Spirit and structure: Spurs turn 0–2 into 2–2 to underline new resolve

Tottenham showcased a backbone Thomas Frank has made a theme of his short tenure, hauling themselves from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Brighton. Richarlison struck just before the interval to halve a deficit created by Yankuba Minteh’s early breakaway and Yasin Ayari’s long-range drive, and the pressure told late when Jan Paul van Hecke turned Mohammed Kudus’ cross into his own net on 82 minutes.

Spurs dictated much of the contest, especially after half-time, but paid for early defensive looseness and a wasteful edge in front of goal. Xavi Simons twice went close and Kudus flashed inches wide in stoppage time as a winner hovered, yet the comeback alone felt like a pointed contrast with last season’s collapses on this ground.

Costly early lapses, then belief

Frank’s side arrived with a reputation for defensive steel—only one goal conceded before this trip—but their high line was sprung by Brighton’s first meaningful attack as Minteh raced clear to round Guglielmo Vicario. The goalkeeper was again left disappointed when Ayari’s dipping strike from distance beat a hand after 31 minutes.

Tottenham kept their poise. Richarlison provided the lifeline on the cusp of half-time, stopping a goalbound effort from Kudus and then stabbing in amid penalty-area chaos. Brighton protests for infringement came to nothing with Lewis Dunk on the line ensuring no offside.

Frank’s template takes hold

From there, Spurs imposed their game: high pressure, man-to-man aggression and control of midfield. “Maybe our most complete performance so far,” Frank said, pointing to the mentality and physicality his team showed just days after a European win over Villarreal.

On his first start of the season, Destiny Udogie offered the surges Frank labelled “exceptional…unstoppable” and even threatened to win an early penalty when Ayari lunged before pulling out. The width and intensity kept Brighton pinned for long spells, even as the counter remained a threat.

Simons’ spark, Kudus’ menace

Introduced to turn pressure into end product, Simons immediately shifted the dial. One shot fizzed wide, another drew a superb low save from Bart Verbruggen, and when Lucas Bergvall cleverly dummied a Kudus cross, the Dutchman dragged his best opening past the post.

The numbers told a familiar tale of control without the finish: 11 attempts, just three on target. Yet the relentlessness set up the equaliser as Kudus, lively down the right, whipped across the six-yard box and Van Hecke, under duress, sliced into his own net with eight minutes left.

A point gained, and a platform

Kudus nearly won it in added time, while the back door remained ajar enough for Brighton to threaten through Minteh-led breaks that Udogie’s recovery speed often snuffed out. João Palhinha admitted the dressing room felt “really sad” not to take three points, insisting Spurs “completely deserved to win” after “suffering two goals against the run of play.”

Context matters. In May, a 4-1 home defeat to Brighton closed Ange Postecoglou’s chapter; last October at the Amex, Spurs blew a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2. Under Frank, the arc bends differently: from 0-2 down to 2-2, with purpose and poise.

What it means and what’s next

The draw lifts Tottenham above Arsenal into second place, with their neighbours able to respond when they host Manchester City on Sunday. It also extends a strong start under Frank, whose only defeat to date came before this trip.

Focus now shifts to the Carabao Cup, where Spurs host League One Doncaster on Wednesday 24 September (19:45 BST). The lessons are clear: cut out the early slack and sharpen the finish, and the performance levels Frank lauded will bring the wins.