Tottenham Hotspur closed back to within one point of the Premier League's top four courtesy of a 4-1 comeback win over Southampton.
The Lilywhites started second best and were behind with just 69 seconds on the clock when Virgil van Dijk headed in from a free kick unopposed.
Dele Alli started the comeback and would later round off the scoring, with Harry Kane and substitute Son Heung-min also adding their names to the scoresheet after Nathan Redmond was shown a straight red on the hour.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur at St Mary's Stadium. The Lilywhites have seen the gap on the top four open up over the festive programme, with closest rivals Arsenal now four points clear, meaning anything less than victory this evening could well damage their prospects of Champions League football next term.
The Lilywhites have also lost back-to-back games on their travels, albeit against the division's in-form sides in Chelsea and Manchester United, with their winless run away from White Hart Lane now standing at five games. Putting an end to that unwanted record will be a tough ask this evening, though, as they come up against a side with just one defeat here all season; that coming in the 2-0 reverse to Chelsea a couple of months back.
TEAM NEWS!
SOUTHAMPTON XI: Forster; Cedric, Fonte, van Dijk, Bertrand; Romeu, Davis; Redmond, Ward-Prowse, Boufal; Rodriguez
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR XI: Lloris; Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose; Wanyama, Dembele; Sissoko, Eriksen, Dele; Kane
Let us start by taking a look at the visiting side, which shows one change from the 2-1 win over Burnley 10 days ago. It is a fairly big change, too, as Moussa Sissoko has been brought into the team in place of Harry Winks in midfield. That is not the headline news, however, as Toby Alderweireld - expected to start tonight after missing the victory over the Clarets with a back injury - is overlooked, presumably having failed to fully shock of his problem.
Mousa Dembele is also handed a starting role in midfield after shaking off an injury issue of his own, while Danny Rose has also shaken off a thigh complaint that saw him become a doubt for this trip to the South Coast. Rose bagged a crucial goal against Burnley a week-and-a-half ago and is one of the division's most in-form full-backs right now, but it is Kyle Walker on the other flank - four assists this term; more than any other defender - who will be the biggest threat.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has had a number of injury issues to contend with in recent weeks, with Erik Lamela currently still on the sidelines, but he does have back-up striker Vincent Janssen back in the matchday squad this evening. No surprise to see him overlooked for this one, though, as Harry Kane is again given the nod up top in advance of Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli, both of whom have looked back to their attacking best in recent home games.
In terms of the home side, manager Claude Puel has made four alterations from the 3-1 win over Bournemouth 10 days ago. Harrison Reed was a surprise starter last time out just days after penning a new contract, but he drops out this evening along with Maya Yoshida, Jordy Clasie and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Clasie is out due to a groin injury recently picked up, but rotation is likely to be behind the other omissions from the starting XI.
Oriol Romeu is back from suspension, meanwhile, adding some additional steel to a backline that has looked very assured on home soil this term. James Ward-Prowse, Jose Fonte and Steven Davis are also back in the fold, with Matt Targett and Charlie Austin the two long-term absentees from the squad. Shane Long is left on the bench once more after a disappointing run of form in front of goal, having netted just once in 24 games for club and country this season.
BENCH WATCH!
SOUTHAMPTON XI: Taylor, Yoshida, Long, Tadic, Martina, Reed, Hojbjerg
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR XI: Vorm, Davies, Wimmer, Winks, Nkoudou, Son, Janssen
Spurs have just confirmed that Alderweireld misses out tonight due to a virus, having just shaken off an injury problem that kept him out of the recent win over Burnley. The Belgian misses out on the squad entirely, then, with the visitors' bench looking slightly stronger in attack than defence with the inclusion of Nkoudou, Son and returning Janssen. For Southampton, Dusan Tadic misses out on selection as Nathan Redmond is instead given the nod.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has made one change to his starting lineup for this evening's trip to face Southampton, bringing Moussa Sissoko back into the side in place of the benched Harry Winks. Toby Alderweireld was expected to start after shaking off a back problem, but a virus has ruled the Belgian out. Claude Puel has made four alterations, meanwhile, including a return to the XI for Jose Fonte in place of Maya Yoshida.
Southampton head into this game sitting eighth in the Premier League table, knowing that victory this evening will be enough to take them above Everton and into seventh - not bad going for a side whose season got off to a fairly slow start. It took Puel a month or so before registering his first league win in charge, but the Saints have hit good form over the past four weeks by losing just one of their last six outings, albeit a hugely disappointing 3-0 defeat to strugglers Crystal Palace.
Scoring goals was the one major issue for Puel's men, but that could well be a thing of the past if their last outing is anything to go by - a 3-1 comeback win over neighbours Bournemouth to put a bit of a shine on their current league position. It is still just the 17 goals all term, however, which is among the worst in the top flight, while their home goals tally is the outright worst in the entire division. Eight in all scored here at a rate of one-per-game so far.
That particular stat does not bode all that well for Southampton this evening, as they take on a Spurs side boasting the second-best defensive record in the division - bettered only by league leaders Chelsea. Their home form has been very good on the whole, though, having lost just the one game so far here in 2016-17 - a 2-0 surrender at the hands of the Blues - in a run that also includes a memorable victory over Inter Milan in the Europa League.
That European campaign would ultimately end in major disappointment, as the Saints failed to pick up the result needed in their final home outing against Israeli side Hapoel Be'er Sheva here. Puel's men are now left to focus on the Premier League and FA Cup, but a repeat of last season's sixth-placed finish already looks to be out of the question after seeing Manchester United join the top five in hitting some positive form.
With a near-perfect balance of results so far - won 6, drawn 6, lost 5 - it is difficult to ascertain what exactly a good season would be for Southampton at this stage. Finishing in seventh place, where they can climb tonight with a win, would surely be seen as a major positive in Puel's first taste of British football. Rumours have already surfaced over the futures of Jose Fonte and Virgil van Dijk, however, and it could well be a familiar tale for the Saints should the latter leave, as they have had to constantly contend with losing their star players in recent windows.
DID YOU KNOW? Southampton have not conceded a goal in four of their last six games, including three-successive clean sheets at St Mary's - an overall defensive record that is matched by tonight's opponents Tottenham Hotspur and bettered only by Chelsea. I already mentioned a little earlier about the Saints' woes in front of goal on home soil, well Spurs also have the joint-best defensive record on their travels so the obvious bet points towards a low-scoring result tonight.
Claude Puel took some time to get going at Southampton early in the season but, as we reach the midway point of the campaign, the Frenchman has guided his side into eighth place with a game in hand on Everton directly above. Repeating last term's sixth-placed finish, and thus securing a backdoor route into the Europa League, appears to be unlikely this time around due to the form of the current top six.
One of the sides above Southampton is Tottenham, who find themselves positioned in fifth place after 17 games and still in with a good shout of landing another shot at the Champions League next season. Supporters would have been dreaming of another title challenge this time around, having provided Leicester City's only real competition in the final months of 2015-16, but that does not look likely to happen due to the incredible form of Chelsea since mid-September.
With all of the top four winning over the Christmas period, as well as Man United drawing level on points in sixth, the pressure is now on Spurs to pick up maximum points on the South Coast over the next couple of hours. The 10-day break afforded to Tottenham - as well as Southampton, it should be said - has provided players with a chance to put their feet up and recuperate, though the downside to that is having to watch your rivals get the business done and open up a gap.
Pochettino's charges starting the season with a 12-game unbeaten run, which sounds great on the face of it but too many points were dropped following a succession of draws. Then came those back-to-back away defeat to Chelsea and Man United - their only losses all term in the Premier League - to leave somewhat of a cloud over White Hart Lane. It had to be pointed out by Pochettino that Spurs were still better positioned in the table points wise following those setbacks compared to 12 months ago at the same stage.
Despite those away defeats, they have still won four of their last six, putting 13 goals past West Ham United, Swansea City, Hull City and Burnley during that run. It is fair to say that Tottenham are still going under the radar when compared to the sides around them, however, which you have to say will suit Pochettino just fine. The Argentine will be hoping to now push on over the Christmas and New Year programme just like last season, when kickstarting a title push that stuttered and eventually ended in May.
Following the unusual prolonged Christmas time break, Spurs now face three games over the next week - nothing too demanding about that, in truth - against Southampton, Watford and then Chelsea. Six points from six on their travels over the next few days will set them up nicely for that visit of the league leaders - a game that could essentially end any title hopes before it had even begun. Spurs may have lost back-to-back away games, but a win tonight will take them to 71 points for 2016 - a club record, surpassing the haul of 70 in 2013.
Going further back, it is five games without a win on their travels now for Spurs, so this is a chance to show that they do have the stomach for the battle. Not since a 2-1 win at Middlesbrough in September have they picked up maximum points away from North London - you have to go back nearly five years to find the last time they went on a longer run. A four-point margin on the top four does not sound too healthy at this midway point; victory and all of a sudden Arsenal are just one point ahead.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Tottenham Hotspur are unbeaten on their last four visits to St Mary's Stadium, winning three and drawing the other. Southampton have got the better of Spurs just once in their last eight league encounters overall, in fact, although that did come in the last meeting when earning a 2-1 win at White Hart Lane - a result that came soon after the Lilywhites' title hopes had come to a crushing end.
With kickoff on the South Coast now just 10 minutes away, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Claude Puel: "We were unlucky with our European campaign this season and want to find other possibilities to play those games, and the best possibility is via the Premier League. It's a good challenge for us. We know now all the opponents in the Premier League and if we can play against these teams at a good level then we have the chance to stay ambitious in the second half of the season."
Mauricio Pochettino: "For me it was difficult, it's true. The first day, I remember my first game back there, they prepared the orange day to try to upset me. But in the same way they showed their love for me because if they ignore me it's because they never cared for me. If they want to show their love for another manager it was because it was hard for them."
Pochettino spent 18 months at Southampton before departing for Spurs a couple of years back, managing the Saints for a total of 54 Premier League games. The former Espanyol boss left with a win rate of 35% in the league, helping the South Coast outfit to a then-club-record finish in the top flight. Pochettino came in for particular sticks on his previous visit here with the Lilywhites, but he believes that was simply the Saints fans showing how much they "love" him.
Puel claims that his side were "unlucky" in Europe this term but, with hopes of challenging on the continent now over for at least another season, it is now time to focus on finishing as high up the table as possible. Everton are within touching distance in seventh, so the Saints will see this as a chance to close in on the division's top-six sides, who at the moment are starting to compete in a league of their own.
PREDICTION! The Saints have scored fewer goals than any other side in the Premier League on home soil this season, but they have also lost just once here in 2016-17. Spurs, on the other hand, are winless in five on their travels despite also boasting the division's second-best defensive record overall. It certainly points towards a low-scoring affair, which I believe the visitors will edge this evening with a 1-0 triumph.
Both sets of players are now out on the field of play, with kickoff on the South Coast just a couple of minutes away now. A reminder of the team news for you: Just the one change for Spurs, as Moussa Sissoko comes in for Harry Winks in midfield, while the Saints go with four alterations from their 3-1 win over Bournemouth 10 days ago. This one is set up nicely, then, but which side will come out on top?
KICKOFF! A positive start for the Saints as, with just a minute on the clock, their former player Wanyama concedes a free kick in a decent crossing position, which Ward-Prowse looks likely to swing into the box.
GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 1-0 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (VIRGIL VAN DIJK)
Incredible! A little over a minute on the clock and Southampton - the division's lowest scorers on home soil - have taken the lead. From that free kick, Ward-Prowse swung in a delicious ball for Van Dijk to head past Hugo Lloris. Shocking defending, it must be said, with Eric Dier just failing to challenge his man.
Southampton not looking back after that early goal, pushing on and applying plenty of pressure. The hosts really up for this one, making life extremely tough for their opponents to find any sort of rhythm to their passing game.
One real attacking move so far and one Virgil van Dijk goal to show for it. The Saints have not conceded in any of their last three home games, remember, so Spurs face an almighty task to get the three points they are after.
SHOT! Decent play from the hosts, as Redmond slips the ball around the back for Rodriguez to latch on to. The striker, in a bit of confidence following his brace against Bournemouth, drags the first-time effort wide of the target.
Southampton up the pressure, but Rose produces a fine challenge on compatriot Bertrand to win back possession for his side. Tottenham failing to compete at the moment, with their attempts to pass the ball from back to front giving them little joy.
A sign of Tottenham stepping things up, as they win themselves a corner which comes to nothing. That Saints goal was the fourth-fastest in the Premier League this term, incidentally, coming just 69 seconds into the match.
YELLOW CARD! Mousa Dembele brings down Redmond to concede a free kick, which he was clearly unhappy about and was shown a yellow by referee by referee Mike Dean for his dissent. Spurs really struggling to settle.
CLOSE! After seeing a couple of shots blocked on the edge of the box, the ball is worked to Redmond whose attempt ends just inches wide of the far post. From the next attack, Rodriguez failed to make contact when picked out by Bertrand.
When both going for the ball, Vertonghen appeared to catch Rodriguez with his arm. Replays showed that the Belgian perhaps knew what he was doing, but thankfully for him referee Mike Dean clearly did not see the incident.
GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 1-1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (DELE ALLI)
From absolutely nowhere, Spurs have drawn level on the South Coast. On his 50th Premier League appearance for the club, Dele Alli outjumped a wrong-footed Van Dijk, caught out by a deflection from the left-sided cross, to superbly nod his side level.
Spurs really had been second best up until that equaliser, failing to put together any sort of fluid moves and coming close to falling two behind through that previous Redmond strike. It will be interesting to see how things now pan out over the next 10 minutes.
So one attempt on target apiece, one goal apiece. Two superb headers - one from Van Dijk to open the scoring and a leveller from Dele Alli just short of 20 minutes later. Spurs now starting to get their foot on the ball a little more.
Tottenham certainly looking for more composed on the ball since their leveller, being allowed to knock it around in defence and work their way forward. Saints need to find their groove again, because there were playing very well in the opening 15 minutes.
No denying that momentum has now completely shifted in this match; Spurs being allowed to do what they do best in working the ball through midfield and into the attacking third thanks to their powerful midfielders. Their latest corner is cleared at the front post.
Spurs continuing to pass the ball around in the final third of the pitch, but Eriksen's shot from the edge of the box failed to trouble Forster. It did take a touch on its way through, however, for another Tottenham corner.
Puel surely cannot allow things to continue like this for too much longer. The Saints have just put together a decent attacking move, which was pretty much their first since Alli's leveller nearly 15 minutes ago.
Better from the hosts, as they are now the team in control and asking a few questions of that makeshift Tottenham backline. Just 6% of the ball has been in the Tottenham half over the past 15 minutes, highlighting just how much momentum has shifted.
Following that bright two-minute spell for the hosts, it has been all Tottenham once again. The Saints sitting further and further back as the half goes on, but the Lilywhites just cannot find a way in behind at the moment.
Not a lot has changed in the second quarter of this game - Tottenham being allowed to completely dominate possession, without testing Forster on a single occasion. Alli's shot ends high and wide and the Saints can breath again.
It is Puel who will be the happier of the two managers to hear that half-time whistle. Southampton started so brightly but they have faded more and more out of the game and are sitting exclusively in their own final third now.
BLOCK! A crucial block from Jose Fonte to deny Victor Wanyama a goal on his return to St Mary's. The Kenyan got the luck of the bounce but failed to convert from just five yards out, thwarted by Fonte's quick reactions.
Just the one minute of added time to come at St Mary's, which will please Puel at this points. Tottenham looking by far the more likely to add that potentially pivotal third goal of the evening as we approach the midway point.
HALF TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 1-1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
The half-time whistle sounds at St Mary's Stadium, meaning we remain locked at 1-1 at the midway point in proceedings. It was a tale of two headers on the South Coast in the opening quarter of the match, as Alli cancelled out Van Dijk's opener, but there has been little goalmouth action other than that so far.
Southampton were ahead with just 69 seconds on the clock, capitalising from a free kick conceded by returning midfielder Victor Wanyama in a decent crossing position. James Ward-Prowse sent in a good delivery, which Virgil van Dijk got to ahead of Eric Dier - fielded at the back in the absence of sickness victim Toby Alderweireld - to score the top flight's fourth-fastest goal this season.
Tottenham were really struggling to deal with Southampton's high press as the opening quarter of the game transpired, with Jay Rodriguez getting in behind but scuffing his shot wide and Nathan Redmond also sending the ball narrowly wide of the far post. Momentum well and truly shifted 19 minutes in, however, when Dele Alli outjumped a wrong-footed Van Dijk, caught out by a deflection from a left-sided cross, to superbly nod his side level. From that point on the visitors dominated the first half, but failed to test Fraser Forster between the sticks.
The closest the Lilywhites came to a second prior to the interval saw Wanyama beat two men inside the box, only for his eventual shot towards goal to be superbly blocked by Jose Fonte just a few yards out. Still delicately poised then as we prepare for the second half, but will either manager make a change at the break?
SOUTHAMPTON XI: Taylor, Yoshida, Long, Tadic, Martina, Reed, Hojbjerg
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR XI: Vorm, Davies, Wimmer, Winks, Nkoudou, Son, Janssen
RESTART! We are back up and running at St Mary's Stadium! No changes made by either manager at the break, with both clearly happy enough at this stage, so it is as you were for the next 15 minutes or so.
Spurs ended the first half with 66% of the possession, which is looking at though will remain a constant figure if the opening stages of this half are anything to go by. Kane barely had a touch, so they need to get him on the ball.
A very sloppy start to this second period, with neither side being able to really string together any passes. Wanyama has just gone in with a strong challenge near the halfway line, which Mike Dean will likely revisit having played advantage.
Referee Mike Dean decides against booking Wanyama for that crunching challenge on Davis, which is probably the right decision on reflection. The Kenyan is one yellow away from an automatic one-match suspension.
GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 1-2 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (HARRY KANE)
His had just 17 touches of the ball in the first half and has also been on the periphery over the last 10 minutes, but Harry Kane has headed in the third goal of the game to get himself into double figures for the season. A corner from the right was superbly met by the Englishman, who nodded into the back of the net.
YELLOW CARD! Half a chance for the Saints to make an immediate response, as a free kick is met by Fonte who could only head over the bar. Walker was then late with a challenge to earn himself a yellow - number five of the campaign, so a suspension awaits.
PENALTY TO TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR! Spurs have stepped things up since edging themselves ahead and, after Redmond tugged back on Alli's shirt inside the area, referee Mike Dean pointed to the spot. Also a straight red for the guilty party!
PENALTY MISSED! We have just witnessed one of the all-time great Premier League penalty misses. Harry Kane, on a high after his earlier goal, blasts the ball somewhere close to Row Z - and I'm not even exaggerating there!
So no killer third goal for Spurs, but their opponents are now down to 10 men. A harsh decision on the face of it, but it was a deliberate foul so the 'double-jeopardy' rule does not come into play. How costly could Kane's howler prove to be?
YELLOW CARD! Danny Rose joins fellow full-back Kyle Walker in earning a yellow for shoving his opponent off the pitch. The free kick was a dangerous one, which Fonte headed across goal for a Spurs player to clear.
Southampton really should have been down and out at this stage, yet that Kane penalty miss has given them some hope. Down to 10 men they may be, but their supporters are now fully behind them as we enter the final 25 minutes or so.
SAVE! I make this the first save of the evening from either keeper, with all three previous attempts on target ending in the back of the net. The space opened up for Wanyama to take on the shot, which Forster helped over the bar.
Spurs have looked comfortable since that drama of 10 minutes ago, but Pochettino will be feeling a tad nervous if things remain like this in the closing stages. The 10 men of Southampton just require one chance to draw themselves level.
OFF THE BAR! Spurs within inches of sealing a first Premier League away win in six; Christian Eriksen driving the ball back off the frame of the goal from 12 yards out. A thunderous shot which has left the crossbar shaking.
SOUTHAMPTON SUBS! It has taken until the final quarter of the contest, but we finally have some changes. Hojbjerg, Tadic and Long are all on in a triple change for the hosts, replacing Davis, Boufal and Rodriguez.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUB! Rose drills a shot wide of the target at the back post and Eriksen sees his attempt blocked by Van Dijk in front of goal. In between those efforts, Son was brought on for Sissoko in Tottenham's first change.
Fonte with a real bad challenge on Rose, which ultimately goes unpunished by referee Mike Dean. Southampton almost had a chance when the ball was gifted to Hojbjerg, but he passed it straight back to Lloris instead of picking out a half-empty net.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUB! Harry Winks is on for Dembele now, with just 10 minutes of this match left to play. It is more tense than it should be due to Spurs missing a penalty in the aftermath of Redmond's red card.
It will be a real sickener for those travelling Spurs fans if they do somehow throw this one away at St Mary's, but they are in for an anxious finale because they are struggling to create any real chances at the moment.
GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 1-3 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (SON HEUNG-MIN)
That should do it! A fine goal to wrap things up, as substitute Son gets on the ended of Eriksen's deflected through-ball and calmly slots past Forster to make it 3-1. Spurs now within a point of fourth-placed Arsenal.
GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 1-4 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (DELE ALLI)
Alli, the man who started this revival, puts the icing on the cake with an equally-calm finish past the reach of England teammate Forster. A second home defeat under Claude Puel a certainty now, but the big question is just how many Spurs will score.
YELLOW CARDS! Shane Long and Jan Vertonghen both shown late yellows at St Mary's, meaning that the latter will join Walker in missing the meeting with Watford on New Year's Day. Three minutes of added time to come here.
Spurs on the attack looking for a fifth, but it looks like they will have to settle for just the four at a ground where teams have found it hard to score in recent weeks. Three clean sheets on the bounce prior to this one, remember!
FULL TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 1-4 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Referee Mike Dean blows his whistle for full time, bringing a close to a game that Tottenham Hotspur ran away win in the end despite starting so poorly. Southampton were ahead inside 69 seconds and perhaps should have added a second, but Spurs hit back in style by scoring four unanswered goals against their 10-man opponents to close back to within a point of the top four.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at St Mary's Stadium. A full on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while reaction from the South Coast will also be available over the next hour or so. Thanks for joining!
