Can Spurs bounce back from their Champions League humiliation?
The word ‘crisis’ is thrown around a lot on football. It’s far-fetched to say Tottenham Hotspur have fallen into that bracket, but there are clearly things wrong at the club: the dressing room is obviously fractured, the atmosphere is a little strange and, most importantly, they aren’t winning football matches.
Of the 10 games they’ve played this season, Mauricio Pochettino’s men have only won three—all coming on home soil—and that utter annihilation in the Champions League at the hands of Bayern Munich will do little to quell the doubters and doom-mongers.
Of course, Brighton aren’t quite at Bayern’s level just yet, but this fixture may still have huge consequences for the season ahead as far as Spurs are concerned: falter again, and the pressure will really be cranked up.
The Seagulls have been better than their league position suggests. Graham Potter’s men may be winless since the opening day but, barring a poor display at Chelsea, luck hasn’t been on their side. A dominant display at Newcastle deserved three points, a red card against Southampton derailed an excellent performance, while Burnley scored a brilliant last-minute equaliser in their last home game; all-in-all, the three-at-the-back system is close to clicking.
Potter will see this as a great opportunity – in their five away games in all competitions, Spurs are winless, and the Bayern result isn’t something which can simply be brushed-aside.
Barring their horror-run under Chris Hughton at the end of last season, Albion are generally a tough side to beat at The Amex, so I’m backing a home win/draw double chance. Only once have these two been separated by more than a single goal since 2017, and Brighton may just be able to close that gap enough on Saturday to earn a positive result.
Next, 9/4 looks like decent value for a goalless first-half.
Not a single first-first goal has been scored at The Amex this season, while the Seagulls also held Chelsea to a goalless opening 45 at Stamford Bridge in their last outing.
Spurs’ games have been a little more chaotic, but after such a horrific result midweek, a level of circumspection is surely to be expected; going behind early will be a disaster.
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