Conte hails Brighton for blowing Top 4 race open after beating Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has praised Brighton and Hove Albion for defeating his team at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Leandro Trossard scored a 90th-minute winner for Brighton as the Seagulls grabbed a shock 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in Saturday's early kick-off.

Brighton's victory follows another shock 2-1 victory over Arsenal last weekend, with the Graham Potter-led side now defeating two Top 4 hopefuls within the space of a week.

In his post-match press conference after falling to Brighton, Conte stressed that the score was not a good result for the North London side due to their ambitions to play in the Champions League next season. 

Conte said: "For sure not a good result for us. It was important to get three points before our rivals players in the race for the Champions League but the game was very difficult.

"It was very clear that today it wasn't our day. A lesson that we can learn today that there are games that if you are not able to win you have to not lose."

The Italian manager also praised Brighton for closing down the space quickly against the Lilywhites, stressing that it must be a 'good game' for Brighton to have defeated both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

"It was a tactical game for both sides and Brighton were very good at closing the space. We moved the ball slowly. I think that we are able to do much better than today," Conte said.

"Perhaps a draw was more fair but Brighton played a good game. If you win against Arsenal and Tottenham away you know it's a good game."

Tottenham Hotspur failed to stake their spot for the last Champions League spot and are now just three points ahead of Arsenal but the Gunners have two games in hand. 

Arsenal would go level on points with Conte's side if they pick all three points against Southampton later on Saturday.

Manchester United also have a shot at the Top 4, four points behind Tottenham Hotspur and with a game in hand.