Tottenham 2-1 Southampton: Spurs survive over an hour with 10 men to beat Saints

Tottenham overcame Serge Aurier's first-half red card and a comical Hugo Lloris error to grind out a brave 2-1 win over Southampton.

After the embarrassing midweek Carabao Cup defeat to Colchester, Mauricio Pochettino called in his programme notes for everyone associated with the club to "remain calm" while they navigate through a tricky spell.

• Premier League table
• Premier League fixtures
• How to watch Premier League highlights
• Premier League reports and highlights

This was the response Pochettino desired as Spurs - already ahead through Tanguy Ndombele (24) - were forced to dig in when Aurier was dismissed for a second yellow card (31).

Lloris then gifted Danny Ings an equaliser when trying to dribble past him inside his own six-yard box (39) but Harry Kane finished off a flowing team move (43) to put the 10 men in front.

• Poch: Blame me, not Lloris

Southampton dominated the second period in terms of territory but a rock-solid rearguard display by Spurs, marshalled by Lloris, who redeemed himself from his early error with two world-class stops, was enough for an important three points.

"Don't blame Hugo, blame me, I demand him to play in this way," said Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino.

"He showed great mentality [in the second half] and that is why he is one of the best in the world."

How Tottenham were made to graft for a big win

Saints began the game as the only team in the top four levels of English football without a first-half goal and looked keen on ending that early on as Spurs were full of nerves in front of an expectant crowd.

Ings chipped an audacious effort over the crossbar to signal Southampton's intent before Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg tested Lloris with a curling effort that needed tipping around the post.

Heung-Min Son - playing almost as a left winger - was the catalyst for Spurs to grab some momentum in the game. Kane slipped at a vital moment inside the area on 20 minutes but four minutes later the net would bulge, thanks to Son's industry down the flank.

He forced the Saints back line deeper with a surging run and shifted a ball back for Ndombele to strike a powerful left-footed effort past Angus Gunn via a slight deflection.

Usually, an early goal in a fixture of this nature would send Spurs onto a comfortable victory, but they imploded just before the break to allow Saints back in.

• How the teams lined up

Aurier - already booked for a lunge on Sofiane Boufal - was caught napping by Ryan Bertrand, who sprinted clear in behind him and cleverly hit the ground under contact. Referee Graham Scott was quick on the scene to give the Ivorian his marching orders.

Lloris then made Spurs' task even harder with a moment of pure madness inside his six-yard box. Only he will know why he decided to try and dribble past Ings near his goal-line.

The Southampton striker gleefully accepted what will probably be the easiest and most farcical Premier League goal he will ever score.

A crazy 15-minute period before the break ended with Kane hauling his team back into the lead despite the one-man disadvantage. A flowing move involving Son, Christian Eriksen and Kane ended with the England skipper finding half a yard inside the box and firing home with a potent finish into the corner.

From the moment the referee sounded his whistle in the second half, Southampton set up camp in Spurs territory. However, for all their pretty build-up play around the box, the visitors lacked the required creativity to test the brilliantly organised back four of Spurs, led magnificently by Toby Alderweireld and makeshift full-back Moussa Sissoko.

As with most hard-fought victories, the goalkeeper needed to step up at times and Lloris came to the party with a wonderful fingertip save to foil a James Ward-Prowse free-kick and an agile stop to claw out a Maya Yoshida header.

After back-to-back defeats, as the full-time whistle sounded, it felt like more than just three points for Spurs.

"I'm proud. I was so happy for them, my players, my squad. We have unbelievable players, only we needed to recover the spirit that we showed today," reflected Pochettino.

Man of the match: Moussa Sissoko

He is not going to find the net from 35 yards but boy is Sissoko a team player of the highest order. When given the task of filling in at full-back after Aurier's red card, Sissoko stepped up to the plate and put in a masterclass of a defensive performance under huge pressure from Southampton's left-sided players.

The Ivorian gained possession seven times - the most by any player on the pitch - and made five clearances as Southampton peppered the Spurs box with crosses. A man mountain back there.

What the managers said...

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said: "[There were] a few situations that could be a tough impact in a negative way today. We showed an amazing spirit and of course [we had] help [from] our fans, who were amazing. I am happy, so happy because of the players, because of the fans and the staff because they deserve to be in a different situation to the one we've been living in in the past few weeks for sure."

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl said: "We cannot be happy because the chance to take something here will not be that big again," he said.

"The momentum was on our side. To be that clinical, this is a step of development we have to take.

"We are not a side that is cool enough to finish such a game and this is something we have to work on.

"It is very disappointing, to come back in the game and make the equaliser, we had to come back into the break at 1-1 and then you can adapt your shape.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

"But the way we defended the second goal was simply not good enough."

Pundit reaction: Charlie Nicholas

What's next?

Tottenham return to their new home on Tuesday for an exciting Champions League encounter with Bayern Munich before taking on Brighton next Saturday when they will try to break a run of nine away league games without a win.

Live Renault Super Sunday

Meanwhile, the Super Sunday cameras are at St Mary's next weekend as Southampton host Chelsea.

Soccer Saturday Super 6

FREE TO PLAY: Do not miss your chance to land the £250,000 jackpot, for the fourth time this year!