Spurs need huge Serge

after 21 minutes, only to slip as he set himself to volley in from close range.

Lamela was evidently eager to make up for lost time, even whipping the ball off Kane’s foot to fire over the bar on the half-hour, but Wembley was undoubtedly subdued.

“Is this the Emirates?” enquired the Brighton fans, bemused at the lack of noise but it was their Spurs counterparts who had the bigger laugh before the break.

Aurier’s cross from the touchline floated over Kane, over Matt Ryan’s outstretched glove but, somehow, under the bar. Each replay on the giant screen was greeted by a greater crescendo of relieved cackles.

Even the assistant referee, who flagged furiously for a foul by Jose Izquierdo on Aurier even as the ball floated into the net, struggled to suppress a smile.

The impetus was on the home side to get a second but the whole of Wembley was left scratching their heads when Kane scuffed a shot from 10 yards in the 51st minute after good work from Danny Rose.

Lamela’s deflected shot hit the base of the post shortly after. Brighton were by now playing unashamedly with a back six, presumably happy to bide their time before seeking out the opening for a sucker punch.

The key thing, though, was to land it when the opportunity arose. Tottenham struggled to clear, the ball ricocheted to Tomer Hemed and here was the clear opening. The Spurs chin was exposed – all the Brighton striker could do was thump his haymaker into the gloves of Hugo Lloris.

Then came the second from Son. It was another points win for Tottenham, but again no sign of the sort of performance they need to be realistic challengers. Oh, and that trip to the Etihad to come next.

TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1): Booked: NEXT UP: BRIGHTON (4-2-3-1): Booked: Referee: Goals: NEXT UP: