Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
NBELIEVABLE
Ome goal as Special One whole new level FOX IN THE BOX!
– who saw them off before Christmas – now very much in the mix for a top-four place.
The Seagulls went ahead shortly before the break when Adam Webster rose superbly to head home from Pascal Gross’ free-kick.
The lead was deserved with Graham Potter’s side enterprising, disciplined and energetic. But so too was the equaliser.
The tireless Lucas Moura ghosted past three players before benefiting when Webster’s attempted clearance cannoned off Dale Stephens.
Kane pounced. Mat Ryan did well to keep out his initial effort, but the Brighton keeper had no chance with the rebound. From then on this match was heading in just one direction.
With only one clean sheet in their previous eight, it was always likely that Potter’s players could crack.
The praise in the post-match press conference from Mourinho for Alli was fully justified.
The England man reacted instinctively after sub Christian Eriksen spread the ball out to the right, and Serge Aurier teed him up with a first-time pass. Alli’s effort, to lift the ball first time over Ryan, was later described as “world-class” by both Potter and Mourinho. Alli (celebrating, left) has now scored five in seven under his new boss, compared to just three in his previous 30 under Pochettino.
It is why the teams above them cannot rest on their laurels. Tottenham have enjoyed their place in the top four. There is no way they will give it up without a big fight.
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JOSE MOURINHO paid tribute to “phenomenal” Harry Kane and
Dele Alli after their goals revived Tottenham.
Kane shrugged off having a firsthalf effort ruled out for offside and netted on 53 minutes. And Alli grabbed the winner – his fifth goal in seven games under Mourinho – with 18 minutes left.
The Spurs boss said: “Harry is the kind of striker who is always fantastic, even when he’s not scoring.
“There are so many top scorers in the world who score so many goals, but the day they don’t score their performance is always poor because they give nothing.
“This is the guy who, if he doesn’t score, his performance is good. He presses, he recovers balls, he holds the ball, he assists, he drops back.
“Two great goals. Of course, the first one is the correct decision by VAR but the action, the movement, the strike is brilliant. The second is fantastic and important, but his work was absolutely phenomenal.
“When Dele loses position, he covers the position in the defensive organisation. He’s fantastic.
“People say, since I arrived, that Dele has scored three or four goals in the Premier League and one or two in the Champions League, but I don’t go in that direction. I go in the direction that Dele is exhausted from work. I love players who are exhausted from that.”
The win kept Spurs in the hunt for a Champions League place, but Mourinho became the latest top manager to complain about having to play twice in three days.
Spurs go to Norwich tomorrow and he added: “For any person that understands physiology, it is a crime they are going to play again on the 28th. It is against every rule of physiology, biology, biochemistry.” based on fears of the previous injuries he has had since the beginning of the season.
“So, two or three or four injuries and feeling not ready to start the game. But I cannot say he is injured. Only that he is not in condition to play.”
France star Ndombele, who recently had a groin injury, was a surprise omission as Spurs came from behind to beat Brighton. Mourinho said afterwards the former Lyon man would be taking part in the warm down.
The Portuguese added: “In five minutes we start a training session and you can go and watch. He is training normally so I can’t say he’s injured.”