Southampton 2-3 Spurs: Adebayor Brace Aids Tottenham Turnaround

Goals in either half from Emmanuel Adebayor helped Tottenham Hotspur put a bad week behind them with an absorbing 3-2 victory at Southampton. The hosts had led through Adam Lallana at St Mary's, but Adebayor cancelled out that opener before Jos Hooiveld put through his own net to give Spurs the lead. Rickie Lambert then levelled for the Saints, but Adebayor struck again as Tottenham caretaker Tim Sherwood won his first game in charge. Southampton went ahead on 12 minutes through skipper Lallana after a fluid team move. Danny Fox teed him up for a precise shot following a clever turn to find the bottom corner off the post. It all started Jay Rodriguez later curled over as the hosts almost punished Spurs fullback Danny Rose for giving the ball away. Tottenham then quickly levelled as Roberto Soldado was set away by a long ball and Adebayor volleyed in his fabulous cross from close range. Gylfi Sigurdsson saw a shot in the box deflected behind after half an hour, so both sides went in level. Visitors Hotspur lost midfield powerhouse Mousa Dembele to injury early in the second half. Sherwood threw on academy graduate Nabil Bentaleb for his debut. Less than ten minutes after the break Tottenham completed the turnaround. A slick move down the left saw Soldado, Christian Eriksen and Rose all involved. The left back crossed and Dutch Saints defender Hooiveld turned into his own net. Spurs' lead barely lasted five minutes, however, as Lallana was set away on the right and cutback for an unmarked Lambert to tap in. Hugo Lloris came off his line, but misjudged. Paulo Gazzaniga then saved at close quarters from Adebayor. Another five minutes later, Southampton fell behind again as Adebayor wriggled through the home defence and slotted home. Pochettino's team were undone by a long throw here. Soldado then spurned three openings to extend Tottenham's lead. Lloris later spread himself well to snuff out danger from bright Saints spark Lallana. Home sub Sam Gallagher worked the Spurs stopper late on. Lambert then volleyed into the ground and over from a half-cleared corner in stoppage time. Three points Hotspur and Sherwood lifts the team to seventh and boosts the caretaker's prospects of landing the job permanently. Southampton meanwhile may see sharks circling to land Lallana in January.