Brighton stuns Tottenham 3-2

Georginio Rutter scored in consecutive Premier League appearances for the first time, after not scoring in any of his first 15 games in the competition. (PA Media)

BBC Sport, October 7 — Brighton produced a superb fightback to come from two goals down and beat Tottenham in a Premier League thriller on the south coast.

Spurs looked to be heading to a sixth successive victory in all competitions as they deservedly led 2-0 after 37 minutes.

Brennan Johnson opened the scoring with his sixth goal in six games when he timed his run perfectly to run on to Dominic Solanke’s through ball before slotting past Bart Verbruggen.

The home goalkeeper should have done better with a curled shot from James Maddison as he got two hands to the low strike, but could not keep the ball out as Spurs doubled their lead.

But Brighton were a side transformed after the break.

They pulled one back early in the second half, when Destiny Udogie was unable to clear the ball from Kaoru Mitoma's cross and Yankuba Minteh capitalised to grab his first goal for the Seagulls following his £30m move from Newcastle.

The impressive Mitoma was again involved as the hosts equalised in the 58th minute, passing to Georginio Rutter, who twisted to create space away from Micky van de Ven and then shoot low past Guglielmo Vicario.

Rutter then did excellently to not give up, slide in near the byeline to get a cross in, which Danny Welbeck converted with a downward header to score what proved to be the winner.

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou seemed shocked at the final whistle, unable to comprehend how his side had managed to lose a match they had complete control of.

"It's a terrible loss for us - as bad as it gets," said the Australian.

Tottenham made a superb start and should have scored inside the opening 60 seconds when Timo Werner raced clear down the left but overhit the cross for Johnson and the chance was wasted.

A goal always looked on the cards, and only a great block from Adam Webster, who later went off with a hamstring injury, denied Maddison.

Tottenham thought they had scored when the ball bounced off Maddison and crossed the line, only for a tight video assistant referee (VAR) decision to rule Pedro Porro was offside earlier in the move.

Brighton conceded seconds later though, losing possession before Solanke - named in the England squad on Thursday for his first call-up in seven years - sent a perfectly weighted ball through the defence for Johnson to hit a first-time finish past Verbruggen.

Danny Welbeck, in a central position, had a good chance to equalise but slid the ball just past the post before Spurs doubled their lead with the game looking finished.

Brighton show fighting spirit for fantastic recovery

Brighton fought back to claim a memorable win, the first time they had done so from two goals behind at half-time since December 2015 when they beat 10-man Charlton 3-2 in the Championship.

Spurs, meanwhile, now have lost 10 times in the Premier League when they have been leading by two or more goals.

Udogie's failed attempt at a clearance let in Minteh to score Brighton's first three minutes into the second half as belief grew among a passionate home support that victory was possible.

Lewis Dunk's deflected cross needed to be pushed over, and Mitoma's low shot forced a save from Vicario, before Rutter grabbed his second goal in two games to level the score.

The French midfielder, signed from Leeds for £40m in the summer, did superbly to keep the ball alive and his persistence paid off with an excellent cross to set up Welbeck's header and give Fabian Hurzeler's side a richly deserved comeback victory.