Brighton & Hove Albion’s Georginio Rutter broke Tottenham Hotspur’s hearts with a stoppage-time equaliser to earn his side a 2-2 draw that left the hosts in the Premier League relegation zone on Saturday.

It had looked as though a great strike by the superb Xavi Simons in the 77th minute had secured Tottenham’s first league win in 2026 but in a nerve-jangling climax, Rutter swept a shot high into the net.

Tottenham are now winless in 15 league games and remained 18th in the table, having played a game more than the two sides directly above them, and a first relegation since 1977 is looming large.

Pedro Porro had lifted the tension when he headed Tottenham into the lead in the 39th minute. But Brighton, who could have gone sixth with a win, levelled in first-half stoppage time thanks to a sublime volley by substitute Kaoru Mitoma.

Tottenham have 31 points from 33 games, with West Ham United on 32 and Nottingham Forest 33.