EPL: Tottenham 2-0 Brighton
Serge Aurier celebrates with Harry Kane and and Moussa Sissoko
Two fortunate goals helped Tottenham earn their third home win in a week as they laboured to a 2-0 victory over Brighton at Wembley.
Tottenham dominated the first half but the goal that gave them the lead was a lucky one, as Serge Aurier's cross evaded everyone and found the net in the 40th minute - his first goal in English football.
Brighton improved in the second half and could have levelled through Tomer Hemed, but he fired straight at Hugo Lloris, and that miss proved costly, as Heung-Min Son flicked home in the 87th minute via a deflection to make sure of the win.
And with Liverpool drawing 0-0 with West Brom, the three points take Spurs back into the top four on goal difference. Brighton stay 13th.
Spurs started the match on the front foot, and were almost in front after the lively Son darted past his man, fired for goal, but was denied by a brave block from Shane Duffy.
It was one-way traffic for the majority of the first half, with Brighton blocking everything that Spurs threw at them. Duffy was a particular thorn in Spurs' side, with his best block reserved from a drilled Kane strike from the angle.
Son fired over from close range before, just after the half-hour mark, Erik Lamela, making his first start in 14 months after a troublesome hip injury, turned sharply in the box, but could not keep his shot down.
However, as the groans of frustration were becoming more audible around the ground, Spurs did take the lead in the most fortuitous circumstances. Aurier had time to line up the cross, but overhit it, Kane could not get near the high ball, but neither could Mat Ryan in the Brighton goal, as the ball looped over his hand and into the net.
After the break, Spurs continued to press, but couldn't find that vital second to calm their nerves. Ryan denied Kane with his legs, but otherwise was not tested as often as he would have been expecting.
Brighton's big moment came in the 69th minute, as Hemed swivelled and shot for goal from a good position, but fired straight at Lloris.
Then, moments after Kane had hit the post from a free-kick, Son calmed the nerves around Wembley, flicking Eriksen's free-kick into the net, via the leg of Brighton's Davy Propper. It was not overly convincing, but is that the end of Spurs' Wembley hoodoo once and for all?
Brighton improved in the second half and could have levelled through Tomer Hemed, but he fired straight at Hugo Lloris, and that miss proved costly, as Heung-Min Son flicked home in the 87th minute via a deflection to make sure of the win.
And with Liverpool drawing 0-0 with West Brom, the three points take Spurs back into the top four on goal difference. Brighton stay 13th.
Spurs started the match on the front foot, and were almost in front after the lively Son darted past his man, fired for goal, but was denied by a brave block from Shane Duffy.
It was one-way traffic for the majority of the first half, with Brighton blocking everything that Spurs threw at them. Duffy was a particular thorn in Spurs' side, with his best block reserved from a drilled Kane strike from the angle.
Son fired over from close range before, just after the half-hour mark, Erik Lamela, making his first start in 14 months after a troublesome hip injury, turned sharply in the box, but could not keep his shot down.
However, as the groans of frustration were becoming more audible around the ground, Spurs did take the lead in the most fortuitous circumstances. Aurier had time to line up the cross, but overhit it, Kane could not get near the high ball, but neither could Mat Ryan in the Brighton goal, as the ball looped over his hand and into the net.
After the break, Spurs continued to press, but couldn't find that vital second to calm their nerves. Ryan denied Kane with his legs, but otherwise was not tested as often as he would have been expecting.
Brighton's big moment came in the 69th minute, as Hemed swivelled and shot for goal from a good position, but fired straight at Lloris.
Then, moments after Kane had hit the post from a free-kick, Son calmed the nerves around Wembley, flicking Eriksen's free-kick into the net, via the leg of Brighton's Davy Propper. It was not overly convincing, but is that the end of Spurs' Wembley hoodoo once and for all?