Fran KirbyImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Fran Kirby scored her fourth goal of the WSL campaign

Brighton & Hove Albion edged out Tottenham Hotspur to end a run of seven Women's Super League games without victory.

Fran Kirby struck three minutes before half-time with a smart finish into the bottom corner, but Dario Vidosic's side really should have added to their tally to make the success far more comfortable.

Three of the previous four WSL meetings between these two sides ended in draws and, for much of the first half, it felt like this would be another stalemate.

But Brighton grew into what was a scrappy opening period of little quality and few chances. They came close when Tottenham goalkeeper Lize Kop had to scramble to prevent Marisa Olislagers scoring directly from a corner.

Kop then did well to tip away Olislagers' rifled effort a few minutes later, but the Netherlands international was powerless to prevent the visitors' fortuitous winner.

Another effort from the lively full-back Olislagers cannoned off the face of Ella Morris into the path of Rachel McLauchlan, who cut the ball back for Kirby to sweep into the bottom corner from 10 yards.

Brighton continued strongly after the break, comfortably passing the ball around and creating the bulk of chances.

Tottenham struggled for fluidity in attack, something the injury absence of top scorer Bethany England won't have helped.

The visitors had two handball penalty appeals waved away by referee Ryan Atkin, before Kop kept out headers from Nikita Parris and Madison Haley.

A first ever away WSL victory against Tottenham moved Brighton back into fifth place, one point ahead of Liverpool.

Tottenham have now lost four WSL games in a row, while only Crystal Palace (40) have conceded more goals this season than them (34).

Robert Vilahamn's side remain seventh in the table, eight points above bottom club Palace, who gained a welcome 3-1 win against relegation rivals Aston Villa earlier on Sunday.

Seagulls capitalise on Spurs' attacking woes

With both sides struggling for form in recent months, this was never going to be a free-scoring classic.

Before the match Brighton boss Vidosic said his side's winless run had taught him "a lot about the squad and myself, about things we can do differently, on and off the pitch".

The Seagulls had won just once away from home this season, although they came into Sunday's game with confidence following an impressive 2-2 draw against Chelsea earlier in the month.

Dutch international Olislagers - singled out for praise by Vidosic this week - posed a constant threat with her wicked deliveries, while Parris and Kirby combined well in central areas.

Defensively the visitors were solid, though they were up against an attack that failed to register a single shot on target.

Tottenham sorely missed forward England, who has scored three of their five league goals since the winter break.

January arrival Olivia Holdt struggled to make an impact on the Dane's first WSL start for the club, while striker Martha Thomas' goalless run in the competition extended to 25 games.

With a leaky defence and faltering attack, Spurs boss Vilahamn has a lot of work to do if his side are to match their best-ever WSL finish of fifth and go into next season with greater ambitions.

Player of the match

Number: 14 F. Kirby
Average rating 8.50
Number: 3 E. Morris
Average Rating: 6.17
Number: 17 M. Thomas
Average Rating: 5.44
Number: 29 A. Neville
Average Rating: 5.40
Number: 24 D. Spence
Average Rating: 5.00
Number: 8 H. Raso
Average Rating: 5.00
Number: 11 O. Holdt
Average Rating: 4.89
Number: 10 Maite Oroz
Average Rating: 4.71
Number: 5 M. Bartrip
Average Rating: 4.60
Number: 31 L. Gunning-Williams
Average Rating: 4.43
Number: 13 M. Vinberg
Average Rating: 4.33
Number: 21 L. Bühler
Average Rating: 4.30
Number: 6 A. Nildén
Average Rating: 4.20
Number: 1 L. Kop
Average Rating: 4.17
Number: 25 E. Summanen
Average Rating: 4.11
Number: 7 J. Naz
Average Rating: 3.43

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.

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