PLAYER RATINGS: Southampton 0:2 Spurs

Things got off to a bit of a rocky start on the south coast as Southampton controlled the game for about the first 20 minutes, piling pressure on the Tottenham goal pretty consistently. A brilliant Hugo Lloris save kept the game level, and Saints probably felt aggrieved to not have the lead.

But after that run of play, Spurs got into the game and controlled things for the most part after that. The first goal came after some rugged play in the middle of the pitch, but the referee played advantage and Harry Kane made Virgil look like a fool as he glided past him with ease. He looked up and coolly slotted it past Gazzaniga and it was 1-0 to the Lilywhites.

It was 2-0 just three minutes later as Kyle Walker was given acres of space, and he found Dele Alli on the back post all alone. The England international calmly put it in the back of the net.

From there Tottenham had control of the game as Saints only had a few limited opportunities in the final 45 minutes. With other results around the league, Spurs are into the Top 4 on goal differential.

Ratings

Hugo Lloris- 8- Made a magnificent save early on when Saints were pushing hard, and later in that first half Hugo was seen barking at his teammates. After that, he had little to do. That’s what a captain does. Oh, and that save in the 93rd minute….not bad.

Ben Davies- 6- Pretty quiet and that’s fine.

Jan Vertonghen- 7- Bossed the middle of the defense with authority. After the first few minutes, Saints did very little there.

Toby Alderweireld- 7- Like Vertonghen, nothing spectacular, but strong in the center. Southampton supporters gave him some grief, but surely because they’d like him anchoring their defence.

Kyle Walker- 7- Did well on the second goal. Took his space and slotted it perfectly to Alli at the back post as Southampton seemed to forget that that the game was still going on. Played well defensively too after he figured Tadić out.

Eric Dier 7- Steady as she goes in the front of the defence. Eric’s playing that position like we’ve become accustomed to.

Dele Alli- 7- Took his goal nicely. Worked hard up and down the pitch, but his youthful exuberance resulted in a bad tackle that on another day with another referee could’ve been red.

Erik Lamela- 7- Again, did more than it appeared. Always lively, and had a few corners that looked enticing if the space that they were going to weren’t vacated by Spurs players. His defensive displays and work ethic are impressive.

Christian Eriksen- 7- Put in some ferocious free kicks in the second half that were barely missed by onrushing Spurs players. Calm and composed in the centre of the pitch.

Mousa Dembélé- 8- Spurs are just a much better side when Mousa is on the pitch. Hard driving runs and immaculate control and power with the ball on his foot. Just a beast.

Harry Kane- 8- Worked hard all game. Parted a red and white sea for his first half goal and slotted it brilliantly into the lower right corner. His work ethic is never in doubt. Went down late with a knock on his knee and Spurs supporters will hope it’s just a bruise.

Subs

Tom Carroll- 6- Came on for Dele Alli in the 78th minute. Miss hit a sitter after great work from Lamela.

Nacer Chadli- n/a- Was an 86th minute sub for Christian Eriksen.

Son- n/a- Came in the 90th minute after Harry Kane went down with a knock on the knee.

Overall, Tottenham looked like a top four team today. After struggling through consistent Saints pressure, Spurs emerged unscathed and then took the game away from Southampton and began to assert their dominance. Tottenham took their chances and the high pressing style is beginning to pay its dividends.

It’s Norwich City at home on Boxing Day next as Spurs look to move even further up the table in the festive season. It’s a good day. Enjoy it, and Come On You Spurs!

 

Another booking for Ali,and a knock for Kane,apart from that a good all round display,would have liked to have seen Son come on for kane a bit sooner other than that job done, now Norwich...

 

It was solid after a very poor toon time. Job done.

 

Great performance. It's a mark of a young team coming together, last week was a game some of the youngsters may have overlooked and got caught by it. Finding consistency will take sometime, but a good performance like this surely is the right step....let's make sure to keep it going. Top 4 is for the taking, if Leicester City is challenging for top of the table, surely we can too. COYS!!

 

Good result, Walkers pick out of Alli at the far post was really good.
Hopefully Kane hasnt done any serious damage.

 

Its a great result, but people seem to be over looking the first 10-15 minutes where we were pretty damn luck not to leak a goal

 

A really good gutsy win. We looked ragged at the start but slowly got a grip. I don't like to be negative about a player all the time but as a true fan I cannot let it go. Eriksen a 7 today ??? How does he continue to escape criticism. He has been awful this season and it is getting worse every game. He was terrible again today and yet all that people say is he delivered a couple of great free kicks. Really?? He sent in maybe one decent ball. My goodness if that is all it takes to be rated lets bring another useless article back called Bentley. Eriksen tackles or I should say nevr does just like him. Wake up Spurs!!! this guy offers too little to be on the pitch with a free role, not scoring, taking all the free kicks. Wimping out on any 50-50 challenges. If he was as skilled as the pundits keep saying he was I could care less about his unwillingness to compete. Drop him enough is enough. a 7 ?? A 3 would have been kind.

 

Totally agree. Erikssen disappears in far too many games and on current form is not worthy of a first team spot. Lamela gets criticised but at least puts a shift in for his team mates. You know in the first 15 minutes whether Erikssen fancies it. If he doesn't ( which this season appears to be the norm) then he is a passenger throughout the rest of the game. Don't even get me started on his corner kicks . . . Needs to be dropped so that he can find his drive.

 

Lloris was back to his normal self. So Spurs came with much better outcome despite Eriksen was continuing being dormant his entire time. Should have been substituted much sooner.
Now, Spurs must get 6 point from last 2 ties of the year. Anything less would be a disappointment. COYS!!