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Bale Scores: Spurs 2 Brighton 1


 Bale Scores: Spurs 2 Brighton 1

For the first 10 or 15 minutes we were all over Brighton (we thought this was going to be a massacre… just as we did in the first half of the Spammers game), then they suddenly got into gear (as the Spammers did), scored and were nearly all over us. Then in the 73rd minutes (a few subs, with one of them being the Welsh wizard), Bale scored, and the angels descend. It could have gone so readily the other way… but our bacon was saved.

If we look at the other games over the weekend, you'll see that there are no easy matches any more (the race for the top four is an open season). Sadly Liverpool & Chelsea won, but United, Everton and Villa lost. All contributing to our second-place position.

League Table:

  1. Liverpool
  2. Spurs
  3. Everton
  4. Southampton
  5. Wolves
  6. Chelsea
  7. Aston villa
  8. Leicester City
  9. Arsenal
  10. Manchester City

Below 10th, somewhere in the dark, murky world, and at the other end of the  Premier League table, is Manchester United. Who, by the way, are below the Spammers (by a point). But we are not here to gloat… ok, we are, but let us return to the good news in hand… us!

Sadly, I got my prediction wrong (I said we would win 4-0), but I am delighted anyway with the result. We go marching on and on Thursday (5th) let us hope we make amends for last Thursday's calamity against Royal Antwerp.

The match:

Our summers purchase or loan deal did us proud, yes, Gareth Bale's first goal since re-signing for us contributed to us beating Brighton so that we could go second in the Premier League table.

The game was undoubtedly full of huffings and puffings, that is us, the observer (in our forced exile behind TV screens). We didn't know whether to cry with joy (a lovely girl) or just weep with frustration, it was that sort of game.

It had everything. We got a penalty, Kane stepped up to the mark, and we cheered crazily – from a very safe distance of course… in my case a 100 miles away distance – as if we were possessed monkeys. This was for Kane's 149th Premier League goal. But before he was allowed to take that penalty, we had to go through a bit of drama as the video assistant referee checked his monitor (with the help of the actual referee), then decided that Adam Lallana had done a no, no and our 'Arry was allowed to continue with his penalty shooting exercise (GOAL!!).

Then after 56 minutes, Tariq Lamptey scored a very controversial equaliser.  Their – yes, Brighton's - Solly March fouled our Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the build-up. The referee – even though he checked the monitor – decided to play all three wise monkeys at once; speak no evil, hear no evil and certainly didn't see any evil. Bastard! You can't even trust referee's to get it right nowadays.  The goal stood. Then 17 minutes later, Bale scored a header (take that you nobs!). The players, we at home, did the strut, clapped and went berserk… Christmas had come early, and we were back in front. Then fingers crossed until the end of the game (what a relief when the whistle went!).

Yes, the wizard from Wales powered a cross by Sergio Reguilon past the Brighton keeper Sanchez.  This was his first Spurs goal since May 2013. Bale was ecstatic (HE WAS ECSTATIC! So were we, for fuck's sake!).

Mourinho obviously well bollocked his players after Thursday's game and in return, they performed the jig of their life… well, in some parts of the 90 minutes they did.

But to be fair on Brighton, we were forced to battle hard against them. They didn't come to lie down and accept their kickings, no, they wanted a few of their own kicks to take effect.

Before he was taken off, Erik Lamela hit the post, and Kane missed a great chance from close range to score his landmark 149th top-flight goal, but this wasn't a great game by any means. But we dug very deep and at least came away with three points.

The stats

Harry Kane has moved into the top-10 all-time Premier League goals list, notching his 149th strike to move level with Les Ferdinand.

Only the bottom three sides have lost more games in the Premier League this season than Brighton (four).

We (with 14 points) end the day as high as second in the Premier League table for the first time since February 2019 under Mauricio Pochettino.

Of the 12 players to have taken at least 25 Premier League penalties, only Matt Le Tissier (96%) and Thierry Henry (92%) have a higher penalty conversion rate than Harry Kane (88%, 22/25).

What's next for us?

Well, we are off to Bulgaria to face Ludogorets in the Europa League on Thursday (17:55 GMT), then on Sunday, the 8th November, at 12 noon we meet WBA (H).

On that Sunday, not only must we beat WBA, but we need for City to beat Liverpool, while Arsenal and Villa draw. It wouldn't hurt if also Leicester City, Chelsea and Everton lost. We won't mention United, as they will continue to struggle until they sack their manager and replace him with… dare I say it… Pochettino (well, he is the bookies favourite!).

So, there you have it, until next time, be safe and take care.

All the best, Glenn

COYS!



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