Much like the theme of this recap, Brighton started well and then devolved into disappointment in their first appearance at the Amex this season against Tottenham Hotspur.

After the loss to West Ham last week, the Albion really needed to come out of the blocks fast and they did just that on the 8-minute mark. An in-swinging corner from Maisie Symonds was put in that perfect corridor between the goalkeeper and the edge of the six-yard box whereupon Elisabeth Terland rose like a salmon to nod the ball into the far corner of the net. A good solid, well-worked goal from a set piece, we need more of those with the height and aerial ability in our team.

The majority of the rest of the half was back and forth, although Spurs probably edged it – mainly because Brighton, 1-0 up, weren’t taking any chances at the back to press for a second. The danger with this approach is of course that the opposition equalise and they did so just before the break. A lovely curling shot from Drew Spence cannoned off the crossbar and back into play straight to Martha Thomas who, although she was on the edge of the penalty area, managed to put at best a pretty average effort on target which squirmed away from Nicky Evrard to level it at half time. The defending here was lacklustre, too many were ball-watching throughout, the midfield were no help whatsoever, and in honesty, it was really poor keeping by Evrard who could have rescued everyone else by simply saving a tame shot from distance.

Hey ho, it happens, it’s how you respond though, and to be honest the Albion responded as they have done this season when conceding – they got worse. Don’t get me wrong, they didn’t instantly implode and until Spurs’ second goal it was once again fairly even, but equally they didn’t get any better – there just was no real tangible response.

Melissa Phillips made three changes at half-time, which in one way I applaud, if it’s not working, you have to recognise that and make changes, but nothing improved.

From what seemed to be a standard four at the back, Phillips switched to a three by taking Poppy Pattinson off, putting Emma Kullberg on, and moving Charlie Rule up to midfield. All that meant though was Rule and Katie Robinson became defensive wing-backs as Spurs clearly sought to expose the gaps down the side of the three central defenders. Whilst Charlie defended valiantly, and Robbo did her best, that’s not where or how they should be playing, particularly in Katie’s case. There were several times she could have taken on her opponent on the wing during the second half and quite frankly she looked like she didn’t have the energy left to do so – primarily because of all the defending she’d had to help with.

Elisabeth Terland also came off, but she had a heavily strapped thigh from the start of the game, so that seemed like it may have been pre-planned, and Madison Haley looked bright at times as her replacement. The final change mystified me though as Symonds was effectively taken off for Lee Geum-min. If there was one player who seemed to be able to take the ball off the defence and move it forward it was Maisie, she has that extra bit of pace and guile that the midfield sorely lack at the moment. Lee came on and did Lee things, but ultimately she didn’t affect the game at all, not what you’re looking for from an early substitution.

Tottenham’s second came from almost nowhere in the 65th minute, but Brighton really asked for it. A simple pass from Olga Ahtinen to Grace Clinton, who was free as a bird between the midfield and the defence, seemed to hand her the keys to the castle. Our central midfielders were marking thin air, and the defence were nowhere near urgent enough to get out Clinton as she prepared to shoot – and she arched a banger of a strike over Evrard and in to the roof of the net.

I can’t say from that point on we were banging on the door, we might have politely knocked once or twice but I think the crowd at this point had read the writing on the wall and it wasn’t a surprise that even a rather untidy attack from Spurs resulted in a third for the visitors.

We are of course absolutely 100% behind the team but it’s time to be truthful. Whilst certain outlets will make it appear unlucky that we lost, that we had control of the game – and essentially that is their job – even the facts don’t bear that out. Spurs had 20 shots to Brighton’s 8, they had more possession, more passes (plus their passes were more accurate), and they forced double the amount of corners – all away from home. Did they dominate? No, but to say the Albion were by any measure the better team is just smoke and mirrors.

A word for the fans from a fellow supporter. Thank you. A total of 6,951 people were in attendance, a new WSL record for Brighton and Hove Albion Women. It was a shame we didn’t win, but that is the game of football that we know and love. We go again next week and the week after and so on, because we have hope. PLEASE keep coming as often as you can. If you can get to Crawley even occasionally, that’s great, if not keep following along from home on TV or via the FA Player, this club needs your support, these incredible athletes need your support – so lets not make this a one and done.

Editor’s Note: We will ALWAYS start from a position of positivity here at SheGulls, but we also believe in honesty. Brighton did not play well last weekend against West Ham and they didn’t play well against Tottenham yesterday. We have to identify why and try to improve because we take it seriously. This isn’t a backslapping contest it’s the elite division of the English game, and arguably the top league in the world – and we want to compete and thrive in it, not simply survive.

Notes

• When we had possession we were almost immediately put under pressure, but Spurs often had time to put their foot on the ball, look up, pick a pass – or shoot in the case of Clinton’s goal. Whether that’s a tactical or personnel issue – it needs to be rectified.
• Depending on whether you count the goal or not, and let’s say we don’t, Brighton didn’t create a clear cut chance during the entire game. There were no spectacular saves from their goalkeeper, nor last ditch challenges required. That’s worrying, and the lack of pace along the forward line, and in the team generally, is definitely a contributing factor.
• Rule had another good game despite being asked to play multiple positions. I really hope they find one or two and she sticks there though because she’s going to be far better than a utility player as she develops in my opinion.
• There still seems to be a gelling process ongoing in the midfield as Vicky Losada and Julia Zigiotti Olme struggled today. Unfortunately they seem to either be doing the same thing, or two wildly different things, rather than complimenting each other. I have a growing concern that one of them might have to make way for a different type of midfielder, and of course Losada is the captain.
• Tatiana Pinto made a cameo off the bench for the last 15 minutes but it’s always going to be hard to come on and make an impact in that time. She’d be one of the players I’d be pushing to start in the next game to give us something a bit different.
• Pauline Bremer played the entire game, but starting out wide on the left in the first half, I’m not sure she had the legs to stretch the defence when she moved to striker in the second half. You can absolutely see her quality, but I feel like it’s an either/or situation in terms of where she can make an impact.
• I actually thought the defence did ok, Guro Bergsvand in particular I would argue had one of her better games in an Albion shirt. The difficulty is, particularly as a three, there just isn’t enough pace there. Not necessarily straight line speed, but the pace to get out and back, to jockey, or to pressure the opposition into mistakes. To me it has to return to a back four again unless the outside centre backs are players capable of higher intensity over longer periods.
• I hate to end on a downer, but our next four games are against Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal – last years WSL top four. There is a real chance we start a tricky game away against Liverpool on the 26th November still stuck on 3 points with 7 games played. We need to get something somewhere along the line in one of those four games otherwise I think it will be another relegation fight for the Albion this year sadly. So let’s have one of them, let’s prove we can mix it with the best and come out on top – here’s hoping!