Tottenham Hotspur: Time running out for Spurs in Premier League relegation fight after Brighton draw

Only Sheffield Wednesday, the Championship’s bottom club, have collected fewer points (four) than Spurs (six) across the top four divisions of English football in 2026.

De Zerbi has made it clear that his immediate attention is to rebuild the confidence of a group of players who have failed to win each of the last five Premier League games they have led.

The fact that his players showed the fight they needed to show in the remaining matches against the in-form team of the league gave encouraging signs in this regard for the former Seagulls boss.

There were also reasons for optimism on the team sheet, with long-term absentees Rodrigo Bentancur and James Maddison both fit enough to start and feature on the bench respectively.

De Zerbi also praised the fans, who he hopes will be able to recreate the same atmosphere in the club’s final home games against Leeds and Everton.

“We have to thank our fans. They were great, they helped the players a lot before, during and after the match,” De Zerbi said.

“The players need to feel lucky because if you are fighting relegation it is not normal for the stadium to be like this.”

Speaking to Sky Sports, former Spurs defender Michael Dawson said: “They need to take the positives. “This will feel like a loss, it was a chance to turn their fortunes around.

“This is something they have to deal with. I saw the hunger, the desire and the commitment. De Zerbi was passionate on the touchline.

“I saw something in that match; it revived some beliefs but it’s a starting stone.”