Wild celebrations to verge of tears - time running out for Spurs
The emotional rollercoaster experienced by Tottenham Hotspur fans in the closing stages of Saturday's draw with Brighton likely hinted at what is yet to come. Xavi Simons had led his team-mates in joyous celebration, the Spurs supporters joining in a collective release of pent-up emotion, after the 22-year-old's wonderful strike put Roberto de Zerbi's side on course for a first Premier League win since 28 December. But those scenes proved premature when, in the fifth minute of eight added for stoppage time, Brighton 's Georginio Rutter delivered a devastating sucker-punch.
It left Spurs still one point adrift of safety with just five games remaining - a situation which could worsen with relegation rivals Nottingham Forest and West Ham yet to play - increasing their fears of a first top-flight relegation since 1977. "It's like a defeat because we conceded a goal in extra time, but we played a great game," Tottenham head coach De Zerbi told BBC Sport. "It's tough to accept.
We have to be stronger than this moment we are going through. We have to move on and prepare for the next game. " Former Spurs striker Les Ferdinand told Sky Sports: "If that was the 90th minute I could understand it, but there was a lot of football still to be played.
"The reaction should be to keep it tight, instead they jumped into the crowd. " But ex-Premier League defender Ashley Williams told BBC Sport he had "no issue" with Spurs' celebrations. "The goal was so important at that point in time.
I know there were still minutes to be played, but with the reaction and the emotion you could see what it meant to the players," Williams said. How Porro let Tottenham down in defensive areas against Brighton Despite the overwhelming sense of disappointment at full-time, De Zerbi has seen enough to believe his players can escape their perilous situation. "This team is able to win five games in a row," the Italian told the media.