Frank claims Tottenham comeback at Brighton 'best performance of the season'

Frank claims Tottenham comeback at Brighton ‘best performance of the season’

For a brief spell on the Amex on Saturday, Tottenham supporters might need feared the acquainted tag of inconsistency was about to resurface.

Regardless of starting the season strongly and controlling a lot of the early play towards Brighton, Spurs by some means discovered themselves 2-0 down contained in the opening half-hour.

Provided that this was the identical stadium the place, lower than a yr in the past, they let a two-goal lead slip in a 3-2 defeat, the state of affairs carried an all-too-familiar sense of déjà vu.

This time, although, Tottenham steadied themselves and clawed their method again. Richarlison struck to halve the deficit, and Jan Paul van Hecke’s personal objective ensured Thomas Frank’s aspect left the South Coast with a degree.

In fact, Spurs created sufficient alternatives to really feel they need to have claimed all three.

The comeback was important in one other respect too: it was the primary time in three years that Tottenham averted defeat in a league away fixture after falling behind by two or extra objectives, ending a run of 15 consecutive losses in such conditions. That resilience hinted at a shift in mindset below Frank.

“I feel that is our greatest efficiency of the season,” the Spurs supervisor informed BBC Match of the Day.

“I truly suppose that general, if there ought to have been a winner, it ought to have been us.

“So many crosses into the field, close to probabilities, missed alternatives. We have been bodily robust and mentally robust, and that’s so vital if you wish to obtain one thing.”

A harder Tottenham?

Following their 1-0 Champions League victory towards Villarreal earlier within the week, midfielder Lucas Bergvall praised the squad’s “clean-sheet mentality,” with that shutout being their fourth within the opening 5 fixtures.

However when Brighton struck twice early on on the weekend, Tottenham’s defensive resolve was examined another way.

As a substitute of collapsing, they confirmed willpower to battle again, a notable departure from their historical past of struggling in such situations.

“The mentality that we confirmed, I used to be so impressed with,” Frank mirrored.

“[We showed] the mentality to remain within the sport, to maintain going, to maintain pushing and are available again and get a effectively deserved 2-2.”

Midfielder Joao Palhinha echoed that view when talking to Sky Sports activities: “No less than what we will take is the mentality that we had preventing for the consequence.”

He continued: “This mentality must be there at all times whatever the consequence.”

The statistics backed up Tottenham’s dominance: 45 touches inside Brighton’s penalty space in comparison with simply 17 for the hosts.

Spurs additionally registered 11 makes an attempt at objective, though solely three have been on track – a reminder that probability creation and ending nonetheless require refinement.

Palhinha admitted there’s work forward: “There are numerous issues for this workforce to maintain enhancing. However these enhancements have come week by week.”

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