Gallery: Player Ratings – Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Brighton

Rose – 9

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Rosey, one of those players the fans take to their hearts. I don’t have a clue how he survives any game: chopped, flying through the air, scythed to the ground. Tonight he was spectacular in his defending and driving in his attacking threat. On this form (and with this fitness) he looks the best in the land.

Match Summary

Are they the perfect games? The ones you suffer through for eighty-seven minutes and then find release, ecstasy, nirvana? Is that the kind of no match that defines a season, whether it’s death or glory? Spurs won. The previous ninety minutes are, let’s face it, largely irrelevant. But here goes …

Pochettino decided to show his studious side, unfurling a formation from the mid-twentieth century, a five man forward line: two rapid wingers, two tricky inside forwards and a lump of a centre forward. It wasn’t the worst idea offering width early and some threat, in particular from Lucas. Then the five increasingly became a static line all turned helplessly towards Eriksen waiting open-mouthed for him to throw them a fish.

Just as it became desperate, Eriksen collected the ball on the edge of the box and Brighton were finally hoist by their own petard – a line of at least eight players stood between keeper and ball – and Eriksen delivered (us from purgatory). Another win in this stadium … of sound.

Keep it to yourselves but I think the Brighton goalie might be an alcoholic – every time he had to kick the ball, he needed a drink!