Premier League: Mat Ryan’s Brighton in danger of relegation after defeat to Tottenham

The English club of Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan are deep in a Premier League relegation dogfight, and the pendulum may just have swung against them a little further on Wednesday morning (EST).

Mat Ryan does his best to keep Spurs at bay.

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It wasn’t supposed to end like this.

Mat Ryan’s Brighton are deep in a relegation dogfight, and the pendulum may just have swung against them a little further, after Wednesday morning’s (EST) morale-sapping loss to Tottenham.

Suddenly what is effectively a head-to-head battle with Cardiff to avoid the drop is too close to call, with both sides facing seriously awkward fixtures to round out the season and decide who goes down.

Mat Ryan does his best to keep Spurs at bay.

There was just two minutes left when Christian Eriksen’s long-range drive gave Tottenham victory over Brighton, and the devastation on the Albion players’ faces was obvious.

It leaves them just three points ahead of Cardiff with three games left, albeit with a far superior goal difference.

That latter differential may yet save Brighton, and their future remains in their own hands for now – especially with a home game against now-safe Newcastle on Saturday night (EST).

The problem is that Ryan’s side has only won once at home since the turn of the year, and the last two performances – 0-5 v Bournemouth and 0-2 v Cardiff – have shown the depth of nervousness gripping team and fans.

Cardiff themselves are away at relegated Fulham, but then host Crystal Palace the weekend after – the round when Brighton are away at Arsenal.

it’s desperate times for fading Brighton.

Finally, Brighton host Manchester City – likely to need to win to secure the EPL title – while Cardiff make the journey to Manchester, to face United.

For the neutral it is captivating, for those involved potentially terrifying. Brighton fans must feel the heady heights of early December are a lifetime away, when two consecutive wins took their side to 10th.

Even though Albion have only won three times since, they were in 13th spot as recently as early February – but the pressure of what Sir Alex Ferguson called “squeaky bum time” has weighed heavily on their shoulders.

They do have the memory of last year’s great escape to draw upon, and they may need it in the next three weekends.