Tim Sherwood picked up a first win after taking charge of Tottenham Hotspurs as they beat Southampton 3-2 in an entertaining Premier League clash at St Mary’s Stadium.
The first shot on target fell to Rickie Lambert, after the England striker was fouled by Spurs skipper Michael Dawson.
Lambert then stepped up to take the 35 yard free-kick and curled his effort around the wall but safely into the arms of Tottenham’s goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
The hosts started to grow in confidence and piled on early pressure on their opponents, before grabbing the games opener with 13 minutes on the clock.
Daniel Fox broke on the wing for the home side before cutting in and feeding Southampton skipper Adam Lallana; the recently capped England international then produced a wonderful turn before firing home into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 in favour of Mauricio Pochettino’s men.
Spurs however did not have to wait long before levelling matters when Emmanuel Adebayor got an outstretched leg to strike partner Roberto Soldado’s cross and made it 1-1 with 25 minutes played.
The Londoners then took the lead with a fortunate own goal as Saints’ defender Jos Hooiveld turned a Danny Rose cross into his own goal making it 2-1 to Spurs.
Southampton responded almost immediately when they equalised just over five minutes later through Lambert, who slotted into an empty net after Lallana had played him in.
Former Togo striker Adebayor then put caretaker manager Tim Sherwood’s men back in the driving seat as he grabbed his second goal of the game, after a smart turn and finish in the 64th minute to make it 3-2 to Spurs in this entertaining fixture.
Soldado wasted a handful of chances as the game came to an end and Southampton piled on the pressure on Spurs in the final period of the game but they could not find an equaliser.