Southampton vs Tottenham match report: Harry Kane and Dele Alli lift Spurs above United into top four

Southampton 0 Tottenham 2

Harry Kane celebrates scoring Tottenham's first goal against Southampton (Getty Images)

The partnership between Delle Alli and Harry Kane, an encouraging one for England as a European Championship year approaches, holds even greater promise for Tottenham in the coming months.

The victory they conjured between them yesterday pushed their club into the top four for the first time this season, opening up the possibility of something more exciting than Europa League football next August.

As well as being involved in both goals, Alli demonstrated his versatility in regularly switching with Mousa Dembélé and then doing a stint on the left – all before half-time. In the second half he stayed further forward, keeping a watchful eye on Victor Wanyama while springing the few counter-attacks Spurs mustered.

Not that they were in any great danger of losing the half-time lead as Southampton’s Cockney Christmas got off to a bad start. With Arsenal and West Ham up next it could get worse. Five games have now yielded a single point and only two goals. Two fine saves by Hugo Lloris, each low down and one-handed, were still necessary but the second did not come until the last minute of what must have been one of the least eventful second halves in the Premier League this season.

Southampton’s defending was lamentable for each goal and left their manager Ronald Koeman as disgruntled as anyone could remember. “We need to change our mentality, we are too nice,” he said. “If we don’t change, we will continue struggling. I’m angry about how they scored the first goal. We can’t accept that.”

Dele Alli scores Tottenham's second to round out the victory (Getty Images)

Although Alli did well in nudging the ball forward when heavily tackled, Kane (left) had three defenders around him, of whom two were immediately left behind and the third, Virgil can Dyke, produced the feeblest of challenges. The England striker was allowed to go on unhindered and side-foot in his 11th goal of the season.

Three minutes later he was unquestionably in an offside position as the adventurous Kyle Walker crossed beyond him, but a glance at the assistant referee confirmed that he was deemed not to be interfering as the ball reached the unmarked Alli at the far post, who was able to tap in while right-back Cedric Soares stood and watched.

Teams

Southampton: (4-4-1-1): Gazzaniga; Cedric, Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand; Davis (Long, 64), Wanyama, Clasie (Ward-Prowse, 78), Tadic (Juanmi, 64); Mane; Pelle.

Tottenham: (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Alli (Carroll, 78); Lamela, Dembélé, Eriksen (Chadli, 85); Kane (Son, 89).

Referee: Kevin Friend.

Man of match: Alli (Tottenham).

Match rating: 5/10