Southampton picked up a vital three points in their battle for survival after defeating Tottenham by two goals to one in a game of two halves in which a share of the spoils would have been a fair result. Tottenham dominated the first half against a very weak Southampton side, but Ralph Hasenhuttl's double substitution straight after the interval turned the match on its head.
Harry Kane had two glorious chances to score in the opening four minutes of the contest. The first came when Danny Rose's pass was flicked on by the head of Alli and Kane's first time shot flew wide. One minute later, Eriksen played in a beautiful through ball, the striker then touched controlled three times on his right shoulder before hitting over the bar.
As well as Kane, Lucas Moura looked very, very sharp. On one occasion, he went past a couple of opponents before being halted by Valery and then did the same in the 14th minute before going down in the Southampton area. That was not to be the end of the away side's opportunities because Kane had another chance two minutes later after dispossessing Vestergaard. When the goal come, nobody was surprised.
Maya Yoshida deflected a Kane cross onto the post when Moura was ready to pounce and Christian Eriksen's free kick rattled the crossbar in the few minutes before Harry Kane got himself on the scoresheet. The goal itself was a wonderfully worked move. Southampton went forward for one of the few times in the first half and Ward-Prowse's shot on goal was blocked by a defender. A block which started a counterattack delivered at breakneck speed. The 80 yard move culminated in a perfect one-two between Dele Alli and Kane. The former chipped the ball to Kane at the far post, who kept his cool to give Spurs a fully deserved lead. He took a couple of touches before slotting through Gunn's legs.
After the goal, Southampton started to react and Redmond came the closest to equalising. He ran about 20 yards before hitting over the bar. Dele Alli made a brilliant run in the 39th minute before losing possession and just before half-time, Christian Eriksen stung Gunn's fingers from long range. Tottenham should have been further in front after 45 minutes.
Hasenhuttl was clearly unimpressed with what he saw in the first period and he made a double change at the start of the second half. A double substitution which drastically improved his side. Sims and Long, who were both highly influential came on to replace Oriol Romeu and Charlie Austin. Josh Sims tested Lloris straight away.
Southampton peppered the away box in the second period, but Aaron Redmond did not have his shooting boots and found the side-netting on two separate occasions after brilliant passes by Shane Long. The Irishman had to go off injured after challenging for the ball with Jan Vertonghen and just after he left, the Saints turned the game around in just four minutes just as when it looked they would go home empty-handed.
In the 76th minute, Armstrong's cross went across the box after Sanchez and Rose failed to clear and Valery scuffed his effort into the goal to give Southampton a deserved equaliser. Four minutes later, it would get even better for the rleegation threatened side. Kyle Walker-Peters made a foul on the edge of the box and Ward-Prowse punished him with a spectacular free-kick into the corner. Lloris was left for dead and Pochettino was called into action.
He decided to throw on Llorente to try and salvage a point, but it was in vain. They threw plenty of long balls in the box, but Southampton were able to clear with ease. Sissoko's frustration got the better of him and he ended up having an argument with Aaron Redmond which saw both players booked. Southampton celebrated when the final whistle, but they remain only two points clear of the drop after Cardiff's 2-0 victory over West Ham.
Southampton picked up three crucial points after a brilliant second half comeback, whereas Pochettino's men let their one goal lead slip and their place in next season's Champions League is now potentially under threat.