Tottenham’s miserable week continued as they followed their Champions League humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich with a damaging defeat at Brighton.
After their 7-2 drubbing in midweek, Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino was expecting a response from his players, only for goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to gift Neal Maupay a bizarre opener.
The Spurs captain suffered a freak arm injury in the process, and Aaron Connolly compounded Tottenham’s problems by doubling Brighton’s lead on his first Premier League start.
And although Spurs made a positive start to the second half, Connolly killed off any hope of them launching a fightback as the 19-year-old Irish striker produced a well-taken strike for his second goal to seal Brighton’s first home win since March.
Tottenham have now failed to win in their last away 10 games in the Premier League, stretching back to a 2-1 victory at Fulham on 20 January, and have lost 17 in all competitions in 2019 – more than any other top-flight side.
Last week’s home win against Southampton offered Spurs some relief after being dumped out of the Carabao Cup by League Two Colchester but the pressure is mounting on Pochettino with his side having now taken 11 points from a possible 24 this term.
Not only was it Brighton’s first win since the opening day but it was Graham Potter’s first at the Amex, lifting the Seagulls to 12th before the afternoon kick-offs, with Tottenham set to slip out of the top six.
Questions were being asked after Tottenham’s Carabao Cup exit but having conceded 10 goals in five days, Spurs are now bordering on a crisis.
Pochettino has become one of the most coveted managers in Europe during his first five years in charge, with his side gradually improving each year and reaching last season’s Champions League final.
Yet just four months on, Spurs were jeered off at their palatial new home after the defeat to Bayern.
Pochettino is facing the most searching questions of his Tottenham tenure, admitting that “sometimes critics can make you realise you need to wake up”.
And if that second-half capitulation against Bayern wouldn’t act as a wake-up call, then what would?
Lloris’ early howler hardly helped their cause and it then took time for them to regroup.
On Friday, Pochettino said he has no doubt over the commitment of his players, particularly those in the final year of their contract such as Christian Eriksen, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen, the latter pair retaining their places despite shortcomings being ruthlessly exposed in
midweek.
There was no questioning Vertonghen’s desire to put his body on the line, blocking Dale Stephens’ goalbound volley with his head before needing treatment after a clash of heads with Maupay. But just as it looked like Spurs had got a foothold in the game, they conceded a second.
Alderweireld was then found wanting after the break as he stood off Connolly, turning his back as the youngster cut inside before firing into the bottom corner.
And while Eriksen had another quiet game in midfield, he was not alone.
His tame long-range strike was Tottenham’s only shot on target in the first half, and although Spurs won three corners in quick succession at the start of the second half, they still couldn’t muster an effort on goal.
Later on, the ball squirmed away from Son Heung-min in the box while Harry Kane fired over, before substitute Lucas Moura was twice denied by Mat Ryan as Spurs failed even to claim a consolation, seemingly leaving Pochettino and Spurs at a crossroads.
