Harry Kane hit the winner as Tottenham claimed their first victory since Antonio Conte s departure, beating top-six rivals Brighton and Hove Albion 2-1 in a feisty contest on Saturday.
Kane found the net with a deflected effort with 11 minutes remaining after Son Heung-min s stunning goal – his 100th in the Premier League – was cancelled out by Lewis Dunk s header.
Roberto De Zerbi joined interim Spurs boss Cristian Stellini in being sent to the stands during a heated affair, with the visitors denied goals in either half for handball offences.
Tottenham s victory keeps them three points behind fourth-placed Manchester United in the race for Champions League qualification, with Brighton seven points further back after a frustrating loss.
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Tottenham took the lead in spectacular fashion with their first attempt of the game, Son cutting inside to whip a 25-yard effort beyond Jason Steele and into the top-right corner.
Kaoru Mitoma was denied a leveller as he was penalised for handball before volleying into the bottom-right corner, before Hugo Lloris made two outstanding saves, turning Alexis Mac Allister s long-range effort away and pushing Moises Caicedo s drive onto the post.
However, Brighton s pressure finally told after 34 minutes as Dunk powered in a header from Solly March s corner.
Brighton thought they had the lead when Danny Welbeck s second-half strike deflected off Mac Allister and beyond Lloris, but a VAR review spotted that the ball struck the midfielder s hand.
Having been involved in an animated exchange before kick-off, De Zerbi and Stellini both saw red following a touchline fracas on the hour mark as a tetchy affair threatened to boil over.
Both sides missed chances as they chased a crucial winner to stay in the hunt for the top four, and it was Spurs who got one as Kane s powerful finish deflected into the top-left corner, breaking Brighton s hearts.