Southampton vs. Tottenham: Score, Grades, Reaction from Premier League, Tottenham twice came from behind on Saturday to maintain their one-point advantage over Southampton in the chase for European football next season.
Graziano Pelle saw his two goals cancelled out by Erik Lamela and Nacer Chadli as Mauricio Pochettino grabbed a point in a 2-2 draw on his return to his former club.
The Saints, however, should have been celebrating victory after three misses in front of goal from experienced midfielder Steven Davis. Both sides suffered injury concerns before the end, with Ben Davies carried off with a shoulder problem, while Morgan Schneiderlin limped off through a knee injury after both men fell awkwardly in separate incidents.
The headline news for Tottenham fans before the game was the return of Hugo Lloris to replace Michel Vorm in goal. There were also recalls for Davies and Ryan Mason.
James Ward-Prowse replaced Dusan Tadic in the only change for Southampton, as Nathaniel Clyne made his 100th appearance for the Saints. Toby Alderweireld also played despite injuring his shoulder at Stoke last weekend.Spurs head coach Mauricio Pochettino received some early abuse from the home fans on his first return to St Mary's Stadium since leaving the club last year. In contrast, Southampton fans had decreed the day to be "Ronald Koeman Day" in recognition of their current manager's achievements this season.
There was little goalmouth action to entertain the fans in the opening period of the game before Ryan Bertrand sent over a low cross into the six-yard area, but there were no Saints takers.
Jan Vertonghen produced a fine tackle in the 20th minute as Sadio Mane threatened to make the most of a long ball over the top from Jose Fonte.
Lloris was called into action in the 25th minute. A Ward-Prowse corner found Schneiderlin on the edge of the six-yard box, and the Spurs goalkeeper got down low to his left to deny his France international team-mate.
In the 29th minute, Southampton made the breakthrough. After Mane's chance had appeared to have lost threat, Mason slipped on the ball to allow Pelle to break into the area, and the Italian pushed the ball under Lloris after Davies had dithered.Vertonghen was cautioned harshly for a foul on Ward-Prowse before Davies also earned a caution for an illegal challenge on the same Southampton player.
More great play from Bertrand set up Davis inside the Tottenham area, but the midfielder misjudged his strike and side-footed well wide of goal.
Two minutes before the interval and against the run of play, Spurs levelled.
After good play between Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane, an Eric Dier cross was glanced on by the Spurs striker and Lamela turned it home, although television replays suggested the ball struck the Tottenham man's arm.
Mason did well in the 50th minute to dispossess Mane as he prepared to fire on Lloris' goal after a beautiful first touch.
Davis pounced on a misplaced Federico Fazio pass to set himself up for a shot but squandered another opportunity by sending the ball well wide. The experienced Saints midfielder was again found wanting in front of goal after Pelle back-heeled a Mane ball into his path, and the Northern Ireland international sent his effort over the crossbar.
Southampton made their first change in the 62nd minute as Shane Long replaced the impressive Ward-Prowse. The substitute provided the assist as the home side retook the lead in the 65th minute.
Mane seized Davies' poorly headed clearance, and he found Long on the right flank. The former Hull man's cross was inch-perfect for Pelle to rise and head home beyond Lloris from close range.Chadli had been one of Tottenham's better performers on the day, and the Belgium international collected a smart Dier pass into the channel to slide the ball past Kelvin Davis to level once more for Spurs.
There was concern for Spurs in the 73rd minute as Davies fell awkwardly on the ball inside his own area. The defender needed treatment on the field before being carried off.Moussa Dembele replaced Chadli in the 83rd minute after Davis had been swapped for Eljilo Elia in the midfield by Koeman. Schneiderlin was then taken off after slipping on the turf and appearing to damage his knee in the process, replaced by Harrison Reed.
The match finished off with Fonte just glancing a header over the crossbar, leaving both clubs to continue the fight for a Europa League berth elsewhere for the remainder of the season.
The Saints, however, should have been celebrating victory after three misses in front of goal from experienced midfielder Steven Davis. Both sides suffered injury concerns before the end, with Ben Davies carried off with a shoulder problem, while Morgan Schneiderlin limped off through a knee injury after both men fell awkwardly in separate incidents.The headline news for Tottenham fans before the game was the return of Hugo Lloris to replace Michel Vorm in goal. There were also recalls for Davies and Ryan Mason.
James Ward-Prowse replaced Dusan Tadic in the only change for Southampton, as Nathaniel Clyne made his 100th appearance for the Saints. Toby Alderweireld also played despite injuring his shoulder at Stoke last weekend.Spurs head coach Mauricio Pochettino received some early abuse from the home fans on his first return to St Mary's Stadium since leaving the club last year. In contrast, Southampton fans had decreed the day to be "Ronald Koeman Day" in recognition of their current manager's achievements this season.
There was little goalmouth action to entertain the fans in the opening period of the game before Ryan Bertrand sent over a low cross into the six-yard area, but there were no Saints takers.
Jan Vertonghen produced a fine tackle in the 20th minute as Sadio Mane threatened to make the most of a long ball over the top from Jose Fonte.
Lloris was called into action in the 25th minute. A Ward-Prowse corner found Schneiderlin on the edge of the six-yard box, and the Spurs goalkeeper got down low to his left to deny his France international team-mate.
In the 29th minute, Southampton made the breakthrough. After Mane's chance had appeared to have lost threat, Mason slipped on the ball to allow Pelle to break into the area, and the Italian pushed the ball under Lloris after Davies had dithered.Vertonghen was cautioned harshly for a foul on Ward-Prowse before Davies also earned a caution for an illegal challenge on the same Southampton player.
More great play from Bertrand set up Davis inside the Tottenham area, but the midfielder misjudged his strike and side-footed well wide of goal.
Two minutes before the interval and against the run of play, Spurs levelled.
After good play between Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane, an Eric Dier cross was glanced on by the Spurs striker and Lamela turned it home, although television replays suggested the ball struck the Tottenham man's arm.
Mason did well in the 50th minute to dispossess Mane as he prepared to fire on Lloris' goal after a beautiful first touch.
Davis pounced on a misplaced Federico Fazio pass to set himself up for a shot but squandered another opportunity by sending the ball well wide. The experienced Saints midfielder was again found wanting in front of goal after Pelle back-heeled a Mane ball into his path, and the Northern Ireland international sent his effort over the crossbar.
Southampton made their first change in the 62nd minute as Shane Long replaced the impressive Ward-Prowse. The substitute provided the assist as the home side retook the lead in the 65th minute.
Mane seized Davies' poorly headed clearance, and he found Long on the right flank. The former Hull man's cross was inch-perfect for Pelle to rise and head home beyond Lloris from close range.Chadli had been one of Tottenham's better performers on the day, and the Belgium international collected a smart Dier pass into the channel to slide the ball past Kelvin Davis to level once more for Spurs.
There was concern for Spurs in the 73rd minute as Davies fell awkwardly on the ball inside his own area. The defender needed treatment on the field before being carried off.Moussa Dembele replaced Chadli in the 83rd minute after Davis had been swapped for Eljilo Elia in the midfield by Koeman. Schneiderlin was then taken off after slipping on the turf and appearing to damage his knee in the process, replaced by Harrison Reed.
The match finished off with Fonte just glancing a header over the crossbar, leaving both clubs to continue the fight for a Europa League berth elsewhere for the remainder of the season.
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