How will being the leading man in a pair of touchline tear-ups affect Roberto De Zerbi’s candidacy to become Tottenham’s next manager? The Italian and his opposite number Cristian Stellini were banished from the sidelines for their role in an all-in wrestling session by the time Harry Kane scored a goal that denied Brighton, just as two earlier VAR decisions had. Until then it had been Brighton exhibiting a style Spurs fans might recognise as adjacent to the “glory game” concept that underpins their club.
“We have to be proud of this performance,” said De Zerbi, with some justification. “We are not to forget we are Brighton. We deserved to win the game.”
