Harry Kane nets 99th league goal as Spurs are held by Southampton
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ByEurosport
Updated 21/01/2018 at 18:25 GMT
Premier League, St Mary's Stadium - Southampton (Sanchez OG 15') 1 Tottenham 1 (Kane 18')
Harry Kane celebrates against Southampton.
Image credit: Eurosport
Harry Kane scored his 99th Premier League goal as Tottenham were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation strugglers Southampton on a gloomy day at St Mary's Stadium.
Southampton had not won in 10 matches and Saturday's results saw them drop into the relegation zone, but the hosts made a bright start to the match and their positive display was rewarded with an opener on 15 minutes when Davinson Sanchez inadvertently turned in Ryan Bertrand’s cross.
Their lead lasted only 197 seconds however as Kane was left unmarked at a corner and the England international headed home for his 99th league goal.
Southampton had chances to restore their lead, but Jack Stephens headed over from a few yards out while 17-year-old debutant Michael Obafemi spurned a chance to celebrate a fairytale moment when he sliced wide from a decent position.
This week marks Mauricio Pochettino’s fifth anniversary in Premier League football, but the Argentine was unable to celebrate a victory on the ground where it all began as his team struggled to find their range.
Kane, the Premier League's top goalscorer, missed an obvious chance to grab his century goal as he dragged a shot wide from a tight angle in the dying chances.
Tottenham had been hoping to leapfrog Liverpool into fourth, but are two points behind Jurgen Klopp's side after this draw.
Spurs are three ahead of sixth-placed Arsenal after their 4-1 drubbing of Crystal Palace on Saturday, while Southampton remain 18th.
TALKING POINT - Saints show signs of improvement
A horrid run of results has dragged Southampton into the bottom three but they came out fighting with a point to prove to their former boss. It is five years since Pochettino took the reins at St Mary’s and the current side played some of the bright, attacking football which the Argentine would have demanded when he was in charge.
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Harry Kane pulls shot wide of goal late on.
Image credit: Eurosport
If they can perform like this from until they end of the season then Southampton will have every chance of beating the drop.
Meanwhile, Spurs lost some ground on the top four and they could be five points behind fourth-placed Liverpool if the Reds record victory at rock-bottom Swansea on Monday evening.
MAN OF THE MATCH - James Ward-Prowse (Southampton)
The dead-ball specialist provided a number of chances for his team mates but Southampton weren't clinical enough. His inch-perfect free-kick delivery ought to have brought about a goal, but somehow Stephens headed wide.
PLAYER RATINGS
Southampton: McCarthy 8, Soares 6, Stephens 6, Hoedt 7, Bertrand 7, Hojberg 7, Romeu 7, Ward-Prowse 8, Tadic 8, Lemina 6, Gabbiadini 6. Subs: Davis 5, Boufal 5, Obafemi 5.
Tottenham: Vorm 7, Aurier 6, Sanchez 6, Vertonghen 8, Davies 7, Dier 7, Dembele 7, Sissoko 6, Son 6, Alli 5, Kane 7. Subs: Trippier 5, Lamela 5, Wanyama N/A.
KEY MOMENTS
- 15’ - GOAL! Southampton 1-0 Spurs (Sanchez OG, 15) Plucky Saints take the lead! Tadic feeds Bertrand on the overlap, he sticks it into the penalty area and Sanchez inadvertently slides it into his own net. Southampton deserve a little luck for their positive start.
- 16’ - OFF THE POST! Almost an immediate response from Spurs! The hosts fail to clear a corner, it ends up at the feet of Dier who rattles the post with his shot.
- 18’ - GOAL! Southampton 1-1 Spurs (Kane) - Tottenham have their equaliser, and who else but Harry Kane? He's left unmarked, four yards out, to head home from Davies' corner. Dreadful defending, but Spurs and Kane won't care. It's 99 goals for the England striker in the Premier League.
- 36’ - WIDE! Ward-Prowse's cross is wonderful as he picks out Stephens who is totally unmarked only a few yards out, but somehow he heads it wide! A glorious opportunity for Southampton, but it fell to the wrong man.
- 86’ - CHANCE! Almost a fairytale moment for youngster Obafemi! He gets on the end of Tadic's cross but slices his first-time effort well wide of goal.
- 90’ - WIDE! Spurs spread the ball wide to Kane, but he drags his shot wide of goal from a tight angle. Conditions may have had a part to play but he still ought to have scored!
KEY STATS
- Southampton have now lost nine points from leading positions at St Mary’s this season; more than any other Premier League side on home soil.
- Harry Kane has scored nine goals in his last five starts in the Premier League, with all nine coming from inside the box.
- There were just 197 seconds between Southampton’s opener and Harry Kane’s equaliser for Tottenham.
- Southampton have beaten Tottenham just once in their last 12 Premier League meetings (D2, L9). That was a 2-1 win at White Hart Lane in May 2016.
- Spurs are unbeaten in six games at the Saint Mary's Stadium (W4, D2).
- Southampton have gone 11 Premier League games without a win (D6, L5), their longest streak without a victory since January 2005.
- Steven Davis made his 300th Premier League appearance.
- Mauricio Pochettino is yet to lose a Premier League game at St. Mary's since he left Southampton at the end of the 2013-14 season, winning one and drawing three.
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