Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said Spurs “needed to feel victory again” after beating Brighton to end a run of three straight defeats.
Harry Kane broke the deadlock in a first half of few chances, drilling in a penalty after a Glenn Murray handball. Substitute Erik Lamela scored their second to ensure there would be no repeat of their Champions League collapse at Inter Milan in midweek.
Anthony Knockaert pulled one back in stoppage time but Brighton were unable to salvage a third straight Premier League draw.
“The victory was so important for us,” said Pochettino. “We know it’s tough to play here. Brighton are a very aggressive team on set-pieces and they’re a team that works so hard.
“But we worked hard too and played well in different periods of the game.
“We were so aggressive and then with the ball we played some good football so I am happy with the three points, but more pleased with the performance and the reaction.”
