SON HEUNG-MIN scored a late penalty to get Ryan Mason’s reign as interim Spurs boss off to a winning start – after Ings had threatened to go from bad to worse for the North Londoners.
But Tottenham’s luck looked like it might be changing for the better after their 90th minute spot kick.
Ref David Coote initially awarded a free kick for Moussa Djenepo’s lunge on Spurs sub Harry Winks right on the edge of the box.
But the decision was upgraded to a penalty after VAR Jon Moss correctly noticed it took place right on the line.
Son stepped up to convert the pen for his 20th goal of the season to earn Mason a win in his first game in charge and keep Tottenham’s top four hopes very much alive.
It was the first time they had come from being behind at half time to win a game this season – as they trailed 1-0 to Danny Ings’ opener.
It was no more than Saints deserved as they dominated the first half.
In fact, they would have led at the break by a greater margin had Spurs keeper and captain Hugo Lloris not pulled off a couple of magnificent saves.
Lloris was one of four players in the Tottenham starting line-up to have played in Mason’s last game for the club
Mason’s last game for the club – a 5-1 thrashing at Newcastle on the final day of the 2015-16 campaign.
That highlights the lack of investment in the squad at Spurs in the last five years and one of the many reasons why they have not kicked on as much as they should have.
Having been promoted from his duties coaching the club’s Under-23s following Jose Mourinho’s sensational sacking on Monday, Mason, 29 became the first Premier League manager under 30.
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He had said before the game he wanted to bring in a hint of his former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino.
And in the first half he did just that – although it was the Poch performances which stank the place out in the final few months of his reign and led to him being sacked and replaced by Mourinho in November 2017.
But you have to give the rookie credit for the way Spurs hit back in the second half.
He will now be hoping they can follow this up in Sunday’s Carabao Cup Final against Manchester City at Wembley.
Mason, who made four changes to Mourinho’s starting line-up against Everton last Friday, must have wondered what he had let himself in for when Lloris was forced into a tremendous double save to deny Mohammed Salisu header and Che Adams with less than two minutes on the clock.
The skipper then had to smother a shot from ex-Spur Kyle Walker-Peters.
So it was no surprise when Ings headed home a James Ward-Prowse corner in the 30th minute for his 100th career goal.
The striker was said to be a target for Mourinho and Spurs could have done with him as they struggled without Harry Kane before their second-half comeback.
That was inspired by Gareth Bale who equalised with a fine curled finish on the hour mark.
And as the Wales superstar celebrated his second-half equaliser by poking his tongue you could not but wonder if that was aimed at Mourinho.
Son then had a ‘goal’ ruled out by VAR before the technology awarded him the penalty for the winner.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
