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.”
Though Daniel Levy, perhaps understandably, might fear employing another explosive Italian, Brighton’s performance was a worthy audition. Kane, who thrashed home Pierre-Emile Højbjerg’s pass, had been reduced to feeding off scraps but his goal revived Tottenham’s fading push for the Champions League, dead-eyed on a day his partner in crime, Son Heung-min, scored Spurs’ first of a game that fizzed up even before kick-off.
On Thursday, Stellini had recalled De Zerbi as an “aggressive” opponent in their playing days as defender and attacking midfielder respectively. An altercation during a pre-match handshake suggested that had not gone down well. “A personal situation,” said De Zerbi. “I am used to respecting everyone outside and inside of the pitch. And I don’t like it when people don’t respect me.”
The hoped-for slugfest between ailing giant and progressive new force, fifth and sixth respectively, duly followed. Stellini, celebrating a first victory as Spurs caretaker manager, later attempted conciliation while unwilling to relitigate anything beyond the white lines. “I don’t like to be involved when there is a fight or something too aggressive,” he said. “I am a friendly person. Football is enjoyable. If you look what happened, I was polite and calm.”
Brighton were attempting to repeat last season’s late-arriving, attritional 1-0 win at Spurs. Times and style have changed since; when Alexis Mac Allister and Moisés Caicedo joined his attacking trio, De Zerbi’s team exhibited verve rarely seen in the N17 postcode since Ossie Ardiles was throwing caution to the mid-1990s wind. Stellini’s strategy was familiar to those who suffered the dark winter of Conte-ball; his team often played as if the away side; wing-back rigidity, Kane foraging for himself.
Clad in crimson, Brighton pushed from the start but swiftly fell victim to a rare sight once habitual. A stunning strike from Son, a right-foot dipper Jason Steele had little chance with, brought the South Korean a 100th Premier League goal, last year’s Golden Boot slowed to eight this season. “I was really emotional because I have had tough moments in the last few weeks,” said Son, dedicating his goal to his late grandfather. “I’m the most frustrated guy and player but I see where I can improve.”
That only spurred Brighton on even more. Kaoru Mitoma soon had the ball in the net, ruled out for a handball that was lengthily deliberated over by VAR. Brighton resumed with injustice as fuel. From Solly March’s corner, Lewis Dunk was allowed freedom to score on his 200th Premier League appearance, the first Brighton player to do so.
A similar pattern emerged after half time, Brighton pushing on, Spurs countering. On the sidelines, De Zerbi’s turf war with the Tottenham bench – and match officials – was bubbling up. VAR eventually provided the detonator, after Danny Welbeck’s correctly disallowed goal. Though De Zerbi and Stellini were bystanders for much of the hold-me-back sideline rancour, both were dismissed by Stuart Attwell, the referee. Where Stellini protested innocence, De Zerbi departed with indolence, a provocateur caught red-handed, his second red card this season; he also has four yellows. “I don’t like when the other bench pressure the referee,” he said.
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That set alight the rest of the contest. Kane walloped over an easier chance than his winner and Dejan Kulusevski blazed wide as Brighton began to lose control. On came Evan Ferguson for Welbeck as Brighton sought the goal that went instead to Tottenham. Kane, the master, had shown Ferguson, the young pretender – and perhaps his next manager – just how it’s done. “I had time to think about it, but I trusted myself,” he said.
