Key Takeaways
- Tottenham drew 2-2 with Brighton after a 96th-minute Georginio Rutter goal.
- The result keeps Spurs in the drop zone; they have not won in 15 league matches.
- Coach Roberto De Zerbi orders players to stay upbeat and believes five straight wins are possible.
Roberto De Zerbi watched his Tottenham side throw away two leads and then their chance to leave the relegation places, yet he still told his squad to report to training “with a smile” after Brighton snatched a 2-2 draw deep into added time.
Pedro Porro and Xavi Simons had put Spurs ahead twice, but Kaoru Mitoma’s acrobatic finish and Rutter’s last-gasp strike extended the club’s winless league run to 15 games. The point leaves Tottenham 18th, one behind West Ham and two adrift of Nottingham Forest.
Speaking at the post-match flash interview, De Zerbi admitted the blow “hurts” but refused to let gloom take hold. “I don’t have room for negative faces,” the Italian said. “We work in a big stadium, in the best league. If players feel sorry for themselves, they should stay home. We can still win every remaining match.”
Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler, who took over from De Zerbi at the Amex last summer, praised Mitoma’s volley as “Van Basten-like” and tipped Spurs to avoid the drop. “They own game-changers in attack,” the 33-year-old German noted. “Roberto will turn this around.”
Tottenham now prepare for a crucial trip to face Everton next weekend, while Brighton host Aston Villa on the same day.