After seeing his team take all three points from a tight encounter with Brighton and Hove Albion this afternoon, Spurs playmaker James Maddison explained the side weren’t quite at their best today, but can be very happy with securing a late victory.
Tottenham have come under scrutiny in the past week after conceding a late equaliser to Everton last weekend, with many claiming Ange Postecoglou‘s side need to learn how to close out a game.
Postecoglou has responded by insisting his team will continue to play the same way, and that late goals at either end are just a by-product of that approach (Football.London).
The Spurs boss will feel justified then, given the fact his team snatched all three points with a goal in the dying moments of injury time today. With seconds left on the clock, Heung-min Son played a ball into the box and Brennan Johnson was waiting at the far post to knock it home.
Maddison relieved by late win
Speaking to Premier League Productions (via BBC Sport) after the game, James Maddison discussed the nature of Tottenham’s dramatic win, and insisted the team still has room to improve.
He said: “A bit of relief actually. We probably weren’t at our fluent best today, we still had some good passages but probably weren’t at our best. It’s always nice to win late, that feeling when you’re out there and it sends the fans into madness. If you could bottle that and sell it you’d get millions… it’s so rare.
“We’ve done it a few times here at home with late winners so credit to Brennan [Johnson] with the winner. The gaffer always goes on about getting that first time cross in to the far post. It was just good quality all round [for the goal] and Brennan got in at the back post. It was a well worked goal.
“Brighton are a brilliant team, there’s no getting away from that. It’s why they are doing really well in the Europa League and have been challenging for the top six in the last few seasons. It can be difficult if you aren’t clean and crisp on the ball. I just have to credit the character of the team.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Absolute scenes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium today, and what a moment for Brennan Johnson to be the hero there. That was the perfect example of risk and reward, and this approach is going to win us points more than it will lose us points, I’m sure.