Southampton sink Spurs to blow top four race wide open

JAMES Ward-Prowse’s brilliant second-half free-kick saw Southampton come from behind to beat Tottenham 2-1 at St Mary’s Stadium in the Premier League.

With manager Mauricio Pochettino serving the first of a two-game touchline ban, Harry Kane gave Tottenham a deserved first-half lead with the returning Dele Alli providing the assist but, while Spurs dominated for large swathes of the first period, they could not add to their advantage.

And the London club would rue their inability to add a second when, after a sustained period of pressure for Ralph Hasenhüttl’s men, Yan Valery capitalised on some hesitant defending to draw the home side level with 76 minutes gone.

Things would get worse for five minutes later when Ward-Prowse dispatched an unstoppable free-kick past Hugo Lloris to secure the Saints the win, and deal Tottenham’s pursuit of Champions League football a blow.

The North London club remain in third on 61 points.

– Eurosport