Brighton v Tottenham player ratings: Pedro 9, Welbeck 8; Vicario 8, Son 5

Brighton ease to a 4-2 Premier League victory at Amex Stadium to dent Spurs' top-four hopes

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  Jason Steele 6/10

  BRIGHTON PLAYER RATINGS: Had very little to do compared to his counterpart, but was a little shaky at times on the ball and conceded twice as the game came to a close. Getty Images

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  Jack Hinshelwood 7/10

  The 18-year-old provided options going forward and it paid off when Pedro found him unmarked in the box, and he gave Brighton the lead. PA

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  Jan Paul van Hecke 7/10

  Denied by the post when his stooping header rattled the woodwork moments before Brighton’s penalty. Getty Images

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  Lewis Dunk 7/10

  Typically untroubled in defence against a lacklustre Spurs side. Booked for a nasty follow-through on Kulusevski and will miss the game against West Ham. Getty Images

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  Igor Julio 6/10

  Found it tough to deal with the pace of Johnson on breaks but provided a crucial block in first-half stoppage time to clear Spurs’ pressure. Subbed at half-time. AP

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  Billy Gilmour 7/10

  Worked well alongside Milner to provide calm and composure in the Brighton midfield and assisted Brighton’s attacking outlets. Getty Images

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  James Milner 8/10

  Unleashed a powerful strike that hit the post. Later used his experience to cut out Spurs’ attacks when needed. AP

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  Facundo Buonanotte 7/10

  Thought he’d tripled his side’s lead when he stabbed home a cross, only to see the offside flag raised. Picked up a needless booking before half-time. AP

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  Pascal Gross 7/10

  A danger from set-pieces and a lively outlet for the home side during the first half with a lot of freedom. AP

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  Danny Welbeck 8/10

  Rewarded with a place in the side after his equaliser against Crystal Palace, and quickly forced Vicario into making an outstanding save to deny an early opener. Looked a threat throughout. Getty ImagesShow less

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  FBL-ENG-PR-BRIGHTON-TOTTENHAM

  Brighton's Brazilian striker #09 Joao Pedro (C) celebrates after scoring his team fourth goal during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on December 28, 2023. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /Show less

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  Pervis Estupinan 7/10

  SUBS: (Igor 46’) Scored a thunderbolt of a goal to leave Vicario helpless and triple Brighton’s lead. AFP

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  Carlos Baleba 6/10

  (Buonanotte 60’) Didn’t have the opportunity to make anything happen but did stick his foot in as Spurs tried to find a way back into the game. Getty Images

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  Evan Ferguson 6/10

  (Welbeck 69’) Instant impact from the bench as he was rewarded a penalty when he was brought down by Lo Celso. Getty Images

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  Jakub Moder 6/10

  (Milner 69’) Booked seconds after his introduction. Getty Images

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  Adam Lallana N/A

  (Pedro 90'+3) A late change for Brighton to help see out the game. PA

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  Guglielmo Vicario 8/10

  TOTTENHAM PLAYER RATINGS: Outstanding save inside six minutes to deny Welbeck an early opener, palming away a shot from the six-yard box. Kept Spurs in the game but could do little about Brighton’s goals. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Pedro Porro 5/10

  Caught out a few times, especially in the early stages dealing with Pedro. Denied a chance for Milner to double the lead when Gilmour slipped a pass through to the midfielder. Needed to do better with the dead ball. AFPShow less

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  Emerson Royal 4/10

  Switched to centre-back following the return of Udogie and was tested greatly on the right side of defence, with Pedro and Welbeck cutting in. AP

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  Ben Davies 6/10

  Scored a second consolation goal in the 86th minute as he headed past Steele to give Spurs’ a faint chance of a result. Getty Images

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  Destiny Udogie 6/10

  Returned from suspension and was denied twice in seconds; first when his shot was blocked by van Hecke, and then when his rebounded attempt was kept out by Steele. Getty Images

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  Pape Matar Sarr 4/10

  Comfortable on the ball but couldn’t deal with the confidence of Brighton on the attack, and was taken off as Postecoglou looked for a spark. AFP

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  Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg 6/10

  Provided composure after Spurs’ went 2-0 down and tried to make things happen going forward. Hit the post in stoppage time, which would have given Spurs a third. Getty Images

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  Brennan Johnson 5/10

  Remained spritely to try and fashion a chance in the first half and made things for Igor difficult on the break, but ultimately unsuccessful. Getty Images

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  Dejan Kulusevski 5/10

  Tried to make things happen when he got on the ball and got into some good areas. Handed Brighton a stonewall penalty by deliberately holding onto Welbeck’s shirt during a corner. Booked. Reuters

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  Son Heung-Min 5/10

  Attempted a curling effort on the stroke of half-time as he looked to nick a goal but otherwise lacked the cutting edge. Found Veliz in space to add another assist to his tally. Getty Images

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  Richarlison 6/10

  Had several opportunities to pull a goal back for his side but was left frustrated as the game went on. Thought he’d finally found the net before he was flagged for offside. Booked. Getty Images

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  Bryan Gil 5/10

  SUBS: (Richarlison 65’) Quieter in comparison to his fellow substitutes but needed to do better when the ball fell to his feet as the game entered stoppage time. Getty Images

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  Giovani Lo Celso 5/10

  (Sarr 65’) Brought down Ferguson in the penalty area as Spurs’ day went from bad to worse. Getty Images

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  Alejo Veliz 6/10

  (Johnson 70’) Opened his account for Spurs as he tucked the ball past Steele as a consolation and provided a much-needed spark. Reuters

Tottenham Hotspur's top-four ambitions suffered a blow as they lost 4-2 at Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Thursday with only a late rally saving them from their heaviest defeat since Ange Postecoglou became manager this season.

Victory would have put injury-hit Spurs above Manchester City into fourth spot but they were mauled on the south coast as a Brighton side also missing key players ran riot.

A powerful early strike by Josh Hinshelwood and Joao Pedro's penalty gave the hosts a deserved 2-0 lead at halftime as Tottenham struggled to deal with Brighton's intensity.

The visitors responded in the second half with Richarlison having a goal disallowed but when halftime substitute Pervis Estupinan sent a thunderbolt past Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario and Joao Pedro netted a second penalty the game seemed over.

However, Tottenham's late substitute Alejo Veliz fired home from close range in the 75th minute and Ben Davies scored with a header making a miraculous comeback suddenly look possible.

Midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg hit the post for Spurs in stoppage time as Brighton looked nervy but they held on to move into eighth place in the table on 30 points while Tottenham remain fifth on 36, a point off the top four.

The final scoreline hardly did justice to a chaotic match in which Tottenham were second-best for long periods but showed some spirit to emerge with their pride intact.

Check out the gallery above for the player ratings from Amex Stadium. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or swipe if using a mobile device.