Brighton 'heartbroken' by Tottenham defeat but Hughton buoyed by better performances

Brighton & Hove Albion boss Chris Hughton admitted they leave Tottenham Hotspur heartbroken, but says they can go forward with better performances under their belt in the relegation battle.
Chris Hughton gestures during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Photo credit: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty ImageChris Hughton gestures during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Photo credit: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Image
Chris Hughton gestures during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Photo credit: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Image

A 88th-minute Christian Eriksen strike broke Albion hearts after they had defended like their Premier League lives depended on it in the capital.

It was a backs to the wall job for the visitors - especially in the second half - and it had looked like they had done enough in the spectacular new stadium for a crucial point in their battle for survival.

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The opening looked like it would never come until Eriksen took a touch and found the bottom corner with seconds remaining to pile more pressure on the relegation threatened Seagulls, who remain just three points ahead of Cardiff City.

On if it felt like a heartbreaking result, Hughton said: "That is very much the feeling at the moment and I genuinely felt we got a little bit of fortunate that went our way - we hit the post and the defenders had to defend very well. But sometimes you get a feeling and the longer it went I felt we were going to hold out.

"If we managed the game that little bit better at the end then I think we get that result we wanted. One thing we knew was the back four would be tested - particularly the centre-halves. We knew they would be tested with what they (Spurs) have in the wide area, they get balls into the box and lots of shots and I thought both of them (Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy) we excellent.

"It's a pressurised position but it is only us that have put us in that. We are going to have to deal with it and we have an opportunity to do that now at home against Newcastle on Saturday and that has to be the main thing in our minds.

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"We need to take whatever we can from those last two performance and they have been overall, better-feel performances for the team. I don't think there is anyone that can come away from today and say they have not seen a real battling Brighton team.

"Whichever way we had to do it. It was very close to getting something and we have to take that into Saturday's game."