THEY could not wait to get away from the place.
While Spurs still have a fair amount of work to do, they will now have one eye on a return to Wembley in the FA Cup.
Inspiration Son Heung-Min salutes his 87th minute penalty winner for SpursCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Angus Gunn has no chance as this Son Heung-min spot-kick makes it 3-2 to TottenhamCredit: Reuters
Danny Ings must have thought Southampton were on course for the FA Cup last 16 as he celebrates putting them 2-1 up with Nathan RedmondCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Certainly if they show the spirit and hard work displayed last night when everything seemed to be going against them while they also got a dollop of fortune with a winning penalty.
Jose Mourinho’s side looked to be heading out of the Cup when Danny Ings put Southampton ahead in the 72nd minute but within 15 minutes, all was well for the home fans. Lucas Moura and Son Heung-min both scoring to turn this game around.
Tottenham will expect to beat Norwich at home in the fifth round for a place in the quarter-finals and then they will be just one game away from a return to their former temporary home.
WHITE ELEPHANT
It would be foolish to say everything is suddenly okay at Spurs, even though they are six games unbeaten.
And you have to give credit to Southampton who played well and had to cope without James Ward-Prowse, who suffered a nasty knee injury after a tackle from Ryan Sessegnon.
But like the 2-0 win over Manchester CIty, Mourinho will be pleased his team found a way of winning, even though this is hardly sparkling football.
Right now, the atmosphere at White Hart Lane feels a bit dead. So Spurs desperately need a Cup run.
Son Heung-min is a study in concentration as he tucks away the spot-kick winnerCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Lucas Moura bagged this classy leveller for Spurs on 78 minutesCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Here we have an outstanding £1billion stadium, one of the best in the world, but in terms of atmosphere, there is something missing, even though there were 56,000 inside here last night.
The 17,500-capacity, single-tier stand behind the goal is a thing of beauty for those who hate boring concrete bowl of a stadium where all the stands look the same.
It would have been too much to expect an atmosphere like Dortmund’s Yellow Wall, but here, the White Wall currently feels like a white elephant.
But at least the fans came to life in the final few minutes.
Southampton star James Ward-Prowse needs oxygen after suffering gruesome gash to knee in Tottenham clash
Danny Ings rams Southampton 2-1 ahead at the peak of their controlCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Southampton hail Shane Long after he deservedly levelled on 34 minutesCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Shane Long is on hand to pouch the rebound as Southampton make it 1-1Credit: Getty Images – Getty
For long periods, Southampton played the better football. Nearly 6000 fans made the journey from the South Coast. They all paid £25 in contrast to the £10 season ticket holders from both clubs were charged for the first match.
Nathan Redmond, looking full of confidence, wandered into the home area without anyone bothering to tackle and Hugo Lloris got down low to push the ball away.
Tottenham’s three-man defence looked a bit suspect and the midfield seemed half asleep.
So even Morinho would have been surprised to see his team tear up the other end to score even though it was extremely fortunate.
Sessegnon provided some spark down the left and started a move which then left him with a sight on goal.
Harry Winks and Son Heung-min help Tanguy Ndombele celebrate after his shot was deflected in after 12 minutesCredit: Reuters
This firm shot from Tanguy Ndombele ricochets in off Southampton defender Jack Stephens for Spurs’ early breakthroughCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse grimaces in pain and needed oxygen after a tackle from Ryan Sessegnon, forcing him offCredit: EPA
Stephens delivered a fine, diving tackle and he then got to his feet to block the strike from Ndombele, only to divert the shot past a stranded Angus Gunn.
With this game being played an incredibly speed, Ings hammered an effort against the bar and Lloris spilled a bobbling effort from Ryan Bertrand
The French keeper got away with it once but he paid the price for making a similar save from Redmond. After some more impressive trickery from Boufal
He once again pushed the ball away but not wide enough – and Shane Long was presented with the easiest of chances.
The injury to Ward-Prowse took the wind out of Southampton’s sails. After lengthy treatment, he was taken off on a stretcher with Ings running over to the tunnel to check on his team-mate before play restarted and it looked a nasty cut.
Pierre-Emile Hojberg and Boufal were both guilty of wasting chances for Saints in the second half, along with Moura at the other end for Tottenham.
But sensing his team was still not causing enough problems, Mourinho brought on Gedson Fernandes for Jan Vertonghen and switched to a back four.
Making only his fourth appearance after joining on loan from Benfica, Fernandes added some zip and then Dele Alli – having recovered from Raheem Sterling tackle on Sunday – was introduced for Ndombele.
The Frenchman had done okay but the substitution was not a surprise as Mourinho claims the player is not yet capable of lasting 90 minutes.
FURIOUS
Mourinho will be absolutely furious that his team conceded when they lost possession from an attack.
Redmond delivered a truly outstanding 50-yard run, danced past three Tottenham players and then set up Ings who was given too much space by Japhet Tanganga. He picked his spot past Lloris for goal number 17.
No sooner were Southampton looking in control then, then they lost concentration defensively and Moura levelled.
He showed confidence in moving the ball forward, played a one-two with Alli and then delivered a decent shot into the corner from just inside the area.
With just over four minutes left, Heung-Min Son was upended after minimal contact from Gunn and the South Korean buried his spot-kick.
There is no doubt Spurs miss Harry Kane and he will not be back until April. But, maybe, Spurs will still be in the FA Cup.
It would be typical Mourinho to conjure something like this.
Son Heung-min rejoices with team-mates after his clincherCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
