Ange Postecoglou has not cut such a dejected figure in his 15-month reign as Tottenham boss as he did after their sorry Premier League capitulation at Brighton, a defeat on Monday he called “as bad as it gets”.

Spurs had been coasting to what appeared the most straightforward of victories on England’s south coast, having outplayed Brighton at the Amex Stadium with some scintillating play to be 2-0 up at half-time though goals from Brennan Johnson and James Maddison.

But demonstrating the inconsistency that’s become a Spurs hallmark – and not just under Postecoglou – the Australian’s team were almost unrecognisable after the break, folding so meekly that they conceded three goals in 18 minutes to Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck.

It was the 10th time that Spurs have lost a game in the Premier League era when they were two goals ahead. No other club can match that dispiriting stat.

Postecoglou has been occasionally tetchy and often defiant when Spurs’ performances have been questioned this season, but this time his response on Sky Sports, with head bowed, was unusually subdued.

“That’s disappointing. I’m frustrated, absolutely gutted – that’s probably the worst defeat we’ve had since I’ve been here,” he said.

“Unacceptable second half, we weren’t anywhere near where we should be, and we just got carried away with how we were going.

“We kind of accepted our fate, which it’s a bit hard to understand, because we haven’t done that since I’ve been here. We’ve usually fought for everything, but when you don’t, you pay a price, and we paid the price.