Former England international and current talkSPORT pundit Danny Murphy pointed out a critical flaw in Tottenham Hotspur’s approach that led to their 3-2 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Spurs had an impressive start at the Amex Stadium, going 2-0 up in the first half thanks to goals from Brennan Johnson and James Maddison.

However, the team crumbled in the second half, conceding three goals in just 18 minutes to Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton side.

The goals came from Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter, and Danny Welbeck, whose 66th-minute strike sealed Tottenham’s third Premier League loss of the season.

Murphy, speaking on talkSPORT, claimed that a key oversight by manager Ange Postecoglou contributed to the dramatic collapse.

He noted that while the technical side of Tottenham’s high-line defense wasn’t the primary issue, there was a mentality shift, and tactical decisions on the right-hand side of the pitch became problematic.

Murphy explained that Postecoglou should have addressed the defensive frailties at halftime, particularly focusing on the lack of cohesion between Brennan Johnson and Pedro Porro.

According to Murphy, the duo struggled throughout the game to deal with Brighton’s left-side attack, with confusion about marking assignments.

Johnson, unsure whether to stick with Brighton’s left-back or follow Porro’s lead, contributed to the disorganization that Brighton exploited in the second half.

This loss ended Tottenham’s five-match winning streak across all competitions, leaving Postecoglou with plenty to think about during the international break.

With two weeks before their next match, a London derby against West Ham United, Postecoglou has time to reflect on the errors that cost his side the game and prepare his squad to return to winning form.

Spurs’ defensive issues, highlighted by Murphy, reflect a broader challenge Postecoglou faces in stabilizing the team’s performance.

Although Tottenham started the match well, their inability to maintain focus and control in the second half has raised questions about their mentality and tactical discipline.

The international break offers a chance for Postecoglou to regroup and address these concerns ahead of their upcoming fixtures.

As Tottenham looks to bounce back from this setback, the match against West Ham will be a key test of the team’s resilience and their ability to correct the mistakes that led to the Brighton defeat.

With a strong attacking line-up but visible defensive weaknesses, Postecoglou must find the right balance if he hopes to guide Spurs back to a competitive position in the Premier League.

Not Right at all – Danny Murphy reveals Postecoglou’s costly mistake in Tottenham defeat

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