Spurs scorer:-
Eriksen, 40

Attendance:- 35,564

Referee:- Mike Jones
Assistants:- A. Halliday & A. Nunn
Fourth official:- D. Whitestone

Teams:-
Spurs (4-2-3-1):- Lloris; Naughton (sub Dier, 32), Kaboul ( Capt.), Vertonghen, Rose; Capoue, Mason; Lamela (sub Kane, 90), Eriksen (sub Dembele, 82), Chadli; Adebayor

Subs not used:- Vorm; Fazio; Townsend; Soldado

Booked:- Kaboul ( alleged foul on Mane), Lamela (foul on Bertrand)

Southampton (4-2-3-1):- Forster; Clyne, Fonte ( Capt.), Alderweireld, Bertrand; Wanyama (sub Long, 76), S. Davis; Tadic, Schneiderlin, Mane; Pelle

Subs not used:- K. Davis; Gardos, Cork, Mayuka, Reed, Targett

Booked:- Tadic (foul on Rose

Spurs (and Pochettino) gain important win

On a day when, had the result gone the wrong way, Mauricio Pochettino could have been 8 points behind the team he left for Spurs, Christian Eriksen secured the points for the home team with his 40th minute goal. Nacer Chadli might have made the result more secure soon after with a shot which had beaten Forster in the "Saints'" goal, but which rebounded off the far post.

It was a tough game, and Spurs had plenty of defending to do, with Kaboul and Vertonghen resilient, and of course, Hugo Lloris making a couple of crucial saves. Mane also missed a sitter with 7 minutes of normal time remaining.

Spurs started with the same line-up as that which faced Arsenal last week. This was a great fillip for Ryan Mason, who made his full home debut. Mason didn't let the side down either.

There was almost a full house today, and the match was played in bright sunshine, which might be the reason Spurs chose to kick off towards the Paxton Road end, with Hugo Lloris in the shade for the first half. By the time we got to the second half, the sun had faded enough to make goal-keeping more comfortable in the early kick-off. The match was being played at the same time as the Chelsea-Arsenal match on the other side of London.

I have to admit being at a slight disadvantage, as I have lost some of my notes, but, to be honest, I don't think they recorded too much significant action.

Danny Rose won an early corner on the left, which was taken by Lamela, and headed towards the back post by Jan Vertonghen. Bertrand was in position to comfortably head clear off the line.

Southampton kept it tight in their own half, but were dangerous on the break, with good balls towards the corners finding space beyond our full backs. Pelle (pronounced Peller remember) reached one of these passes, and crossed, where Mane's shot was well blocked by Kyle Naughton, currently holding the right back position as first choice ahead of Eric Dier.

After 26 minutes, Eric Lamela caused excitement with a great shot from about 20 yards, which goalkeeper Forster tipped around he post. The ball might even have shaved the post too.

Kyle Naughton won the ball but not the tackle, as he was heavily challenged by Ryan Bertrand. Naughton never recovered from the foul, and had to be replaced by Eric Dier. Dier added to the resilience being shown by the Spurs centre-backs, and looked handy going forward too.

Spurs had a good spell in the closing stages of the first half of a game that rarely excited. Eriksen had already caused Forster to push a good shot around the corner, before giving us that 40th minute lead. Adebayor had done well to carry the ball down the left-hand side, passing inside to Chadli, who touched the ball back to Eriksen, who made himself a little room for the right foot shot that beat Forster just inside his right post.

The chance for Chadli came three minutes later, after another attack from the left. Chadli's shot had Forster totally beaten, and was hit across goal at the far post with so much power that when it rebounded soundly off the middle of the post, the ball ran clear. That was a lucky escape for The Saints.

In first half added time, Tadic hit a good free kick, which took a deflection, and had Lloris diving to his left to push the ball around the corner.

Referee Mike Jones has not taken charge of a Spurs game since March 2013, and he wasn't a favourite today. He most certainly was not a "homer", and when he booked Kaboul for what looked to the Spurs crowd to have been a fair shoulder barge, the crowd was baying its anger.

There was an exciting Spurs move from their own half, with Capoue at the back finding Lamela, who touched the ball back to Ryan Mason. Mason spread the play with a lovely pass to the left. Chadli was confronted with Bertrand, who came out with the ball.

Another break from the back started with Vertonghen's clearance, then continued through Lamela, Eriksen, and finally Chadli, whose shot was deflected. After a corner, Forster fumbled and Eriksen cross from the right, but the best Spurs could get out of the situation was a throw-in.

After 63 minutes, Lloris made a great save, diving to his left to prevent Wanyama's shot from hitting the net. Southampton had made good progress down their left flank on this occasion.

Adebayor went down in the box after 74 minutes, after a ball from Lamela. The referee was not having a penalty, but he didn't issue a card either.

There was another sharp Spurs move from the back, which started with Kaboul. Lamela, Eriksen and Adebayor were all involved, with Danny Rose making the final cross, which was cleared.

Mane missed that sitter from very close range with minutes remaining, after the ball from the left passed goal-side of the Spurs defence.

Spurs managed to see out the closing minutes, and chose not to be too adventurous. Significantly, at the final whistle, the Spurs defence, plus Capoue and Chadli got into an emotional huddle to celebrate their resilience, and victory.

This was a very important win for Spurs and for Mauricio Pochettino. Spurs are in sixth place, and can now go to The Etihad stadium in Manchester with more confidence. They'll need even more resilience to come away from there with a result though!

· See the exclusive "Spursometer" and have your say regarding the performances of the team, individual players, manager and officials.

Follow @spursodyssey

· Squad numbers,appearances,bookings & goalscorers
· Read the preview for this game.
· All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats