If this was Roberto De Zerbi’s audition for the Tottenham job, it was a poor one from the Brighton manager, who arrived in north London determined to pick a fight and ended up costing his side in a damaging 2-1 defeat.
De Zerbi and Spurs’ acting head coach Cristian Stellini were both sent off mid-way through the second half after a ruckus between the two benches - galvanising the home side and their supporters.
De Zerbi appeared furious when approached by Stellini before kick-off, clearly giving his opposite number a piece of his mind while jabbing a finger towards his face. It appeared a strange reaction to Stellini, who had been nothing but complimentary about his compatriot at his pre-match press conference on Thursday.
The Brighton boss continued to niggle at the Spurs bench during the match and, with the sides level through Heung-min Son and Lewis Dunk, tensions boiled over shortly after the visitors had a second goal disallowed by the VAR for handball.
De Zerbi and Stellini were both dismissed, despite Spurs’ acting head coach having not been involved in the melee on the touchline (Stefano Bruno, Spurs fitness coach was their most obvious antagonist).
Spurs responded better to the loss of their coach, raising the intensity, and Harry Kane fired home the winner with his 23rd League goal of the season, boosting his side’s top four hopes at the Seagulls’ expense.
De Zerbi’s superb work at the Amex Stadium has not gone unnoticed by Spurs as they search for a permanent successor to Antonio Conte but his hot headedness felt unnecessary and naive on an occasion when his side should have fancied their chances of upsetting Spurs and were generally on top.
His third sending off of the season and a costly defeat is unlikely to have convinced Daniel Levy that the 43-year-old is ready for the step up to a ‘big six’ job.
Spurs fans call for Pochettino
Spurs fans made it perfectly clear who they want in charge next season, chanting “He’s Magic, You Know, Mauricio Pochettino“ in the aftermath of the red cards for Stellini and De Zerbi, and again later in the second half.
There were also chants of "We want Levy out," in an atmosphere which was ultimately celebratory but which felt febrile and on the edge of turning sour at points during the game.
This result could very easily have gone another way, with Brighton seeing a credible penalty appeal waved away at 1-1 when Pierre-Emile Hiojbjerg caught Karou Mitoma, and two goals disallowed by the VAR for handball.
Mitoma was judged to have used his arm to control before firing home a first-half equaliser, and Danny Welbeck’s goal to make it 2-1 was ruled out for striking Alexis Mac Allister’s arm on the way in.
Had the scoreline gone the other way, the mood inside the Spurs stadium could quite easily have turned ugly, and Levy is likely to face this kind of intense pressure in each of the final eight games of the season.
If the chants for Pochettino continue, it will be hard for the chairman to continue to ignore the out-of-work Argentine, who is interested in returning to Spurs.
Son marks milestone in style
Son brought up 100 goals in the Premier League with a magnificent trademark strike, curling home the opening goal from 25 yards after cutting inside on his right foot.
It was a reminder of the South Korean’s enduring quality - and why he continues to be picked by Stellini, despite a difficult season.
Son was also involved in the winning goal, playing in Hojbjerg who squared to Kane, and worked ferociously all match.
We have wondered about turning points all season, without one really coming, but this was certainly an encouraging display from Son, which will raise fresh hope that he could finally rediscover some form for the run-in.
