Tottenham Hotspur overcame a resilient Brighton and Hove Albion side to win 2-1 and move to fifth in the Premier League table. In an exceptionally even contest the hosts went behind but fought back to secure an essential victory in the race for the top four. Spurs may have relied upon Dele Alli for the winner, but it was their talismanic striker Harry Kane who scored the equaliser and was man of the match.
Defensively, in spite of manager Jose Mourinho opting for five at the back, Kane was able to help out his teammates and make two tackles to restore possession for the hosts. Meanwhile, the England striker was also on hand to clear the ball from danger when Brighton were threatening the Tottenham Hotspur goal.
Kane may have been the least accurate player with the ball at his feet, making just 60 per cent of his passes successfully, but as a lone striker, he had the hardest task to keep hold of the ball, with few options to aim for. Overall though Kane’s 20 passes were more than five other players in white and he was trying to play in fellow teammates with crosses, and long balls. Only half of his two crosses were accurate though, and a quarter of his long balls, Mourinho will have been slightly disappointed with the England international’s link-up play.
But where Kane almost always excels is in attacking areas, his four shots was more than any other Spurs player, while his two shots on goal was also the joint-most for Mourinho’s side. One of those shots also led the crucial goal that brought the host back into the game and provided the foundation for the win. Furthermore, Kane played a single key pass but was unable to register an assist, along with completing three dribbles around opponents and having been fouled three times, showing how hard to handle he was.
Once again Spurs relied on Kane’s goalscoring influence to see off another Premier League opponent. Brighton could not keep the England striker at bay and paid the price for it by squandering a lead.
