Brighton lose 3-1 to Tottenham in WSL clash at the Amex

But Melissa Phillips is convinced her much-changed squad will progress from early defeats.

The Seagulls went down 3-1 to Tottenham before almost 7,000 fans at the Amex having taken an early lead through Elisabeth Terland’s fourth goal in as many games.

The final margin was extended by a third Spurs goal right at the end of the second half.

But the best team won and it was their equaliser with seconds remaining in the first period which proved one of two pivotal moments.

The other was the long-range strike from Grace Clinton which gave Spurs their 65th-minute lead after Albion, having made three substitutions and changed the formation during the interval, started the second half brightly.

Albion scored twice in the first 15 minutes of the season but that win at Everton has been followed by two defeats at home.

It gets no easier with a trip to Chelsea next on the agenda.

Albion boss Phillips revealed: “We said after the game you probably learn more about yourself after a loss of where you need to grow and where things have to be better.

“I think the girls are ultimate professionals and we will reflect and make sure that we move forward.

“We know we have to manage possession better, we know we have to manage our attacking half a bit better.

“And we won’t dwell on what we can’t change, which is the past.

“We just have to pick ourselves up, grow from this game and make sure we make some positive adjustments on the pitch.”

Albion had fielded the same XI in their opening two league games but there were changes this time.

Belgium international Nicky Evrard and right-back Charlie Rule were handed their first league starts for the club and Maisie Symonds, the matchwinner at the stadium with a memorable free-kick versus Leicester two years ago, was also in the home XI for the first time this term in the WSL.

Symonds was in the pocket behind forward Terland, who had scored both the team’s league goals so far.

Fans stood in silence just before kick-off in support of those killed and suffering in Israel and Gaza.

The crowd were being accommodated in the sun-kissed East Lower and part of the North Stand.

Tottenham made the brighter start and had a shot blocked amid a tussle after a corner.

But it was from a flag kick at the other end, forced by Pauline Bremer, that the hosts went ahead in only the eighth minute.

Symonds delivered the set-piece to the near post and Terland rose to score with a glancing header.

That got Albion up and running and Terland forced Molly Bartrip into a save low down when she turned and shot left-footed.

Poppy Pattinson’s measured pass got Bremer racing in down the left and it took some last ditch-defending to block her route to goal.

But Tottenham then had a good spell and Julia Zigiotti appeared to make two important blocks right in front of goal when a corner caused the home side a few alarms.

Although Albion were defending sturdily, they had little chance to string their own attacking game together.

Vicky Losada had a go from outside the box, with Bartrip holding her effort.

But Tottenham were back on the attack as Martha Thomas flashed an angled shot off target and Angharad James saw her dangerous cross evade everyone.

The visitors will have felt they deserved half-time parity and it arrived with just a few seconds to spare.

Rule had just cleared off the line from the marauding Thomas when they drew level.

Then Drew Spence saw a terrific effort from outside the box come back off the bar and Thomas responded to send the rebound goalwards.

The ball found the bottom corner despite a touch from the diving Evrard, who would probably feel she should have pushed the ball wide of the post.

Phillips made three personnel changes at the break as Emma Kulberg, Madison Haley and Lee Guem-min went on for Poppy Pattinson, Symonds and Terland.

That also led to a positional change for Rule, as she switched to left wing-back while Kullberg settled into the left of what was now a back three.

It quickly felt like Losada had more scope to pull the strings and she produced three clever passes inside the first few minutes, the third of them to get Lee into the box before a defender got across.

Then the skipper’s turn helped Lee force a corner which Haley rose well to meet but headed well away from goal.

Katie Robinson was also getting more service on the right.

But Tottenham were ahead on 65 minutes with their first real threat of the half.

Clinton turned neatly away from Zigiotti and sent a cleanly struck 25-yard shot arcing over Evrard.

Zigiotti curled past the top corner before Albion sent on Tatiana Pinto in midfield for Losada.

Although Haley was a troublesome presence in attack, Albion were struggling to give the home fans keen to play their part a chance to get really excited.

There were optimistic penalty appeals when Haley ended up being forced to run the ball out of play.

But substitute Jessica Naz gave Spurs a pacey attacking threat going the other way.

It was a break by Naz which led to her fellow sub Ria Percival firing in via a deflection off Guro Bergsvand in added time Haley guided a very late effort over the bar from Bremer’s cross but there was to be no way back for the Seagulls.

Albion: Evrard; Rule, Bergsvand, Thorisdottir, Pattinson Kullberg 46); Losada (Pinto 73), Zigiotti; Robinson, Symonds (Lee 46), Bremer; Terland (Haley 46).

Attendance: 6,951