Pedro Porro and Kevin Danso sank to their knees, Xavi Simons looked ready to cry and the Tottenham Hotspur fans filed out of the club’s £1bn stadium feeling like their team had been beaten once again.
In fact, Spurs had drawn but the way in which the London club had a first Premier League victory of 2026 snatched away from them hurt just as much as all the many losses.
A spectacular strike from Simons, after Kaoru Mitoma had cancelled out Porro’s opener, appeared to have clinched what would have been a massive victory for Tottenham over Brighton. But just as it looked as though Spurs finally had some hope under new head coach Roberto De Zerbi, Brighton substitute Georginio Rutter struck in the 95th minute to break their hearts and keep them in the relegation zone.
There were so many positives for Tottenham to take from De Zerbi’s first home game in charge, not least the performance of Simons, and yet the Italian’s team remains in the bottom three and he faces a huge job to lift his players. But lift them he must, as Spurs now contemplate what looks like a do-or-die game at Wolverhampton Wanderers next Saturday. Win that and there will be hope, but anything else may well kill off any remaining belief.
The Tottenham fans who had waved their white flags – of support rather than surrender – in the build-up to kick-off and celebrated the second-half goal from Simons like it was a cup final, could not believe their team had failed to win again.
De Zerbi, though, might have seen it coming when his fragile players responded to eight minutes of stoppage time going up on the board by sitting back and hoping for the best.
Brighton substitute Matt O’Riley had already hit the side-netting from a good position at the back post, then Tottenham’s worst fears were realised in the 95th minute.
Danso will still be wondering why he did not just put a foot through the ball before Jan Paul van Hecke nicked it off him to set up Rutter to score Brighton’s dramatic equaliser. That’s what relegation battles do to players, though, and Tottenham have no time to lick their wounds.
Nottingham Forest will now relish the chance of pulling five points clear of Spurs by beating Burnley on Sunday, while West Ham can increase the gap between themselves and their London rivals to four points with a victory over Crystal Palace on Monday night.
It could have all been so much more positive for Spurs if they had just held on to Simons’ spectacular 77th-minute goal that had sparked wild celebrations from the home players and fans.
Van Hecke will be relieved that he made up for the error that led to Simons’ goal, as he was robbed by Tottenham substitute Lucas Bergvall, who had barely been on the pitch for 60 seconds. There was still plenty for Simons to do and he curled a wonderful shot past Bart Verbruggen that looked to have repaid a large chunk of his £51m transfer fee.
No wonder Simons looked so upset at the final whistle, as he had responded perfectly to De Zerbi’s pre-match call for him to provide goals, assists and running off the ball.
His running and industry caused him to go down with cramp more than once in the final stages as Spurs tried to cling on. Before scoring, he had provided the assist for Porro’s first-half opener.
Simons should really have doubled Tottenham’s advantage within minutes of Porro’s headed goal. The forward collected the ball from Dominic Solanke inside the penalty area. He turned past Ferdi Kadioglu and picked his spot, only to see his shot rebound off the post. Verbruggen produced a good save to prevent Porro scoring the follow-up.
Just as Tottenham would eventually give up what would have been a precious three points in stoppage time at the end of the game, they also conceded the first Brighton equaliser in time added on at the end of the first half.
Mitoma had replaced the injured Diego Gómez, who left the pitch in tears, and delivered a brilliant volley from a Pascal Gross cross. It was a wonderful finish that drew a comparison with Marco van Basten from Fabian Hürzeler. But the Japan star had been left unmarked to pick his spot and De Zerbi will know he must work on keeping his players focused right up until the end of both halves.
Spurs substitute Richarlison immediately went to the touchline to encourage his team-mates, but Tottenham were fortunate not to go in at half-time behind, as Jack Hinshelwood sent a header just wide.
Tottenham’s stand-in captain Micky van de Ven also hit his own post in the first half, preventing a Hinshelwood header from being turned in by Danny Welbeck, and a draw was probably a fair result for Brighton, who still have aspirations of qualifying for Europe. But it will feel deeply unfair on Porro, Danso, Simons, and the rest of the Spurs players who thought they had finally breathed life into their fight against relegation.
Roberto De Zerbi claimed his devastated Tottenham Hotspur players can win all five of their remaining Premier League games, despite still being without a victory in 2026.
A stoppage-time strike from Brighton substitute Georginio Rutter denied Spurs a first League win of the calendar year and kept De Zerbi’s team inside the relegation zone.
Tottenham now face relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers, before travelling to Aston Villa and finishing their season with games against Leeds United, Chelsea and Everton.
The gap to safety could be increased if West Ham United beat Crystal Palace on Monday night, while Nottingham Forest could pull five points clear of Spurs by beating Burnley.
But Spurs head coach De Zerbi remained upbeat and said: “It is not finished yet. We have another five games. It is tough. We know it is a tough moment, a difficult situation, another five games, 15 points and this team is able to win five games in a row.
“Now it is difficult to hear my words, but if you watch the players and analyse their level we can win five in a row. Not to be arrogant because I am not arrogant, especially now, but we have the qualities to fight and win games in a row.”
De Zerbi also warned his players that he will not stand for them feeling sorry for themselves, despite the nature of their 2-2 draw against Brighton in which they twice led through Pedro Porro and Xavi Simons.
“They have to follow me and listen to me,” said De Zerbi. “I am proud of the performance. They have to be stronger and be focused just on the Wolves game and come to the training ground with a smile, otherwise they will go home immediately. I have no time to see negative people, sad players or sad assistants. We are lucky to work in a big club, we work in the Premier League and we have the right qualities to win the game. We have to be positive because I don’t like people who cry and think in a negative way.”
Asked whether or not he was now more confident that Tottenham can secure their Premier League safety, De Zerbi said: “Yes, but I always thought and believed in the qualities of the players. They played a good game and we can play better than today with more quality and more calm, especially when we are in possession. But in this moment we need this spirit, attitude, mentality.”
On the performance of Simons, who scored and assisted for Porro, De Zerbi added: “He played very well, a great game. He can play better and better because a player like this needs to feel confidence from the manager and I stay here to transfer all the confidence he needs.
“When I was a player I was a No 10 and I know what he thinks because I thought the same when I played. I am lucky to have this player on my team, but he is lucky because as a No 10, I can understand better than other coaches.”
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I’m sorry for the result, for the players because they are suffering too much. Today we deserved to win the game against a great Brighton. Congratulations for the level of players and everything [but] especially in that moment of the game we could not concede that goal to Georginio Rutter.
I am positive and I am proud of my players because they played a fantastic game with character and spirit, what I asked of them. To deserve to play in this stadium for this club we have to be stronger than this result, to prepare for the next game against Wolverhampton to win the game. If you are strong like today, I think we can compete again.
I said we have to be stronger, to follow me again because I want to help them. I want [them to realise they can] change the mentality because the mentality is the most important part.
Now it is too easy to get down. Now we have to work and find the conditions to win again. Because I am coach of Tottenham I know my players, I know their qualities. I know my players as people now.
I know we are fighting to keep in the Premier League. It’s a very difficult moment but we are lucky, every one of us, to work in this club, for these fans, with this incredible atmosphere today. You could feel the atmosphere was like we were qualifying for the Champions League not against relegation. Until the end we’re going to fight every game, give our best and if we give our best I think it is not the end.
Today I watched the signs, the blood, the quality, character, organisation with and without the ball. [We have] the right spirit we need to reach our target and fight until the end of the season.
We have to improve in a lot of things [technically and tactically] but it’s not the crucial part. The crucial part is to keep this mentality. I told them to come on Monday morning with the same behaviour they showed today. I don’t want to work with sad people, negative people. I accepted to come to Tottenham because I am positive we can stay in the Premier league next season, one hundred per cent.
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 18, 2026Spurs are still the only side without a Premier League win in 2026:
0-0 vs Brentford 🤝
1-1 vs Sunderland 🤝
3-2 vs Bournemouth ❌
1-2 vs West Ham ❌
2-2 vs Burnley 🤝
2-2 vs Man City 🤝
2-0 vs Man Utd ❌
1-2 vs Newcastle ❌
1-4 vs Arsenal ❌
2-1 vs Fulham ❌
1-3 vs Crystal… pic.twitter.com/0SrDGnNs5w
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That’s it! Xavi Simons, the matchwinner who wasn’t, bounces around the field in frustration, his face a picture of anguish. That’s a hammer blow to Spurs, who were on the brink of their first Premier League victory this year when Georginio Rutter equalised for Brighton.
There are positives for Spurs to take - the performance was their best in a long while - but right now there is only despair and frustration.
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Archie Gray’s shot is saved to his right by Verbruggen, a tough chance.
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90+5 min: Spurs 2 Brighton 2 (Rutter) A devastating blow to Spurs’ hopes of survival! Danso took an unnecessary touch in his own area and was robbed by Van Hecke, the Brighton centre-back who had just gone upfield to play as a striker. Van Hecke muscled his way to the byline and pulled the ball back sharply to Rutter, who lifted a majestic finish into the net with his left foot.
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Big chance for Kadioglu! Goodness me, that was so close. Minteh flashed a cross from the left that was headed on by Kostoulas and volleyed into the side netting by Kadioglu.
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Loud cheers from the home fans as Kinsky calls on a loose ball in the area.
Simons is back on the field by the way; he’s able to move if not necessarily sprint.
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Kadioglu and Wieffer get in each other’s way as they attack Minteh’s cross from the left. These are dangerous moments for Spurs, and they still have eight minutes of added time to get through.
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Simons is down again with cramp and looks in serious pain. He’s squeezing down some energy gel while he receives more treatment.
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Xavi Simons goes down with cramp and signals to the bench that his race is run. Trouble is, Spurs have used their five subs so he will have to continue.
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Brighton substitution Charalampos Kostoulas for Yasin Ayari.
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Bergvall did so well for the first goal. Not only did he pick Van Hecke’s pocket, he played a quick reverse pass to release Simons;. The rest will go down in Spurs folklore if they stay up.
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As things stand Spurs are 16th in the table, with West Ham and Nottingham Forest dropping below them. Both have a game in hand: Forest at home to Burnley tomorrow, West Ham away at Crystal Palace on Monday night.
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Xavi Simons was booked after whipping his shirt off and charging into the crowd to celebrate.
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77 min: Spurs 2 Brighton 1 (Xavi Simons) What a screamer from Xavi Simons! That’s the kind of moment that can change an entire season. Bergvall, who has just come on the field, robbed Van Hecke high up the field and gave the ball to Simons. He moved to the edge of the area, shifted the ball to the right and arrowed a spectacular rising drive that hit the inside of the far post and flew into the net. Wow.
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Double substitution for Spurs Djed Spence and Lucas Bergvall replace Destiny Udogie and Conor Gallagher.
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Triple substitution for Brighton Georginio Rutter, Matt O’Riley and Maxim De Cuyper come on for Danny Welbeck, Jack Hinshelwood - and the first-half substitute Kaoru Mitoma, who has pulled up with an injury.
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If it stays like this, Spurs will remain in the bottom three having played a game more than the teams directly above them, West Ham and Nottingham Forest.
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Hinshelwood stabs a dangerous through pass towards Welbeck in the area. A Spurs defender pokes the ball back to Kinksy, who knows he can’t pick it up and has to improvise with a desperate but effective clearance.
Brighton continue to look the likelier winners.
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Good save by Verbruggen Xavi Simons has a shot blocked by Van Hecke after a crisp Spurs move. Palhinha’s follow-up from the edge of the area takes a deflection and is smartly saved with his left leg by Verbruggen, who saw it late.
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Welbeck hits the resulting free-kick into the wall, after which Spurs make another substitution: Joao Palhinha for Rodrigo Bentancur.
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Mitoma tries to play a give-and-go with Welbeck and is cynically fouled by Danso on the edge of the area. He’s booked.
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Brighton are starting to take control of the game again. Right now, they look the likelier winners, a scenario that is unthinkable for Tottenham. Even a draw isn’t necessarily good enough.
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Spurs are having more of the game after a fraught start to the second half. Never mind the first goal; the third goal in this game is of huge importance.
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Boscagli plays the ball back to Verbruggen, who is pressed ferociously by Gallagher. Verbruggen’s clearance hits the stretching Gallagher and rebounds for a goalkick; it could easily have gone into the net.
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Double substitution for Spurs Archie Gray and Mathys Tel replace Yves Bissouma and Randal Kolo Muani.
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The ever-willing Solanke beats Verbruggen to a long, bouncing ball forward, but the ball drops kindly for the Brighton keeper to collect.
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Roberto De Zerbi is booked for repeatedly leaving his technical area. The last thing Spurs need is for him to be sent off and suspended.
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Mitoma has been fabulous since coming on for the injured Diego Gomez and looks Brighton’s most dangerous player at the start of the second half.
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Brighton are all over Spurs at the second half. Ayari and Mitoma have shots blocked in the space of a few seconds, then Bentancur concedes a corner.
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Minteh robs the dithering Udogie and crosses early towards Welbeck. Danso gets to the ball a split-second before Welbeck to make a vital clearance.
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Spurs get the second half under way.
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27 - Since his first season in the Premier League in 2017-18, only Trent Alexander-Arnold (36) and Kevin De Bruyne (30) have registered more assists via crosses than Pascal Groß (27). Pinpoint. pic.twitter.com/y3qRnZGtxC
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 18, 2026
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Hinshelwood heads fractionally wide for Brighton, the last touch of a slow-burning first half that came to life in the last few minutes. After Spurs came within a whisker of going 2-0 up, the substitute Kaoru Mitoma scored a stunning equaliser in injury time.
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45+3 min: Spurs 1 Brighton 1 (Mitoma) A stunning equaliser from the substitute Kaoru Mitoma! He doesn’t score tap-ins, does he? Gross picked him out with a very deep cross from right, but the threat to Spurs looked minimal. The angle was extremely tight and Mitoma had to take it on the volley with his weaker left foot. No matter: he sidefooted it almost nonchantly and with such power that it flashed over the head Kinsky and into the net. What a goal!
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The injury to Diego Gomez means there will be five minutes of added time.
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Roberto De Zerbi was about to charge off in celebration when he realised Simons’ shot had hit the post instead of nestling in the far corner.
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Simons hits the post! Spurs came so close to making it 2-0. Solanke played a low ball from the left to Simons, who slipped Kadioglu beautifully and shaped an early shot across goal. It hit the far post and rebounded to Porro, whose sizzling follow-up was pushed over by Verbruggen. That’s a fine reaction save.
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39 min: Spurs 1 Brighton 0 (Porro) Pedro Porro gives Spurs a precious lead! It’s their first goal under Roberto De Zerbi, and it was superbly made by Xavi Simons. He received a short pass from Solanke just outside the area, turned and floated a lovely chip over the Brighton defence. Porro timed his run into the area, beat the flailing Verbruggen to the ball and headed into the net.
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Now Wieffer is booked for a foul on Xavi Simons.
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Chance for Welbeck! Bissouma is booked for a foul on Asari. Gross clips the resulting free-kick into the area for Welbeck, whose stooping header is held to his left by Kinsky. Decent save but these are worrying times for Spurs.
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Van de Ven hits his own post! How did that stay out? A Brighton corner was half cleared to Minteh, who curled an inswinging cross beyond the far post. It was headed back across goal towards Welbeck, who looked set to score until Van de Ven got in front of him and stabbed the ball against his own post! The ball rebounded back off Van de Ven, rolled across the goal-line and was eventually cleared.
The flag went up after the event, but it’s not clear way - all the relevant Brighton players looked onside. In other words, had Van de Ven scored an own goal I think it would have counted.
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Minteh’s low cross just evades Van Hecke and is cleared by Porro. Brighton are having their best spell of the game so far.
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Van de Ven makes a vital challenge on Minteh, who had stumbled past Bentancur on the edge of the area and was trying to work some space for a shot.
You can sense the growing nervousness around the ground as Brighton have more of the ball. The first goal is important in every single football match, but tonight it is huge.
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Minteh has switched to the right wing after the introduction of Mitoma, who runs at Porro to win a corner for Brighton. Gross swings a dangerous corner under the crossbar and Kinsky does well to slap it clear under pressure from Van Hecke.
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Just as Cristian Romero left the pitch in tears for Tottenham last week, Diego Gomez went off for Brighton in tears today. It looked like a knee injury and the Paraguayan international may well be worried about the World Cup. He’s been replaced by Kaoru Mitoma.
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A Spurs corner is headed away as far as Simons on the edge of the D. He makes room for a shot that takes a deflection off Hinshelwood and spins a couple of yards wide of the far post.
The follow-up corner bounces around the area before being blasted over from 15 yards by Kolo Muani. Half a chance.
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Brighton substitution Gomez, who landed very awkwardly and appears to have jarred something, is in tears as he walks very slowly off the field. Mitoma comes on to replace him.
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An early injury problem for Brighton. Diego Gomez is down and may not be able to continue; Kaoru Mitoma is warming up.
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After a difficult start, Brighton are beginning to get on the ball. But it’s Spurs who looked more dangerous and Kadioglu concedes the first corner with Kolo Muani waiting behind him.
Xavi Simons drives it deep and Kolo Muani is penalised for an unsubtle foul on Wieffer.
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Spurs have a penalty appeal turned down after a clumsy challenge from Minteh on Udogie. It’s checked and cleared by VAR.
Udogie ran onto a quick free-kick from Porro, got the wrong side of Minteh and stumbled over. It looked a penalty in real time but replays suggest Udogie lost his balance before Minteh made any contact.
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Spurs are dominating possession and playing with an urgency we haven’t seen for a while. Simons and Udogie are both fouled in the space of five seconds, after which the referee has a word with Wieffer.
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The Brighton keeper Verbruggen has to charge a long way outside his area to beat Simons to a long ball forward. Spurs have made an aggressive start.
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Xavi Simons is playing from the left for Spurs, with a central-midfield trio of Bissouma, Gallagher and Bentancur.
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Brighton, in their yellow change strip, kick off from left to right as we watch.
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It’s a gorgeous evening in north London and there’s an excellent atmosphere. Spurs need to maintain that for the full 90 minutes.
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I want the players to help their teammates on the pitch – to be generous, to have courage, to be proud to work at a big club like Tottenham. And to think as a team, not just as an individual.
[On the return of James Maddison to the squad] James is one of the leaders, one of the most important players in the squad. I think he can give us energy, quality – when he will be available to play, his quality is amazing – and in this moment we need everyone.
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Spurs are nine now points behind Leeds with today’s game in hand. You’d expect Nottingham Forest to beat Burnley tomorrow, and West Ham will fancy their chances away to a Crystal Palace side whose main focus is an upcoming European semi-final. If Spurs don’t beat Brighton today, they could be cut adrift.
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James Maddison is back in the Tottenham Hotspur squad for the first time in almost a year.
Roberto De Zerbi has named Maddison, who has been out since May 1 last year with two knee injuries, on the substitutes’ bench for his first home game as head coach against his former club Brighton.
It will be interesting to see whether or not Maddison can get on to the pitch, or whether De Zerbi has named the midfielder on the bench to lift the atmosphere.
De Zerbi seemed to suggest on Friday that it would be too early for Maddison to face Brighton today by saying: “I don’t want to push too much because we lost Kudus in this way. I am used to waiting for the players to be totally available to play… it is better to play one game less than to risk another injury.”
The Italian claimed that Maddison’s character could help Spurs through their tough period. He said: To be a stronger team we need many, many leaders, for sure Maddison is different.
“Maddison is a top player on the pitch with the ball, but also as a personality, as a character, as a mentality on the pitch, but I would like to reach this level for Micky van de Ven, for example, Bentancur is a leader, Palhinha is another leader, I would like to push with Solanke, because Solanke is one of the best strikers in the Premier League, and I want him stronger as a personality, as a character on the pitch.”
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By Matt Law and Mike McGrath
Tottenham Hotspur may have breached Premier League rules over a move for Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi.
Senesi has emerged as a summer target for Spurs and, on Friday, The Athletic reported the club are in “advanced talks” to sign the Argentine on a free transfer should they stay in the top flight.
Tottenham declined to comment on the report or on possibly breaking the rules, describing both as “rumours and speculation”.
Speaking to Senesi, who is out of contract at the end of the season, or his representatives would constitute a breach of Premier League regulations unless a Premier League club had the written consent of Bournemouth.
It is unclear whether or not that permission has been granted to Spurs or any other club, but Telegraph Sport understands that Bournemouth are not expected to raise a complaint as they are resigned to Senesi leaving. That could spare Tottenham any action from the Premier League.
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Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler sticks with the starting XI that beat Burnley a week ago.
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Roberto De Zerbi makes four changes to the side that was beaten at Sunderland last weekend. Kevin Danso, Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur and Xavi Simons replace Cristian Romero, who is out for the season, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Richarlison. There’s a bit of good news for Spurs with the return of James Maddison to the subs bench. Maddison hasn’t played all season because of an ACL injury.
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The Leeds game looked like a potential relegation decider but they have had an outstanding week. After winning at Old Trafford on Monday, Leeds are 2-0 up against Wolves this afternoon.
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Even the fixture list is trolling Tottenham Hotspur. Roberto De Zerbi’s first home match as Spurs manager is against Brighton, De Zerbi’s old club and a model of the stability that Spurs find so elusive.
While Brighton are aiming to equal or better their highest top-flight finish – the sixth place they achieved under De Zerbi in 2022-23 – Spurs are sinking like a stone. The bookies now have them as favourites to be relegated along with Wolves and Burnley, a scenario that would have been unthinkable a couple of months ago.
Spurs are in horrendous form, with one point from the last eight league games and no wins in the last 14, and desperately need to break the cycle as soon as possible. But this is a bad time to play Brighton, who have recovered from a mid-season wobble to win five of the last six Premier League matches. If results go their way, they could finish the day as high as sixth in the table. Brighton love strutting their stuff against the richest clubs, particularly away from home, and won 4-1 at Spurs on the final day of last season.
On that occasion Spurs were celebrating their Europa League triumph. They had no European football this week, so De Zerbi took the squad for a lavish dinner in Mayfair in an attempt to foster team spirit and improve their subterranean morale.
“The food was amazing and if we win, I am ready to pay every week for one dinner,” he said. “Now is a tough situation because they have not so much confidence in themselves and are not able to show all their qualities.
“What I can ask is for them to be closer on the pitch, to consider their team-mates like a brother. If you consider your team-mate like a brother you go to help him. If he is wronged, you hug him and you kiss him and we need this in this moment.”
Kick off 5.30pm.
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