Tottenham handed huge blow as star forward misses Bournemouth clash with suspension.
Tottenham have suffered yet another blow to their roster choices, as Dejan Kulusevski will miss his side’s New Year’s Eve meeting with AFC Bournemouth. With a stupid challenge in the box, the Swedish attacker received his fifth yellow card of the season against Brighton.
For several months, the Lilywhites have battled to select a full squad, with injuries and suspensions preventing Ange Postecoglou from naming an ideal team. Following that, despite some performances that merited more points, the team went winless in a streak of games.
Then came the crucial victories, as they defeated Nottingham Forest, Newcastle, and Everton in quick succession. A convincing victory over Brighton could have propelled them to third place in the rankings, but the Seagulls are no pushovers.
The visitors discovered this fast, as Guglielmo Vicario was forced to make an early save to deny the hosts, but it didn’t last long. Just seconds later, Jack Hinshelwood found himself free in the penalty box, giving his team the lead and cementing their dominance.
Brighton then launched a barrage of penalty requests as Kulusevski hauled back Danny Welbeck in the box, necessitating a VAR review. Jarred Gillett, the referee, looked to the screen and concluded a spot kick should be awarded, with Joao Pedro extending his team’s lead.