxing Day and the striker thought he had netted again when he fired home from Winks’ pass, but it was reviewed and ruled out by the narrowest of margins.
Brighton made the most of that let-off to take the lead in the 37th minute.
Pascal Gross swung over a free-kick and Webster rose above Toby Alderweireld and Davinson Sanchez to plant a powerful header past Gazzaniga.
Mourinho, standing rainsoaked on the touchline, revealed before the game that his Christmas was ruined by the death of his family’s pet Yorkshire Terrier.
But Kane put a smile back on his manager’s face in the 53rd minute when he seized on a deflection off Lucas Moura after the Brazilian’s determined run.
Drilling a shot that Mat Ryan could only push back out, Kane gobbled up the rebound with a clinical finish for his eighth goal in five Premier League games on Boxing Day.
Kane’s 16th club goal this season was not immediately a catalyst for a Tottenham surge and Gazzaniga had to be alert to keep out Gross’s fierce free-kick.
But Mourinho made an inspired switch when he sent on Christian Eriksen for Harry Winks.
Eriksen made an immediate impact in the 72nd minute when he floated a delicate pass to Serge Aurier who set up Alli, who guided a superb lofted finish over Ryan. – AFP