Tottenham’s Premier League survival hopes were dealt a hammer blow as Georginio Rutter’s 95th‑minute equaliser earned Brighton a 2-2 draw at Spurs, leaving Roberto De Zerbi’s side stuck in the relegation zone.
Xavi Simons had looked to have delivered a first win of De Zerbi’s tenure with a brilliant curled strike, only for Brighton to respond in stoppage time. Kevin Danso was dispossessed in his own box by Jan Paul van Hecke, who set up Rutter to smash in a leveller that stunned the home crowd and denied Spurs a hugely emotional victory.
The draw leaves Spurs a point behind West Ham and vulnerable to slipping further down if results go against them. Nottingham Forest could extend their advantage over Tottenham to five points with a win over Burnley.
Earlier, after a calamitous moment in which Micky van de Ven struck the post under pressure from Danny Welbeck, Spurs took the lead on 39 minutes when Pedro Porro headed in Xavi Simons’ chipped pass — the right‑back’s first Premier League goal in 50 appearances. Simons then struck the post and Bart Verbruggen tipped over Porro’s follow‑up, as Spurs squandered chances to make it two.
Brighton levelled in first‑half stoppage time when Pascal Gross found Kaoru Mitoma, whose exquisite volley beat the Spurs keeper. The second half saw Spurs press, with Conor Gallagher and Joao Palhinha coming close, and Simons’ release late in the half looked to have swung momentum back to Tottenham. Simons celebrated wildly, shirt off, only for Danso’s late error to let Brighton snatch a point.
Jan Paul van Hecke was named Player of the Match. Player ratings (selected): Tottenham — Porro 7, Simons 7, Van de Ven 7; Brighton — Van Hecke 8, Verbruggen 7, Rutter 8.
Team news: Spurs made four changes from the Sunderland loss, bringing in Simons, Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma and Kevin Danso (who replaced the injured Cristian Romero). Brighton were unchanged from the side that beat Burnley.
Roberto De Zerbi, on Sky Sports, said: “I am sorry for the result and players because they are suffering too much and we deserved to win the game against a great Brighton… I am positive, but I am proud of my players because they played a fantastic game full of character… We have to be stronger than this result, we have to move on and prepare the next game against Wolverhampton and to try to win the game.”
Sky Sports’ Michael Dawson added: “It is a massive disappointment… to take the lead twice and then gift Brighton the two goals… one mistake from Danso, who switches off in the final moment of the game… this will feel like a huge two points dropped.”
Stats and context: Tottenham remain the only Premier League side without a win in 2026 (0 wins from 15 games: D6 L9). They have failed to win each of their last five Premier League matches in which they led (D3 L2), their longest such run since December 2023.
What’s next: Spurs travel to bottom club Wolves next Saturday (3pm kick‑off). Brighton host Chelsea on Tuesday (8pm).