A fluke goal from Serge Aurier helped Tottenham on their way as they toiled to victory against Brighton at Wembley.

Spurs was far from their best and found it difficult to create opportunities against the visitors, who came to defend in numbers hoping to make the most of rare chances on the break.

A bizarre goal shortly before the interval from wing back Aurier put Tottenham ahead shortly before the break before a Son Heung-Min header late on capped off the victory.

The three points move Mauricio Pochettino’s side back into the Premier League top four.

Although Spurs struggled to create clear-cut chances for much of the first half, they almost opened the scoring through Son in the third minute.

The South Korean poached the ball by Brighton’s corner flag after catching full back Ezequiel Schelotto napping, but his powerful run towards goal only resulted in a deflected effort.

Son was the next to go close for the home side 20 minutes later, when he latched onto the ball Spurs eventually delivered into the box after a short corner, poking his effort over from four yards out.

It was perhaps fitting given Tottenham’s inability to break Brighton down in the first period that the opener in the 40th minute came by sheer fluke.

Wing back Aurier, who has been lively down the right hand side for Spurs, beat José Izquierdo around the outside before delivering a ball into the centre aimed at Harry Kane.

However, the Frenchman instead inadvertently lobbed Mathew Ryan in the Brighton net to open the scoring with a spectacular, albeit unintentional, strike.

Spurs continued to pile on the pressure after the break in search of a second goal, but Brighton looked dangerous enough on the counter attack to keep Mauricio Pochettino’s side honest.

A neat passage of one-touch play around the Tottenham area from the visitors in the 62nd minute eventually saw the ball fall to Anthony Knockaert on the penalty spot, who tested Hugo Lloris’s concentration with a rasping effort.

Top scorer Kane had a quiet night in front of goal for the home side, but almost got on the score sheet with five minutes left to play when his 25-yard free kick struck the base of the post.

Spurs did however grab a second minutes later - Son’s cleverly steering Christian Eriksen’s free kick home at the near post using the back of his head.

Tottenham next travel to league leaders Man City on Saturday, before another tricky away game against in-form Burnley the following weekend.