Tottenham Hotspur consolidated their second position in the English Premier League on Sunday, ending the day two points ahead of Manchester City in third.
The three points came courtesy of a 2-1 win at home to Claude Puel’s Southampton, a hard fought encounter that required determination and desire to get through.
Goals from Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli in the first half gave them an insurmountable lead and although Saints came back into the game in the second half, with a goal from James Ward-Prowse, Mauricio Pochettino’s men held on for a big win.
They head into the last international break of the season in great health and must be considered favourites to finish best of the rest behind Chelsea.
Spurs are the only team in the top-flight to have not been defeated at home this season.
One of the most keenly contested encounters of the entire weekend, it was an engrossing watch from start to finished.
Here are FIVE photos that tell the story of the match…
On their way
Christian Eriksen got the Spurs show on the road with a thumping effort past Fraser Forster in the 14th minute of the match. A low, powerful, accurate dig, it gave the England goalkeeper no chance and ensured that supporters wouldn’t have to wait long to find out whether their team could get some goals in the absence of talismanic striker Harry Kane.
Eriksen is in unbelievable form, assisting 7 and scoring 3 in his his last 6 games. That’s the kind of contribution Spurs need right now if they’re to finish second.
The cushion
Dele Alli was vibrant throughout the match and he took responsibility to step up and slot home a penalty half an hour into the game after being felled in the box by Steven Davis.
He now has 17 goals for the season, a fantastic return for a man who is not an out and out striker and at 20 years old is likely still learning his trade as a footballer at the top level.
His potential is limitless and Spurs fans are rubbing their hands already thinking about how good he can be next season. Can he be good enough to inspire them to a hallowed Premier League title?
A big blow
Southampton took a double body blow around the half hour mark with Manolo Gabbiadini having to be substituted shortly before Dele Alli’s penalty. With 6 goals in his first 4 Southampton matches, the Italian striker has certainly made an impression and Southampton’s goal threat just isn’t the same without him.
They did well to get a goal back in the second half but with Gabbiadini on the pitch they may have been able to snatch another given his ability to create space and finish from tight angles in the box.
Nervous times
James Ward-Prowse goes into his England duty this coming week with the perfect confidence booster after slotting hope Ryan Bertrand’s cross to give Southampton a slither of hope in the match. It was a rare lapse in concentration from the Spurs defence and something that wouldn’t be repeated in the game again.
Spurs defended well for the most part from that point on, knowing how big the three points were in the context of their season with Man City and Liverpool playing each other later in the day.
That desire to win has been a hallmark of Spurs this season, they are no pushovers anymore and even under pressure are more often than not able to hold firm.
Unstoppable at home
Spurs are now the only side in the Premier League to remain undefeated at home, winning their 10th successive home league match with the three points. That’s their longest winning stretch at home since 1987, proving that this is the best Tottenham side in a generation.
Previously winning only three of their nine matches without Harry Kane this season, Mauricio Pochettino’s men also proved they aren’t a one man team ready to roll over without their main man.
Spurs are up for the fight and Chelsea aside have been the most impressive team this season by far.
