Harry Kane hit the winner as Tottenham claimed their first victory since Antonio Conte's departure, beating top-six rivals Brighton and Hove Albion 2-1 in a feisty contest on Saturday.

Kane found the net with a deflected effort with 11 minutes remaining after Son Heung-min's stunning goal – his 100th in the Premier League – was cancelled out by Lewis Dunk's header.

Roberto De Zerbi joined interim Spurs boss Cristian Stellini in being sent to the stands during a heated affair, with the visitors denied goals in either half for handball offences.

Tottenham's victory keeps them three points behind fourth-placed Manchester United in the race for Champions League qualification, with Brighton seven points further back after a frustrating loss.

Tottenham took the lead in spectacular fashion with their first attempt of the game, Son cutting inside to whip a 25-yard effort beyond Jason Steele and into the top-right corner.

Kaoru Mitoma was denied a leveller as he was penalised for handball before volleying into the bottom-right corner, before Hugo Lloris made two outstanding saves, turning Alexis Mac Allister's long-range effort away and pushing Moises Caicedo's drive onto the post.

However, Brighton's pressure finally told after 34 minutes as Dunk powered in a header from Solly March's corner.

Brighton thought they had the lead when Danny Welbeck's second-half strike deflected off Mac Allister and beyond Lloris, but a VAR review spotted that the ball struck the midfielder's hand.

Having been involved in an animated exchange before kick-off, De Zerbi and Stellini both saw red following a touchline fracas on the hour mark as a tetchy affair threatened to boil over.

Both sides missed chances as they chased a crucial winner to stay in the hunt for the top four, and it was Spurs who got one as Kane's powerful finish deflected into the top-left corner, breaking Brighton's hearts.

What does it mean? Stellini has last laugh in top-six battle

The first game of Stellini's spell as interim Tottenham boss ended in disappointment on Monday as Spurs turned in a timid performance in a 1-1 draw at Everton.

The hosts looked set for more of the same on Saturday, but Kane was the hero as they struck a huge blow to Brighton's hopes of European qualification.

While Stellini had joined De Zerbi in being dismissed from the touchline by the time Kane fired home, Conte's former assistant will hope that strike is a turning point in their bid for a top-four finish.

Kane closes on landmark with crucial strike

Kane's winner means he has now scored 10 goals in 12 Tottenham appearances against Brighton, making the Seagulls the ninth different team he has reached double-figures against in his career.

The England skipper's goal also took him to the brink of another personal landmark – his next league strike at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will make him the first player to score 100 Premier League goals in both home and away fixtures.

Son the centurion 

Before Kane snatched the headlines, his attacking partner Son provided a rare moment of magic in a frustrating campaign by firing past Steele from outside the area.

Son's stunning opener made him the first Asian player in Premier League history to net 100 goals in the competition.

Key Opta facts

- Tottenham have won five home Premier League games in a row, after winning one of their previous five on their own turf (L4).

- Brighton suffered their first defeat in eight Premier League games on the road (W4 D3), having last lost on their travels against Manchester City in October (1-3).

- Tottenham have completed a Premier League double over Brighton for just the second time (winning 2-1 at home and 1-0 away), also doing so in the 2018-19 campaign.

- Roberto De Zerbi has become the first Premier League boss to be sent off twice this season, while only Brighton (both De Zerbi) and Tottenham (Antonio Conte and Cristian Stellini) have suffered two managerial dismissals in 2022-23.

What's next?

Tottenham host Bournemouth in their next Premier League fixture next Saturday, while Brighton visit Chelsea on the same day.