At a glance
- Brighton Under-21s beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 to reach the Premier League 2 Play-Off Final
- Shannon Ruth praised his side’s togetherness and relentless work-rate
- Albion now have two chances to lift silverware next week
Brighton’s Under-21 side are closing in on a memorable end to the season after securing their place in the Premier League 2 Play-Off Final. That place was sealed with an accomplished victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Friday night.
The young Seagulls produced an assured display at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. They claimed a deserved 3-1 win thanks to goals from Noel Atom, Shane Nti and Kofi Shaw. The result sets up a final meeting with Manchester United and keeps alive hopes of a trophy double for Shannon Ruth’s side.
Ruth Praises Togetherness After Spurs Victory
Speaking after the match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Ruth praised the spirit and determination shown by his players.
“It was a hard-fought win but a deserved one,” said Ruth. “Tottenham are a good side and I knew we would need to show real togetherness to get the result we wanted. Some of the defending was outstanding. The communication and the big tackles were excellent and the players celebrated every moment together.
“When we scored we went again which was really pleasing. We could have put the game to bed sooner because we missed a couple of very good chances in the first half but overall it was a performance that had a bit of everything. There was some really nice football but also plenty of graft and fight.
“What we also did was outrun the opposition. There were players out there who have not played a lot of football recently but they never stopped running and their commitment carried them through.”
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Young Seagulls Thrive on Big Stage
The occasion itself could easily have unsettled such a young squad with the match staged in front of the imposing backdrop of Spurs’ 62,000-seat stadium. Instead Albion’s academy players thrived under the lights in north London.
Ruth revealed afterwards that the coaching staff worked hard to create a familiar atmosphere in the dressing room before kick-off.
Speaking in his post-match media duties, the Albion Under-21 boss said:
“I was delighted that the occasion did not get the better of us. It is an incredible stadium but respectfully I did not want to make too much of it.
“Inside the dressing room we put Brighton crests everywhere just to give the players a sense of familiarity because we always aim to reach a point where consistency is key no matter the venue, the opponent or the occasion itself.
“I am sure it was an incredible experience for them though and one that will whet the appetite for what they want to achieve moving forward.”
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Brighton Under-21s Eye Stunning Trophy Double
Brighton’s young side now head into a huge week with two opportunities to lift silverware. Alongside their Premier League 2 final against Manchester United they will also contest the Sussex Senior Cup Final against Three Bridges.
Ruth admitted the ambition inside the dressing room is not simply to reach finals but to finish the season with medals in hand.
Reflecting on the mood among his players after Friday’s win, he said:
“I asked them in the changing room what makes getting to a final worth it and they all replied with the same answer which was winning it.
“When you retire you think about the memories you made, the team-mates you had and how you won together. It would really top our season off if we could go on and win these games. As an Under-21 group we have not won a trophy for a while so we are super hungry to do it.”
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