Brighton 2 - 2 Spurs: Positives of a hard-fought draw

Fresh off the back of their first Champions League game for more than two years, Tottenham Hotspur's return to Premier League action saw them visit Brighton. It's a fixture that proved difficult for the North London side last season, with the Seagulls managing to do the double over Spurs for the first time in their top-flight history. However, considering Tottenham's pedigree and recent European success, a draw is not the result many Spurs fans were expecting.

Thomas Frank's arrival at the club has transformed Spurs' style of play, turning them from a frustratingly inconsistent but incredibly entertaining side to a much more adaptable and defensively solid team. Considering that the summer transfer window saw Spurs considerably strengthen the squad, as well as the positive start under Thomas Frank, Brighton away seemed a much less daunting prospect than it otherwise might have after last season. However, conceding after just 8 minutes - against the run of play though it might have been - was not a start that filled fans with hope.

After conceding again to an impressive shot from Yasin Ayari in the 31st minute, the game appeared to have slipped away from Spurs. The North London side battled back, however, with a well-worked team goal hit home by Richarlison shortly before half time, bringing the Lilywhites back into the game. A dominant second-half led to an 82nd minute own goal from Brighton's van Hecke, a direct result of sustained pressure from Tottenham.

The scoreline didn't flatter Spurs' performance - fans have a lot to be excited about this season

A draw might not have been the result that many had hoped for, and it certainly wasn't the result that Spurs deserved. While a single defensive lapse led to Brighton's first goal, the second seemed enough to put the game beyond the North London side. Despite many of the stats falling in Tottenham's favor, the scoreline after the opening half hour might have been enough to significantly affect the visiting team. However, seeing Spurs continue to stick to their game plan and fight back to earn a point is a much more encouraging sign than it might seem.

Naturally, seeing a team battle to overturn a two-goal deficit is an indication of a good mentality within the squad. The positive takeaways for Spurs fans go much further, though, and were subtly evident even from the first whistle. Spurs' starting 11 was admittedly not their strongest, with key injuries still affecting the team as well as the need to rest and rotate after a mid-week Champions League outing against Villareal. The substitutes brought on throughout the second half were impressive, with Xavi Simons, Djed Spence, and Archie Gray especially positive in their contributions.

This is a huge improvement on last season, largely due to the clear strengthening of the Spurs bench. Being able to have last season's top scorer start from the bench, with several important players out with long-term injuries, is a far cry from the squad woes of the past two years. Not only is Spurs' ability to battle back against Brighton's two-goal lead heartening, but Frank's ability to tactically dominate combined with the far improved potential for squad rotation was on display throughout the game. Perhaps the only aspect of the game that prevented Tottenham from taking all 3 points was a lack of conviction in the final third, which seems understandable considering the injury situation and the considerable changes made to Spurs' attacking lineup.

All things considered, a point was more than it seemed Spurs would leave with after the opening half hour, and many fans felt disappointed that the Lilywhites didn't go on to win considering their dominant display. There may be clear avenues in which the team needs to improve, but if the first few games of the season are anything to go by, Tottenham's future could be very bright under Thomas Frank.