For Antonio Conte and Tottenham, emotions were painfully raw and at times impossible to contain as they ended a difficult week by fighting their way to a victory they dedicated to their long-lost fitness guru.
Harry Kane scored the only goal of the game at Brighton, a first-half header, and pointed to the sky in a subdued celebration, in memory of Gian Piero Ventrone, who died suddenly last week aged 61.
Ventrone was on everyone’s mind at Amex Stadium.
Conte was taken aback during the minute of applause for his friend before kick-off as Italian flags flew at the end and Tottenham manager Allan Dixon held up a white Spurs shirt emblazoned with ‘Gian Piero’ printed on the back.
Tottenham beat Brighton 1-0 at the Amex Stadium in a hard-fought game on Saturday evening
Harry Kane opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when he headed past Robert Sánchez
The goal was Kane’s eighth in the Premier League so far, the second most in the league
There were more tears after the game as the tension faded. Kane stood up during a post-match interview and Conte rubbed his eyes as backroom staff hugged and comforted him.
“We knew 100% that we had to perform today and that was thanks to Gian Piero,” said Spurs full-back Ryan Sessesgnon.
The man nicknamed ‘The Marine’ during his Juventus days would have been proud of his fighting spirit and resilience as he survived Brighton’s late pressure to return to victory after a painful defeat in the ‘Arsenal and a goalless draw at Eintracht Frankfurt.
Three points keep Tottenham within three points of Premier League leaders Manchester City after nine games.
Conte gave his line-up a bit of a shake-up, with Richarlison dropping to the bench to accommodate a third central midfielder, and it was Yves Bissouma who started his first Premier League game for his new club against the which he left in the summer.
Bissouma did not enjoy the warmest return. When he was booked on the half-hour for a bad, late and high tackle on Alexis Mac Allister, the home crowd shouted for him to be sent off and was booed when he was substituted in the second half.
Brighton dominated large moments of the game but could not find a way through Spurs
Kane deflected Heung-Min Son’s shot wide as Brighton failed to clear a Spurs corner
Robert Sanchez made some good saves in the first half to prevent Spurs extending their lead
With Matt Doherty and Sessegnon preferred at full-back and Ben Davies recalled to third after injury, there were four changes to the Spurs team that started in Germany, and they opened with good pace, and with more purpose than the last ones weeks.
Son Heung-min forced Robert Sanchez into an early save with a deflected free-kick, then had another effort. Between Conte’s full-backs they combined to good effect, Doherty arriving late to meet Sessegnon’s cross with a sideways volley, which went onto the turf and beyond.
Kane was booked for handball when he chased down a pass in the penalty area and Sanchez pushed away a powerful effort from Rodrigo Bentancur, venturing further forward than usual with the added security of Bissouma in midfield.
Tottenham found the breakthrough from the corner. Son’s initial set-piece was cleared by Brighton but Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg collected the loose ball and played it back to Son, who evaded a weak challenge from Leandro Trossard and picked out Kane six yards from goal.
Spurs paid tribute to their fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone, who died this week
Kane celebrated by pointing both of his index fingers skyward in memory of Ventrone
Facts of the match
Brighton (3-4-3): Sanchez; Veltman (Lamptey 89), Dunk, Webster; March, Mac Allister, Caicedo (Gilmour 89), Estupinyà (Mitoma 66); Groß (Lallana 82), Welbeck, Trossard
Substitutions: Colwill, Sarmiento, Undav, Steele, Turns
Reserves: Veltman
Manager: Roberto De Zerbi
Tottenham (3-5-2): Lloris; Romero, Dier, Davies; Doherty, Bissouma (Richarlison 69), Højbjerg, Bentancur, Sessegnon; Son, Kane (skip 90)
Substitutions: Sánchez, Gil, Perisic, Forster, Spence, Sarr, Lenglet
Subs: Kane, Bissouma
Goals: Kane 22
Director: Antonio Conte
Referee: Tony Harrington
Crouching and turning, Kane deftly guided a header into the net. It was his eighth in nine Premier League games this season, equaling his best start at this stage of the season, and he celebrated by pointing both index fingers skyward in memory of Ventrone.
Once back, Brighton swung into action. Until then, in Roberto de Zerbi’s first home game in charge, they had been limited to a couple of quick attacking moves and a shot from Danny Welbeck, which was wide of the goal and in from the corner.
However, they finished the first half with excellent pressure and a flurry of chances. Hugo Lloris made saves to deny Moises Caceido and Welbeck, and Solly March had a shot deflected from outside the area.
Lewis Dunk also went close, rising high in six yards to meet a corner and connect with a powerful header. It was only a couple of inches too high, but Dunk grimaced as if he thought he should have hit the target.
Spurs survived until the interval with their slender lead intact and came back as if ready to defend deep in numbers and go on the counter-attack. Brighton continued to push forward, cheered on by their supporters.
It is a measure of their progress under Graham Potter that they hope to compete with the likes of Tottenham. In De Zerbi’s first game, they scored three at Liverpool and came home to Sussex with a point, thanks to a late goal from Trossard to complete his hat-trick.
Antonio Conte found it impossible to contain his emotions at full-time after a difficult week
Tottenham players paid tribute to the beloved Gian Piero at the full-time whistle
Brighton impressed but suffered defeat in Roberto De Zerbi’s first home game in charge
The huge Lloris made several good saves to help guide Spurs to all three points
Here, they weren’t about to accept defeat easily, but Conte’s side can be dangerous when up against a team that takes chances. It made for an absorbing second half.
Tottenham resisted and broke menacingly without finding the final pass or goal. Kane looked certain to score his second when he rolled outside Dunk with his right foot, only to drag the shot wide.
Lloris had to leave his goal and make a brave save at the feet of Brighton substitute Kaoru Mitouma. Son produced a superb finish from 25 yards only to find the offside flag against him.
In the end one goal was enough. “A tough win to say the least,” Kane said. “So it was nice to get the win.”
Follow Sportsmail’s live blog with Will Pickworth to relive the Premier League clash between Brighton and Tottenham.